Long-term disability claims: Helping clients and their group members

By Harold Geller | July 2, 2009 | Last updated on July 2, 2009
6 min read
  • Prior to forwarding the applications to the insurer, check them for completeness.
  • If required, confirm the employed person is actively at work or meets other policy requirements.
  • Check for updates of the application information on a regular basis (perhaps yearly). An example of a foreseeable change in a key piece of information is an insured’s increase in income.
  • Explain any right to replacement insurance.
  • Assist the insured if he or she needs to make a claim.

    Full-service group policies providing LTD benefits are a valuable and profitable business line for professional insurance agents. Benefits include the direct commission for the sale and ongoing service of the policy, the continuation of this relationship and the opportunity to market services to plan members.

    In these times of financial turbulence, the security offered by LTD insurance against a downside risk is more evident to potential clients than it is in easy financial times. Now more than ever, there is an opportunity to educate and help this market.

    Harold Geller is an expert on legal issues affecting financial intermediaries and their clients. As part of this service, he helps long-term disability claimants assess their claims and, if appropriate, present their claims to insurers. Harold is also a well-known industry commentator, a CE provider and principal of Geller & Associates, the long-term disability division of Doucet McBride LLP.

    (07/02/09)

    Harold Geller

  • Explain to applicants the pitfalls of incomplete or misrepresentative information in an application.
  • Prior to forwarding the applications to the insurer, check them for completeness.
  • If required, confirm the employed person is actively at work or meets other policy requirements.
  • Check for updates of the application information on a regular basis (perhaps yearly). An example of a foreseeable change in a key piece of information is an insured’s increase in income.
  • Explain any right to replacement insurance.
  • Assist the insured if he or she needs to make a claim.

    Full-service group policies providing LTD benefits are a valuable and profitable business line for professional insurance agents. Benefits include the direct commission for the sale and ongoing service of the policy, the continuation of this relationship and the opportunity to market services to plan members.

    In these times of financial turbulence, the security offered by LTD insurance against a downside risk is more evident to potential clients than it is in easy financial times. Now more than ever, there is an opportunity to educate and help this market.

    Harold Geller is an expert on legal issues affecting financial intermediaries and their clients. As part of this service, he helps long-term disability claimants assess their claims and, if appropriate, present their claims to insurers. Harold is also a well-known industry commentator, a CE provider and principal of Geller & Associates, the long-term disability division of Doucet McBride LLP.

    (07/02/09)