Guardian Disability Claim Tips for Physicians

Our law firm has extensive experience filing and litigating Guardian disability claims for physicians. Our attorneys understand how Guardian operates and what it takes to file a successful Guardian disability claim, and are happy to set up a free consultation to discuss your particular Guardian claim.

Below are some answers to the most common questions our attorneys receive from physicians about the disability claim process, generally, and their Guardian disability benefits, specifically.

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1. I have a Berkshire policy; why is Guardian handling my disability claim?

2. Does Guardian have true own occupation policies for physicians?

3. How do I file a disability claim with Guardian?

4. When does Guardian’s disability claim investigation begin?

5. Do you have any tips for filling out Guardian disability claim forms?

6. What should I expect after filing a Guardian disability claim?

7. How and when should I approach my treating doctor about my disability claim?

8. Do I need to hire a Guardian disability attorney to file my claim?

9. When should I contact an attorney about my claim?

10. Will Guardian pay my claim?

11. If I have a mental health condition, will Guardian pay my claim?

12. How does Guardian determine my occupation?

13. Why does Guardian keep bothering my doctors?

14. Why does Guardian want my CPT codes?

15. Guardian is saying I should go back to work and if I do they will pay me partial disability benefits. Should I?

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1. I have a Berkshire policy; why is Guardian handling my disability claim?

Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America has been a subsidiary of Guardian and third-party administrator for Guardian since 2001. As a result, your disability claim may end up being investigated and administered by Berkshire or Guardian if your policy was issued by Berkshire or Guardian, or you have a mixture of policies issued by Berkshire and Guardian.

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2. Does Guardian have true own occupation policies for physicians?

Yes, in most cases older policies sold by Guardian to physicians will be true own occupation” policies that allow you to work in a different capacity, if you can no longer practice.

However, many newer polices contain a plural definition of the term “occupation,” such that having prior non-clinical occupational duties (e.g., business owner, administration, instructing/supervising) can adversely affect a claim for total disability benefits.  It’s important to consult with an attorney if your prior duties/jobs included any nonclinical components within twelve (12) months prior to your date of disability.

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3. How do I file a disability claim with Guardian?

In order to file a Guardian disability claim, you must submit the proof of loss required under your Guardian policy. Most Guardian policies request that proof  be submitted in writing and within a certain time frame—typically within 20 or 30 days from the date of loss, or as soon as reasonably possible, but no longer than a year.

The first step is obtaining and submitting Guardian’s initial proof of loss packet, which will consist of several forms for you to complete and sign, including an investigative authorization, along with a form with questions for your doctor to complete and sign.

Guardian makes some disability forms, for employer-plans, available online. But if you have an individual/private disability policy Guardian requires to you call in to request the forms.

When you call in, our attorneys have observed that Guardian may subject you to an impromptu interview, so you should be prepared to answer important questions impacting your claim the very first time you are on the line with them.

If you are planning on having an attorney represent you on your disability claim, it is better to consult with counsel prior to making this initial call, so that you are not subjected to questioning before securing legal representation.

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4. When does Guardian’s disability claim investigation begin?

Guardian will begin investigating your disability claim the moment you make them aware of your intent to file a claim (which is typically in the initial call to request the proof of loss packet).

If you are planning on calling Guardian to request a claim packet without an attorney, you could be asked questions on a recorded line that can forever affect your ability to collect disability benefits.

Guardian’s policy provisions, many of which can seem innocuous, actually can be used to limit, deny or terminate a claim.  Some questions may include:

    • What are your symptoms, and when did they start?
    • Describe all treatments/medications you’ve tried?
    • Have you ever self-treated?
    • How many doctors have you seen? What is their contact information?
    • Can you describe all income sources within the last year?
    • What are your job duties, including your duties as a practice owner or any hospital/administrative titles that you hold, and what percentage of time do you spend on each duty?
    • How much time have you taken off work? When do you plan on going back? Can you go back to work part-time or with accommodations?
    • What does a typical day look like for you? How much time do you spend in the office as opposed to performing procedures/surgeries?
    • Once you stop practicing, are you going to work somewhere else?
    • When did you last work, and why did you decide to file your claim now?
    • What is your income? Have you had a loss in income? Are you filing a total or partial disability claim?

