Principal was founded more than 140 years ago and offers insurance and financial management services in more than 80 countries and territories. It is the third-largest provider of group insurance benefits, including disability insurance, in the United States. A Fortune 500 company, Principal reported more than $14 billion in total revenue in 2018. How did Principal grow from a tiny life insurer in Des Moines, Iowa to one of the world’s largest financial management and insurance companies? While many factors come into play, the company is laser-focused on profitability, cutting costs, and shareholder dividends. Unfortunately, this means Principal takes an […]
Vision Impairments and Disability Insurance: A Claimant’s Guide
Feb 18, 2020 | Blog | ShareAt least 3.4 million adults in the United States are either legally blind or vision-impaired, and many more struggle with life-changing eye conditions. Although some people can adapt to their vision limitations and work with accommodations, vision impairments rank among the top ten causes of disability, according to the CDC. If you’re struggling with vision loss, you’re not alone. At Bryant Legal Group, we help people with vision impairments fight for their long-term disability insurance (LTD) benefits. In this article, we’ll talk about common causes of vision loss and discuss ways you can bolster your LTD claims. 5 Common Causes […]
Seizures and Disability Insurance: A Claimant’s Guide
Feb 11, 2020 | Blog | ShareAbout 3.4 million people live with epilepsy in the United States, which makes recurrent seizures our nation’s fourth most common neurological disorder. But even though epilepsy isn’t rare, living with the disorder can make you feel like no one understands its profound impact on your ability to live and work. At Bryant Legal Group, we want to help. Our team of experienced disability insurance attorneys guides people with epilepsy and other seizure disorders through their complex insurance claims. Keep reading to learn more about epilepsy-based insurance claims and find out your options for benefits. What Are Seizures and What Causes […]
3 Things You Need to Know About Voluntary Benefit Plans
Feb 5, 2020 | Insurers | Share3 Things You Need to Know About Voluntary Benefit Plans If your insurance company has denied your voluntary benefit claim, you’re probably getting a lot of conflicting advice. One person might tell you that you need to file an appeal with the insurance company, while another will insist that you should file a lawsuit in an Illinois court. Meanwhile, your employer will probably refuse to help you with your insurance claim — referring you to your insurer or broker instead. At Bryant Legal Group, we want to clarify the confusing world of voluntary benefit plans, so we wrote this blog […]
Bipolar Disorder and Disability Insurance: A Claimant’s Guide
Jan 28, 2020 | Insurers | ShareAccording to the World Health Organization, bipolar disease is the seventh most disabling condition in the world. If you’re among the estimated 5.7 million Americans suffering with bipolar, it might be difficult (or even impossible) to maintain consistent employment due to your symptoms. At Bryant Legal Group, we help people with bipolar disorder get the disability insurance benefits they deserve. In this article, we explain the essentials of bipolar disorder and how to strengthen your disability insurance claim. What Is Bipolar Disorder? Bipolar disorder is a psychological disorder involving episodes of mania and depression. During a manic episode, you might experience euphoria, insomnia, and poor concentration. You might also be prone to reckless actions, such […]
Denied by Cigna? Take These 3 Steps to Protect Your Rights
Jan 22, 2020 | Blog | ShareAs one of the country’s largest insurance companies, Cigna offers health insurance, life insurance, and disability insurance products. Unfortunately, Cigna has a long history of denying valid short-term and long-term disability claims. Cigna recently announced the sale of its disability insurance business to New York Life for $6.3 billion, but claimants shouldn’t expect the company’s practices to change anytime soon. At Bryant Legal Group, our disability insurance lawyers have helped people fight back against unfair denials from Cigna for years. In this article, we’ll outline three essential steps you should take if Cigna denies your disability claim. Cigna Has a History of Improperly Denying Disability Insurance Claims Most people associate Cigna with healthcare insurance due to the company’s massive market share in this area. However, Cigna also operates a robust disability insurance business. In 2018, the […]
What Conditions Automatically Qualify You as Disabled?
Jan 14, 2020 | Blog | ShareIf you’re living with a serious, chronic illness, it’s likely that someone has said, “You have that diagnosis?! You’ll definitely get disability benefits.” While you may appreciate your loved one’s confidence, you may question the accuracy of their statement. Disability insurance companies, like UNUM, Lincoln Financial, and The Hartford, are notorious for denying even legitimate claims for benefits. As a general rule, insurers look for any possible reason to deny, delay, or undervalue disability insurance claims. However, even though it’s rare, some private disability insurance policies automatically qualify people with certain conditions for benefits. This is a significant advantage and can streamline your long-term disability […]
Top Reasons Why UNUM Denied Your LTD Claim
Jan 9, 2020 | Blog | ShareIf you received a long-term disability denial (LTD) from UNUM, you’re not alone. Considered by many ERISA lawyers as the worst LTD insurer, UNUM sometimes uses aggressive and unfair tactics to reduce the number of disability insurance claims they pay out. The Bryant Legal Group team has been fighting UNUM for decades, and we understand how they approach their claims. In this blog, we explain some of the most common excuses its adjusters use to deny legitimate LTD claims. UNUM Earned Its Reputation Among the Worst Insurers in the U.S. In 2008, the American Association for Justice (AAJ) reported that, in its opinion, UNUM […]
Helpful Disability Claim Tips From Our ERISA Lawyers
Jan 9, 2020 | Blog | ShareFiling for disability insurance benefits can be a difficult decision, especially when you love your profession. However, when you’re unable to work due to an illness, injury, or chronic condition, short and long-term disability benefits can provide financial security and peace of mind. If you’re not sure where to start, Bryant Legal Group wants to help. In this article, we outline several ways you can strengthen your ERISA claims and streamline the application process. Don’t Minimize Your Symptoms When You Talk to a Doctor One of the most important tips is simple: always be honest with your doctors. Your doctor […]
When Should I Take a Disability Insurance Settlement or Buyout?
Dec 23, 2019 | Blog | ShareWhen you’re in the middle of a long-term disability (LTD) or ERISA dispute, the insurance company might offer you a settlement or buyout. While this offer might seem generous (and tempting) at first, you should be cautious. Insurance companies rarely offer a fair settlement in their first offer — and you could lose out on valuable compensation if you accept. In this article, Bryant Legal Group outlines the essentials of disability insurance settlements and when it’s best to accept a lump-sum payment. What Is a Long-Term Disability Settlement or Buyout? When the insurance company approves your LTD claim or a […]
