INSURANCE

If you have income protection insurance and are fairly confident in your insurer, you may never have to face this problem, but there is always the possibility that your claim could be denied. With this in mind, you need to also think about why claims are typically denied and the action to take afterward. Filing a claim on your income protection insurance will almost always be accepted if your claim is filed because of a health related issue, but if you are trying to file a claim due to redundancy that has nothing to do with illness, be prepared to have your claim denied. This cover exists to give you the means to survive financially while you are off of work so that you have time to recover with as little stress as possible. However, there are many stipulations to this insurance, so check with your insurer when you get this cover to see what will usually cause them to deny a claim.

What to Do

If you have to be off of work for an extended period of time, it is probably time to get in touch with your insurance agency to file an income protection insurance claim stating that you will be off of work. You will need to get some information from your employer that proves you have been deemed unfit to work, and you will also probably have to see a doctor who can provide you with the necessary paperwork to prove that you need to be off work. Once your insurance company reviews your reason for being off of work and the documentation of your inability to work, your claim will be either denied or approved. If it is denied, you do have some other options.

You can find assistance financially through government assisted programs if you are suddenly unable to work and need some form of income. This would be the best way to support yourself while you are off of work. You may also need to look into any money you have saved aside for financial stability, but first and foremost, consider that you should not attempt to file a claim if you know that it will be denied. There are many reasons that a claim will be denied, and you can avoid this if you follow some steps.

Honesty Can Avoid Denial

Be honest with your insurer. If you lie about a pre-existing condition or illness that will eventually cause you to become disabled, your claim could be denied later on if you need to be off of work due to this illness. However, if you tell your insurer about your condition, you may pay higher payments, but you will be less likely to face claim denial. Also, you need to be employed with your job for a typical minimum of 6 months before you can file a claim, so don't go into work for 3 months and expect to receive a payout if you need to be off of work.

Above all, make sure that your illness is legitimate enough for a claim to be filed. If you are just feeling a bit under the weather and could still work, don't risk being denied your claim by filing one, as you don't need to be off of work because of a common cold. If your income protection insurance claim is denied, turn to government assistance. You will not have the amount of money you would if you had gotten a payout, but it will help to keep you afloat until you can return to work.