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5. Do you have any tips for filling out Guardian disability claim forms?

Insurance forms are complex and contain trick questions, and disability insurance forms are no exception. Physicians often come to us asking “do I need to fill out this part of the form/can I leave this question blank?” “Why is the company asking for this? It doesn’t apply to me.” Or “Why are they asking for my taxes/asking about my finances?” While insurers are entitled to investigate your disability claim, most initial paperwork is overly-broad and in some instances it may be appropriate to skip certain questions.

That being said, as your claim progresses, your analyst will be conferring with a team of attorneys and other consultants to identify any deficiencies in your responses. Fear of this happening can sometimes prompt physicians to over-share and provide too much, irrelevant information. So there is a delicate balance between failing to prove up your case by offering up too little information and potentially overcomplicating your claim by providing too much information.

Below are a few tips to review before completing your Guardian claim forms:

1. Read your entire policy before answering any questions. If you do not know how your policy works, you will not understand why certain questions are being asked. And if you don’t understand the “why,” it is easy to prejudice your claim by providing too much or too little information.

While there are legal requirements that require insurers to refrain from misleading policyholders, courts also expect you to have read and understood the contract you are filing a claim under. Accordingly, relying on Guardian or anyone associated with your disability insurance company to hold your hand is a bad idea. You need to be informed and proactive about protecting your interests from the start.

2. Be mindful of each form’s significance in the scope of the entire claims process. Generally speaking, the initial proof of loss packet is the most important set of claim forms because it sets the tone for your entire claim. Claim analysts are trained to review these forms to help determine your occupational duties under your policy, the extent of your restrictions and limitations (including the severity, frequency and duration of your symptoms, and possible job modifications), what additional information is needed, how your claim should be characterized under the policy (e.g. partial v. total disability, injury v. sickness, etc.), and what additional steps should be taken when investigating your claim in light of the policy’s requirements and limitations.

It’s also important to keep in mind that, unlike other insurance claims, disability claims require ongoing, monthly proof of loss to continue to qualify for benefits. Consequently, you will be completing other forms and submitting additional information on an ongoing and frequent basis, particularly in the first several years of the claim.

Each time you submit additional information or forms, claim analysts are trained to identify any inconsistencies with prior information in the claim file. If there are inconsistent answers, this undermines your credibility and can cause your claim to be flagged for heightened review and possible denial or termination.

3. Read each question carefully, and read each form through at least one time before answering any of the questions. Most disability paperwork is divided by topic, and each section often has specific instructions that can be easy to miss.

For example, at the outset of the claim, many forms will ask to you answer certain questions based on the facts immediately prior to your disability, since that is the timeframe that is generally the most critical in a disability claim. Some questions may ask for you to list employment or medical information from prior timeframes, while others may be more focused on your current employment status or current symptoms.

Timelines are particularly critical in disability claims. Analysts determine your “occupation” and categorize claims based upon your pre-and-post-disability work history and activities. Most claims also involve several other key dates that determine whether your claim is subject to preexisting condition limitations, whether you timely filed proof of loss, what your prior income should be for purposes of partial disability calculations, and the list goes on. If you create confusion regarding your claim’s medical or occupational timeline, it can lead to significant delays and, in some instances, denials that can only be sorted out through lawsuits.

4. Review your answers to make sure you have not been too sparse or generic. If you have not been involved in a disability claim before, the scope and nature of some of the questions can seem overly intrusive. Over the years, we’ve become involved in several claims where a physician reviewed the paperwork, did not understand why certain information was being asked, skipped those questions, and returned partially completed forms. This inevitably leads to frustrating delays, as insurers typically refuse to move disability claims forward unless/until they receive all requested information.

If you do not understand a question or why certain information is being requested, or are concerned that answering a question may expose you to legal liability, you should not answer without consulting with an attorney first. However, if you are refusing or failing to provide relevant information, you are not only giving the insurer an excuse for delays, but potentially making it easier for the insurer to deny your claim.

