A Lawyer's Guide to Filing Long-Term Disability Claims and Appeals

Larry Schneider attended New York University and has been a featured panelist on a local TV program as a Disability Income Insurance expert, discussing the many “wording” differences between disability contracts offered by the major carriers. He has been a guest speaker for AT&T at their Corporate Headquarters for one of their sales executive insurance seminars. In addition, he has spoken to many other State and National Life, Health (NAHU, DITC, International DI Society, LOMA), CPA and Financial Planning Associations on the subject of Disability Income Insurance, Denied Claims, and the tax consequences of premium payor. He also was a guest speaker at the 2013 MDRT Convention and has appeared as a speaker, for various webinars.

During his initial sales career which started in 1972, he personally sold over half a million in premium of individual disability insurance for an insurance agency who specialized in disability insurance (26 state area representation with 200 Full-time agents). He was the carrier’s national sales leader for sixteen consecutive months and was promoted to partner status in charge of agency recruiting and field training shortly thereafter.

Since he became a specialist, consulting and a producer of disability income protection, he has written over fourty articles on various topics of disability insurance, both for insurance professional and for the consumer, on how to select the ideal DI policy and what to do if a claim is denied . He has also consulted to several major Disability Income carriers on how to improve their sales and marketing strategies, critiqued texts of the LUTC’s DI books and both critiqued and help rewrite one of The American College’s reference manuals; “Essentials of Disability Income Insurance” and has authorized two manuals on his own, as mentioned previously. One of his denied claims articles, was published in the Forensic Examiner.

Prior to his insurance career, he was a management consultant for one of the “BIG-EIGHT” CPA firms, performing analytical and efficiency studies on behalf of their clientele, to support recommendations for creative solutions to problem solving.

Jennifer Danish is the Managing Partner of Bryant Legal Group PC. Her practice at the firm concentrates on matters involving ERISA governed benefits, short and long term disability policies, individual disability income policies and disputes between healthcare providers and health insurers.

Jennifer counsels and represents policyholders on all aspects of disability coverage, from the filing of initial claims, to internal appeals, to litigating denials in state and federal court. She is intimately familiar with insurance industry operations and uses this knowledge to help her clients collect the benefits they are entitled to. As a Chicago insurance lawyer, Jennifer also provides strategic and practical advice to both individuals and businesses seeking to purchase insurance products.

Jennifer is very involved in her professional community. Her leadership activities include serving as appointed Chair-Elect for the Standing Committee on Plaintiffs’ Policy, Technology Vice Chair for the Solo, Small Firm Committee, and Newsletter Editor for the Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, and Technology Vice Chair for the Health & Disability Law General Committee for the ABA Tort Trial Insurance Practice Section. She is also a member to the American Association for Justice Leaders’ Forum. Jennifer also serves as the Secretary for the Law Office Management & Economics Committee and Chair-Elect for the Disability Law Committee of the Illinois State Bar Association. She frequently presents programs and publishes articles in national publications with her recent topics including: ERISA, discovery, state discretionary prohibition bans, mediation/alternative dispute resolution, insurance bad faith, and disability benefit claims.

In her spare time, Jennifer volunteers for the Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program, Inc., which helps lawyers, judges and law students obtain the assistance they need to address substance abuse addiction and mental health problems.

Allan Checkoway, RHU is the Principal of Disability Services Group, a full service employee benefits firm. Disability Services Group offers a complete portfolio of Life, Short & Long Term Disability, Medical, Dental and Long Term Care Insurance coverage's. Allan's career includes thirty five years of healthcare insurance experience. He served as President of the Disability Insurance Training Council and Regional Vice President of the National Association of Health Underwriters. Allan has been a featured speaker at LIMRA (Life Insurance Marketing Research Association), Certified Financial Planners and HIAA (Health Insurance Association of America) educational conferences. Allan has received the National Association of Health Underwriters Norma Medill Award for journalism. Allan authored 'Disability Income, A How To Guide', published by R & R Newkirk; and 'Disability Income Insurance', a text published by Kaplan Publishing.

"Our three decades in the Employee Benefit business, specializing in long term disability and long term care coverage's, gave us a unique perspective on the process of becoming disabled. Helping corporations purchase the most beneficial disability programs for their employees resulted in our creating a Disability Counseling Service to help disabled employees file long term disability claims. This also led to our creating I'm Disabled . . . Now What? Our Lifestyle Changes publication and our Disability and Senior Resource website (www.disabilityandseniorresources.com) are intended to help Seniors & those with Disabilities or Special Needs to lead more independent lives by enhancing individual capabilities with up to date resources to help adapt to changing lifestyles."