Claiming Disability? Your Insurance Company May Be Watching
Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 17 Jun 2011 - Updated: 10 Dec 2021
Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Related Publications
Synopsis: Disability benefit claimants are discovering some insurance companies use invasive claim-investigation techniques and utilize evidence out of context to unfairly deny claims.
When an insured individual files a claim under a private disability insurance policy, the insurance company conducts an investigation to determine whether the individual is indeed unable to work.
Introduction
Every disability insurer is wary of fraud, and part of their business is ascertaining the legitimacy of disability claims. But, sometimes insurance companies take their investigations too far.
Main Content
As increasing numbers of claimants are discovering, some insurance companies use invasive claim-investigation techniques and utilize evidence out of context to unfairly deny claims.
Claim Investigation
When an insured individual files a claim under a private disability insurance policy, the insurance company conducts an investigation to determine whether the individual is indeed unable to work.
Although many claims are closely scrutinized, a deeper investigation is especially common for self-reported conditions or in cases with inconsistent paperwork.
An insurance claim adjuster begins an investigation by reviewing records in a number of databases and the paperwork filed with the claim. The insurance company then might contact friends, family members or employers to get information about the claim and the individual's condition.
Hidden Cameras and Social Networking
Sometimes, an investigative team is sent to monitor a claimant's activities for a few days. Often, these claimants never know they are being watched.
Investigators may even attempt to capture surreptitious video recordings of claimants engaging in behavior that could be interpreted as contrary to their disability claims, such as intense physical activity like running or lifting heavy objects.
Insurance companies also use social-networking websites like Facebook and X to gather information that may be used to deny a claim.
An insurance company may use photographs, video or messages posted online as evidence to deny an individual's disability claim, even if the information is used out of context.
Bad Practice for Insurance Companies
Insurance companies expend tremendous resources on investigations when the money could instead be used to pay legitimate claims. Even worse, the information gathered in these investigations often does not portray a disability accurately; fact-based inquiries like objective assessments from physicians are far better indicators of severe injury or disability.
If you are considering filing a disability insurance claim, contact a knowledgeable attorney with experience in disability insurance cases. A lawyer will work to ensure your privacy is respected and to fight unfair insurance company practices that misrepresent your disability. With the proper help, you can rest assured that you will receive the disability insurance benefits you deserve.
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.