Insurers often rely on medical and other consultants to determine whether a claim should be paid. If, for example, you do not provide sufficient details and documentation regarding the precise nature of your condition, it makes it much easier for the insurance company’s doctor to conduct a cursory “file review” and determine there is insufficient information to verify disability. Similarly, if you refuse or fail to provide occupational information, it opens the door for your insurer to misconstrue your occupation and/or refuse to pay benefits until you submit the relevant financial information needed to determine your potential eligibility for benefits.

Sometime it is also appropriate to go beyond the bounds of the form if your particular situation is nuanced and the questions asked within the four corners of the claim form do not provide adequate context for your claim. However, you should be cautious about providing too much information, as this can also confuse issues, delay the processing of your claim, and prejudice your ability to collect benefits (see Tip #5, below).

5. Review your answers to make sure you have not been too detailed or specific. Keep in mind that the insurance company designed the form you are completing. It is has likely gone through several revisions (with attorneys and risk management professionals) and has been fine-tuned to elicit responses that can be used to limit or deny payment. So each time you answer a question, you should be considering the specific basis for the question and whether you are oversharing information that can be used against you.

For example, some forms contain open-ended questions designed to prompt you to provide additional details about your personal life that can later be used to make it easier for the insurer to look you up online, find family member’s social media accounts to see what they are posting about you, etc. The company may ask about your daily schedule, and if you give a lot of details, breaking your days down hour-by-hour, you are just providing them with a roadmap to give to their investigators if they decide to conduct in-person surveillance on your claim. Or the form might ask about your “hobbies,” or give you a list of activities (unrelated to your occupation) and ask you to identify what you can and cannot do. These responses are then used to determine if you have any interests or activities that they could argue are inconsistent with your reported limitations.

As another example, the volume of financial information that is relevant in a partial disability claim is typically significantly larger than the financial information that is relevant to a total disability claim. However, oftentimes insurers will request everything as a matter of course, which can lead to unnecessary delays and oversharing of personal financial information that can be used against you.

Many questions in this vein are largely irrelevant fishing expeditions, if you are filing a total disability claim under an “own occupation” policy (as opposed to an “any occupation” policy). However, it can be difficult to parse through the relevant and irrelevant without the aid of an experienced disability insurance attorney, and if you repeatedly refuse to provide relevant information, that can be a legitimate basis for a claim denial. So if you are concerned about the scope of questioning, it is advisable to contact a disability attorney before submitting anything (if you do not already have one).

6. Re-read all your answers to ensure they are accurate. Once you sign and submit your responses to the insurance company, your insurer (and courts) will hold you to those responses. Like other insurance forms, disability paperwork includes fine-print stating that you carefully and accurately completed them, whether or not that is actually the case.

For example, the fine print in Guardian’s claim paperwork states that, by signing the form, you “declare that all answers, statements and information made or given by me, or at my direction, in connection with this claim are and have been complete and true.” If you purposefully deceive the company, there can also be significant legal consequences. Guardian forms also have state-specific fraud notices that include warnings such as “[a]ny person who knowingly presents a false or fraudulent claim for payment of a loss is subject to criminal and civil penalties.”

At the very least, if you need to correct a mistake on prior paperwork it undermines your credibility, draws more attention to your claim, and can make it more likely that the insurer will take additional investigative action, such as in-person surveillance. Accordingly, you should always double-check everything submitted in connection with your claim to ensure it is accurate.

These are just a few tips related to completing forms, and each claim is different and involves different facts and different considerations. Remember, insurers often use ambiguity to wrongfully deny claims; however, at the same time, providing too much information, inaccurate information, and/or answers that are not well thought-out can also prejudice your ability to collect without a lawsuit. Even if you are right, and ultimately win, litigation is costly and protracted litigation can leave you financially vulnerable.

Consequently, it is much better to carefully complete the claim forms correctly from the beginning and submit your claim properly from the outset. If you do not understand your policy or have experience with how Guardian handles claims, it can be difficult to sift through the forms and identify what you should/should not say. It is advisable to at least consult with an experienced disability attorney before filing your claim, so that you have an understanding of what to expect when you file and can identify any issues you need to specifically address relating to your claim.

