The procedures required for renewing long-term disability coverage, or LTD, can often be complex. In many cases, individuals may struggle even determining what kinds of evidence they may need in order to secure their LTD continuation of benefits. Identifying how that evidence should be documented, and the insurance company’s preferred method of submission for review, can present another challenge. While it is not possible for any LTD benefit renewal process guide to anticipate every possible eventuality, becoming familiar with a few key principles can often help make the process seem less mysterious.
Core Basics for LTD Continuation of Benefits
There will always be variations depending on the type of plan and the terms of your specific policy. Generally speaking, however, most LTD benefit renewal process guides will recommend the following as core areas of concern:
Know the Requirements
Review your insurance company’s documentation requirements and submission guidelines several months before you will need to renew. Check what kinds of evidence are listed as acceptable. Confirm what types of documentation are considered appropriate, or sufficient, for each category of evidence that might apply to your case. Often insurance companies have their own online filing systems, so it is important to be sure that you understand a few key elements of the process. These include:
- How to file each required document
- Whether all documentation must be submitted at once
- Whether paper copies are permitted or in some cases required
- How you will know whether a submission has been successful
Make a point of verifying with your insurance company how information should be submitted, and what the timelines are for submission, review, and notification of your renewal decision. Familiarize yourself with the requirements for the appeals process, as well, just in case you need them.
Plan Ahead for Medical Evidence
Even though you submitted substantial medical evidence before your long-term disability claim was approved, applying for LTD continuation of benefits is likely to require submitting much of the same evidence again. Unfortunately, in most cases this renewing long-term disability coverage will mean that you need to repeat at least some of the medical assessments that qualified you to receive LTD benefits in the first place. Conditions that were clearly identified as permanent and progressive at the time of your initial LTD approval may be exempt from parts of the renewal documentation requirements.
Coordinate Your Calendar
Many people instinctively want to make their personal LTD benefit renewal process guides by starting with a schedule. In reality, however, it often makes more sense to review the types of documents you will need to submit, and then build yourself a calendar based on how long it is likely to take to get each one.
Once you have a list of all the kinds of medical evidence your insurance company requires for renewing long-term disability coverage, it becomes much easier to make an effective calendar based on the submission timeline. This way, you can initiate the process of collecting medical evidence first with the types of documentation that you know from experience are likely to take weeks or months to get.
Specialized scans or assessments by specialists in particular medical fields are common examples. The types of medical evidence that are likely to be easier and faster to get can vary depending on your situation, but might include results from regular bloodwork or an updated attending physician statement (APS) from your regular healthcare provider.
Be Prepared To Manage the Process, Not Just the Submission
Just as it is common for people to want to start with scheduling, rather than with evaluating the length of time it may take to collect each required form of documentation, it is also normal to want to “move on” from each stage of the process for renewing long-term disability coverage as you reach the next. In reality, you are likely to need to go through cycles. Always review requirements, evaluate logistics, plan a schedule, and review requirements again to make sure you are on track, adjust logistics as needed, and update the schedule to reflect any changes.
You may go through this cyclical process several times before you are able to confirm that all the information your insurance company needs is in their hands, but getting that confirmation is a critical step before considering your LTD continuation of benefits application complete. Be prepared to “check in” regularly with staff at your LTD provider to make sure that the documents they have in your file include all the ones you planned to submit, and that no erroneous “extra” documents have been added to your file by mistake. While often innocent on the part of an insurance company, errors in your case file could endanger your LTD continuation of benefits.
For similar reasons, you may also want to confirm that the organization of your documents is in order. Files that are not properly aligned with the timeline of your condition can sometimes misrepresent the progression of your disability, so it is important to be careful and clarify any possibility of misunderstanding.
Points To Remember for Renewing Long-Term Disability Coverage
Not all LTD policies will require a submission process to secure LTD continuation of benefits. Some plans may require renewal only when a diagnosis is not known to be progressive or terminal. You should be prepared for the likelihood that you will need to go through a fairly extensive process for renewing long-term disability coverage.
The good news is that in many respects this renewal process often looks very similar to the original claims submission process. Unfortunately, this is also the bad news. Nobody enjoys the process of claiming, or renewing, long-term disability benefits, and it is common for people to become frustrated with the feeling that they need to justify their continued disability, when in most cases they would much rather be able to go back to work.
For all the complexities and frustrations renewing long-term disability coverage can present, however, an LTD benefit renewal process guide can provide an important anchor throughout the experience. Following a guide to long-term disability benefits renewal carefully can make it much easier to stay on top of your insurance company’s documentation requirements, manage your own records of medical evidence, and ensure that you complete your LTD continuation of benefits submission in plenty of time.
Final Thoughts On the Renewal Process for LTD Benefits
Renewing long-term disability benefits can feel like an exhausting and sometimes demoralizing process, especially when you are already managing the challenges of your health. Despite the frustration, approaching renewal with careful preparation, clear timelines, and organized records can make a meaningful difference in avoiding delays or unnecessary disputes. By staying proactive, confirming requirements directly with your insurer, and tracking every step, you can reduce uncertainty and feel more confident that your LTD continuation of benefits will be handled correctly. If questions arise, don’t hesitate to seek guidance because having knowledgeable support can be invaluable in navigating this complex process.
