Surveillance is a common tool used by disability insurance companies during the claims process. Insurance companies often hire private investigators to follow the activities of claimants who file for disability insurance benefits. Surveillance and Claim Investigations Disability insurance companies often use surveillance tactics during the claims process to determine benefit eligibility. Insurers claim that surveillance is used only as a fraud prevention tool to ensure that a claimant’s disabilities are legitimate. However, in some cases, surveillance is also used to deny claims. Private investigators are often employed by [...]

Insurance claims assessors often review social media sites to determine eligibility for disability benefits. Media posts that raise concerns or show conflicts can result in disability claim denials. The Dangers of Social Media Millions of people regularly use social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter to share personal information and photos with the public. For people who apply for disability benefits or are already receiving them, social media can have negative effects on disability claims. Insurance claims assessors commonly review claimants’ social media sites to [...]

Some insurance companies use pre-existing medical conditions as an opportunity to save money on claim payments. Pre-existing illnesses can reduce payments for policyholders’ medical expenses by as much as 50 percent. Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Most insurance companies place significant emphasis on pre-existing medical conditions. They always ask a variety of questions regarding prior medical history and illnesses. Some companies even ask policyholders to give a recorded statement about pre-existing conditions to create a way to deny or minimize injury claims. If an injury claim is filed, pre-existing medical [...]