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6. What should I expect after filing a Guardian disability claim?

After the initial proof of loss packet is submitted, Guardian assigns physician’s disability claims to a benefit specialist, and he or she will send you a list of the additional information needed to evaluate your occupational duties and claim.

Ongoing Proof of Loss. As the claim progresses, Guardian will require ongoing proof of loss and additional paperwork to be completed by you and your doctor(s).  The paperwork will include questions relevant to various policy provisions that may limit your coverage, so it is advisable to be represented by an attorney.

Records Requests. After you submit the initial claim documents, Guardian will likely send a follow-up letter requesting additional records and documents. For physicians, this usually includes financial documents (such as tax returns), CPT codes, profit and loss statements, employment agreements, and practice sale documents, among other things. Whether these requests are appropriate depends on the terms of your policy and nature of your claim, and should be reviewed by an attorney.

Interviews. In addition to periodic phone interviews, Guardian may hire a field examiner to interview you in-person. This interview typically takes place at your attorney’s office, or at your home or office if you are not represented by an attorney, and interviewers/investigators may arrive unannounced if you are not represented. Guardian may also seek to interview your co-workers and/or employers about your prior job duties, and may seek to interview your friends or family members about the impact your condition has had on your day-to-day life. Whether these types of interviews are appropriate depends on various factors, including the particular issues at play in your claim.

Disability Examinations. Almost every disability policy contains a provision that allows the company to have you examined as part of the claims investigation. However, different policies allow for different types of examinations. Guardian’s older policies typically only expressly allow for “physical” or “medical” examinations, while newer Guardian policies are much more detailed and list several different types of exams, including mental exams, vocational evaluations, rehabilitation evaluations, functional capacity evaluations, and/or neuropsychological testing, in addition to physical exams. Whether an exam is appropriate depends on the particular facts of your case, and the underlying policy language.

Disability-Related Surveillance. Guardian is a company that conducts surveillance, including online and in-person surveillance. Guardian generally begins by reviewing your online presence/social media and then moves on to in-person surveillance if they feel that is warranted. If you have a partial disability claim with Guardian or keep a passive interest in your practice, Guardian will periodically review your practice’s website and social media to assess whether any posts suggest that your activity levels at the practice vary from what has been reported to Guardian.

Peer to Peer Calls. When you file your disability claim, Guardian will typically assign physician’s disability claims to an in-house doctor and pay that doctor to review your medical records and look for any gaps or inconsistencies. Often, Guardian will then direct their doctor to call your treating doctors in what is called a “peer to peer” call. Guardian may tell you this is going to happen, but in most cases this takes place behind the scenes without your knowledge. In these calls, Guardian’s doctors ask questions that are crafted to elicit responses that the company can use to deny or terminate your claim.  For instance, Guardian’s doctor might ask whether there are alternative treatment options, when your doctor thinks that you will be able to go back to work, etc.  These questions are typically asked without advising your doctor that you have an “own-occupation” disability policy or describing your medical job duties in detail, including any risks to yourself or you patients if you were to continue to practice.  After the call, Guardian’s doctor generally sends your doctor a written summary of their discussion.  These summaries may contain statements that are inaccurate and prejudicial to your claim.  Your doctor may not have been provided with adequate information to answer Guardian’s questions, or have been too busy to notice the errors.  Often, doctors simply sign off on the summaries without much thought, inadvertently hurting your claim.  The best way to prevent this from happening is to have all correspondence with your medical providers be in writing and go through a disability attorney.

This process can feel very invasive and, if you have never experienced it before, it can be hard to tell whether your insurer is taking things too far.  If you are unsure whether Guardian is acting appropriately, an experienced disability insurance attorney can help you to assess/limit the scope of any overly broad or improper investigation.

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7. How and when should I approach my treating doctor about my disability claim?

