AIG disability insurance is trusted by many people across the U.S. Many workers purchases AIG’s disability insurance by payroll deductions from their employers and view it as offering them a safety net in case they become disabled. In some cases, AIG denies claims by workers who have paid all of their premiums as agreed for disability benefits from their policies. When that occurs, the professional disability team at Osterhout Berger Daley may help workers to recover the benefits to which they should be entitled.
Background on AIG
A multinational insurance company, AIG reports that it has 88 million customers spread across 130 countries across the world. The company was founded in 1919 by Cornelius Vander Starr in Shanghai, China, and its first U.S. office was opened in 1926. Today, AIG is headquartered in New York, New York and is the 42nd largest company in the world with 116,000 employees. The company operates three main branches with a full suite of product options for individuals and businesses.
AIG disability insurance
AIG offers two types of disability insurance to workers, including its short-term disability products and its long-term disability products. The company’s short-term disability insurance is offered through employers by payroll deduction and covers conditions and injuries that last for short periods of time following an elimination period. The insurance benefits replace a percentage of your income while you are unable to work for a specified duration according to the policy.
AIG also offers voluntary long-term disability insurance, which offers benefits beginning after an elimination period has passed. These benefits are paid for the duration of the policy, and the payment length varies according to what you select when you purchase your long-term disability policy. Finally, some people opt to purchase both types of insurance. They can then use the short-term disability until the elimination periods for their long-term disability insurance have passed with their long-term benefits kicking in afterward.
AIG short-term disability insurance
Short-term disability insurance from AIG is employer-funded and helps employees cover day-to-day bills in the event they fall ill or become disabled due to an injury. If your employer offers short-term disability through AIG, there are a few items you may want to pay attention to within your policy.
- There is a waiting period that you must go through before your short-term disability insurance can be considered active. AIG defines this waiting period as “the time determined by your employer before your insurance becomes effective”. Typically, employers will set the waiting period to be anywhere between 30-90 days after being hired, but make sure to check with your employer.
- There is also an elimination period that you must go through prior to receiving benefits. AIG defines this as “a specified number of days for which you must remain continuously disabled before benefits are payable”. You’ll have to consult the terms of your policy to learn the exact number of days that are considered to be the elimination period, but it’s typically anywhere between 7-14 days.
- There are restrictions on what AIG considers to be an eligible disability. You’ll have to read through your policy to understand how the insurance company defines a disability or an illness. The insurance company also has its own definition of a pre-existing condition that may disqualify you from receiving benefits. Make sure to read your policy carefully to make you sure you’re not disqualified from earning the benefits you deserve.
AIG short-term disability is meant to help individuals cover everyday costs when they’re out of work. Unfortunately, the policy is covered with so many restrictions, you may have to jump through several hoops before your given any financial assistance.
AIG long-term disability insurance
Long-term disability insurance from AIG is also employer-funded and is meant to help employees to pay bills and take care of other expenses for a longer period of time than short-term disability. While short-term disability is typically paid out on a weekly basis, AIG long-term disability insurance is paid out on a monthly basis. Each long-term disability plan from AIG is customized based on how many full-time employees your company has employed. The same benefit percentage is typically used to calculate how much you’ll be receiving, but there’s one small difference between the short-term and long-term disability benefit amount. The short-term plan takes the percentage of your weekly earnings while the long-term plan bases the amount on the percentage of your monthly earnings. Other than that difference, the long-term disability insurance has all the same restrictions as the AIG short-term disability insurance. You’ll have to go through a waiting period and an elimination period, and certain disabilities or illnesses may be considered ineligible. Make sure to read your policy carefully so that you understand what qualifies you for benefits and what disqualifies you.
What you need to know about AIG claims
AIG claims that they “help protect your income when you can’t work”, but they place so many restrictions on the policies that it seems unlikely that your income will be protected in a timely manner, if at all. While AIG doesn’t deny all of the claims that get submitted, they have been known to draw out the process. Not only do they take their time approving claims, they often make policyholders run in circles when it comes to paperwork which delays the process even further. There have also been instances where they delay sending the money after approving claims. Other times, they flat out deny claims for incredulous reasons. If you can relate to having your benefits delayed or denied, it may mean you’re ready to seek help and take action against AIG. If you are, the experienced lawyers at Osterhout Berger Daley can help you file appeals and speak on your behalf to help you get your benefits.
How do I submit a claim to AIG?
When you became eligible for benefits, you should have been able to register for an online portal where information about your plan should be stored. Forms to file a disability claim should also be stored in this portal. You may want to double-check that the forms have the correct year on them because AIG isn’t very good at keeping their literature up-to-date and this could cause them to delay providing you with your benefits. Typically, the forms required to submit a claim include your statement, your employer’s statement, and your attending physician’s statement. You may be able to email these forms to AIG, but historically they’ve preferred that the forms either be faxed or mailed to them.
What do I do if AIG delays my claim?
If AIG delays your claim by not giving you a response and/or continuously asking for various paperwork, you may need a lawyer to intervene on your behalf. With other insurance companies, it’s easier to handle delays on your own as all you typically have to do is contact your case manager, but that’s not the case with this insurance company. So, involving an experienced disability lawyer could be your best bet to get the benefits you need and deserve.
What do I do if AIG denies my claim?
If you are denied for benefits from AIG for short- or long-term disability, you will be notified by mail. Your notice will explain why the insurance company decided to deny your claim and will tell you how to file an appeal. Request that AIG sends you a copy of your claim file. It will include all of the evidence the company has used in order to deny your claim. There will be a deadline listed for filing your appeal. Don’t miss it, or you will not be able to recover the benefits that you might otherwise have been awarded for your disability.
Appealing a Denial from AIG
Prior to filing an appeal, you’ll want to bring your letter and your file to the experienced lawyers at Osterhout Berger Daley. Your disability attorney will review the contents of your file and your letter before helping you to draft your appeal. Your attorney may ask you to submit to additional exams and tests. This is done to help build favorable evidence to support your claim that can be added to your claim file. AIG has an internal process for appeals that you must complete before you can file a lawsuit. Your attorney will work to help you gather enough evidence that your likelihood of success on your appeal will greatly increase. In some cases, our experienced lawyers are able to help their clients win their appeals without filing lawsuits. Contact Osterhout Berger Daley today to learn more about appealing your denial from AIG.
