Denied Disability by Manulife in Ontario
Have you had your Manulife short-term disability claim denied? Or perhaps your long-term insurance claim? We have had several clients subscribed to a LTD insurance policy with Manulife and then reported getting their long-term disability claim denied or cut-off by the insurer, much to their surprise. Some stated the reasons for refusals were insufficient medical evidence, or a claim they could hold another type of work because total disability tests had changed. You might be wondering what to do if your Manulife long-term or short-term disability claim in Ontario has been denied. The first thing to understand is that you have the right to appeal the decision.
We understand the frustration and stress such a situation can create for you, and often get asked for help with Manulife’s appeal process.
Unfortunately, too few people know about leveraging an appeal process, and will not contest the initial decision after Manulife has denied their claim for disability benefits. Insurers often deny claims, for both long-term and short-term benefits, with the hope people will not appeal, or don’t know how to build a strong case to prove their disability benefit claim.
Here’s how Himpro can help you when you have had your Manulife short term or long term disability claim denied. We’ll examine what you need to know when insurers such as Manulife Financial deny your claim and what you can do about it using the Manulife appeal process.
What do our disability clients' say?
“David’s team did a phenomenal job with my disability case. I had hard time with my case until I decided to go with the firm. Silene Malhao and Mena Brar both were there for me every step of the way and provided incredible service. They answered all my questions and made me feel comfortable. I say with confidence that I couldn’t be happier with the end result and would recommend my friends and family to them without question. Thanks so much once again!”
– shahira c., June 27, 2022
Leaders in Disability Law with Over 5000 Claims Settled
Manulife Long-Term Disability Benefits: What Happens After 2 Years?
If you hold a private disability insurance, you are covered by its policy and should receive short-term disability benefits over the first 2 years of being unable to perform most of the duties of your “own occupation“, i.e. the occupation you held prior to becoming disabled – typically the work that you have experience and/or were trained to do.
At the 24-month mark, a Manulife LTD claim gets more complicated: your policy will require you to be “totally disabled“, meaning unfit to perform “any occupation“, which Manulife will often contest and hence deny your LTD claim by cutting-off your long-term disability benefits. Building a winning case requires gathering evidence that your disability qualifies as a Total Disability.
Can You Win Manulife's Internal Appeals Process?
If you want to challenge the decision of a Manulife short-term or long-term disability claim being denied, Manulife prefers you follow an internal appeals process; First through one of their customer service managers, and if you are still unsatisfied with the outcome, through Manulife’s internal ombudsman, who gives substantive reviews to ensure the company’s rules and processes were followed when assessing your claim to your policy’s long-term disability benefits.
Checking-off all the requirements of “total disability” in the eyes of Manulife is typically a difficult task, and it will be up to you to have persuasive evidence for either the ombudsman or the court. An experienced disability lawyer knows how to build a strong case for your Manulife’s appeal process, i.e. what evidence to gather and which experts to leverage to reclaim your benefits.
Common Reasons Why Manulife Might Deny Your LTD Claim
Regardless of the reason of Manulife’s denial of your long-term or short-term disability claim, you can still get the decision reversed using Manulife’s appeal process if you build a winning case and a court decides in your favor. You will most likely need the help of a seasoned Toronto-area disability lawyer who has previously challenged Manulife’s denials to prove your case and navigate the legal system efficiently.
About Manulife Financial: originally called the Manufacturers Life Insurance Company, is a leading Canadian financial services and insurance company. Manulife offers short-term and long-term disability insurance policies, such as the ProGuard, Venture, Synergy or Personal Accident insurance plans. While many people have subscribed to their policies through group insurance offered by their employer, some plans are offered directly to business owners or can be subscribed to by individuals.
5 Tips for Appealing a Denied LT Disability Insurance Claim by Manulife
A denied LTD insurance claim by Manulife is not the end of the game. Long-term disability claims are routinely denied by insurance companies. In most instances, you should use the appeal process to fight your case. However, it’s important to do it right to preserve your credibility and build a winning case. A Toronto-area long-term disability lawyer from Himelfarb Proszanski can help.
Here are 5 tips to steer you in the right direction when fighting your Manulife LTD denial.
(click on each Tip title to view details)
Tip #1: Make sure to obey the timeline for appeal
Tip #2: Review the details mentioned in the denial notice
Tip #3: Understand the terms & “fine print” of your policy
Tip #4: Choose the right appeals process for your situation
Tip #5: Get legal help from a seasoned LTD Lawyer
Denied or Cut-Off Disability Benefits?
Over the last 20 years, David Himelfarb and his team of Disability Insurance legal specialists have helped people facing serious disabilities recover their long-term or short-term benefits from almost all active disability insurance companies in Ontario.
Substantiating your disability to prove you are unable to return to work can be extremely challenging. The complexity of the legal system, the specifics of each insurance’s disability policy, its fine-print and the procedural requirements, all these erect a tall wall between you and your LTD benefits in Ontario. You need an experienced disability lawyer well respected by the insurance companies to overcome the hurdles and secure your disability benefits asap.
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What They Say About Us
"My mother had hired this firm after struggling for her disability claim. Mena Brar and Silene were really helpful and brought us the best. I would recommend hiring based on my mother's experience."
Harvir Ghag
"First and foremost David believed me ie that I was mentally unfit to work. It is not an easy concept. He made it clear to RBC. David supported me throughout mediation and I received much more than anticipated. Thank you so much."
Joanne Berg
"Rosa was my Lawyer and she was amazing through the entire process. When dealing with a disability claim the claimant is so emotionally attached to every aspect, that it's imperative to have an empathetic but firm counselor and that's exactly what Rosa was for me!! She guided me and kept me informed the entire time and never made me feel like I was bugging her should I have a question or 10 questions. Although the subject on which I needed to hire this law firm was not awesome, the law firm itself was!!"
Kim S.
“We started our disability claim with a lawyer who looked good on paper, but was completely ineffective. We sought out David after a year of getting nowhere but into debt. David settled our case efficiently and fairly. His office held my hand through the difficult proceedings and always left me feeling supported. I'm so grateful for Katherine, David, Maritza, and the many others who helped us along. (...) I can now focus on healing again and put the stress of the battle behind me. I have already personally recommended this firm to a friend.”
Lucy Goddard
“Compassionate during stressful times, and performance focused. My outcome was far better than expected and has allowed me to get on with my life. David is a very sharp lawyer and obviously very experienced. Hopefully I don't have another accident, but if I did, I'd use them again.”
Marc Nicholas