Your treating physician’s support can often be critical to getting your claim approved.  A hurried, uninterested physician may not have time to devote to your claim, and Guardian is a company that typically requires a significant amount of medical documentation before approving a disability claim. You will need to find a treating physician who is willing to take the time to understand how your policy works, complete claim paperwork and potentially answer follow-up questions from Guardian’s in-house doctors.

When the time comes to speak to your treating physician about your claim, it is also important that your doctor understands the definition of “disability” under your insurance policy—particularly if you have a “true own occupation” claim where disability is defined as the inability to practice medicine or your specialty (even if you can work in another capacity). Otherwise, if you start a new job, your physician may assume you are no longer pursuing the disability claim and answer that you may resume working, even if your new job is unrelated to the practice of medicine.

In our experience, Guardian’s consulting doctors are reluctant to provide your treating physician with information regarding your job duties and important policy provisions before commencing an interview.  If you are represented by at attorney, measures may be taken to ensure that interviews are schedule through counsel and are even-handed.

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8. Do I need to hire a Guardian disability attorney to file my claim?

While there are certainly claims that may not require attorney involvement—for example, a disability claim due to the loss of a limb or something very serious, such as paralysis—in our experience many physician claims are not that straightforward.

Many of our clients have slowly progressive conditions, conditions that may/may not respond to future treatment, or conditions that are irregularly and unpredictably debilitating, such as musculoskeletal conditions due to degenerative disc disease, Parkinson’s Disease, MS, Cystic Fibrosis, POTS, or seizures/migraines caused by periodic intracranial hemorrhages.

Other clients have conditions like a tremor, that may not prevent them from working in other jobs, but have a significant impact on their ability to work as a physician.  Others have mental health conditions (anxiety disorder, panic attacks, PTSD) that cannot be verified by a single, definitive objective test.

These sorts of nuanced claims receive heightened scrutiny, including early and proactive involvement by a senior claims analyst, and direct and continued involvement of vocational/medical professionals with a return to work focus (often for the duration of the claim).

Obviously, if your claim is denied or you have a dispute over policy interpretation, you may need an attorney to become involved to resolve the matter.  That being said, lawsuits with insurance companies are often costly, stressful, and, in some instances, can drag out over several years, all to the insurance company’s advantage. Even if you prevail, it can be an exhausting process, and companies typically appeal, which can take at least another year or more, all the while you are not getting paid benefits.

In our view, it is more prudent to approach your claim carefully from the outset and have your attorney address any concerns that Guardian may have over the course of the investigation itself, so that you are not placed in a position where benefits have been cut off and your only option is a lawsuit.

In our experience, the most common areas where complexities can arise in physician’s disability claims include:

    • The timing of the claim (particularly in situations where a disabling condition is slowly progressive);
    • Claims made by physicians with multiple sources of income, some of which may continue post-disability;
    • Claims made by physicians who have taken an active role in office/hospital administration or are involved in non-clinical work;
    • Claims where the underlying condition is difficult to diagnose or a diagnosis by exclusion;
    • Claims involving multiple co-morbid conditions;
    • Claims that involve conditions that may respond partially to future treatment;
    • Claims involving conditions that are irregularly and unpredictably disabling;
    • Claims that the insurer will likely attempt to contradict by selective surveillance;
    • Claims involving recommendations for or against surgery; and
    • Claims involving mental health conditions.

Lately, we are also seeing Guardian revisit claims that have been paid for multiple years, particularly claims filed in the 2020/2021 timeframe and claims involving complications from COVID and/or other discrete conditions. If you are currently on claim, but Guardian is requiring an in-person medical exam or in-person interview, these are signs that Guardian may be targeting your claim for termination and you should at least consult with an attorney to determine if you need to engage counsel to ensure that Guardian handles your claim fairly.

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9. When should I contact an attorney about my claim?

Physicians who are considering filing a claim for disability insurance benefits should meet with a disability attorney well-before submitting a claim.  Each disability policy has different, complex language that insurance companies may manipulate to circumscribe and restrict coverage.  Before filing, physicians should make a coordinated effort, with an attorney’s assistance, to determine whether their particular claim is covered, and if so, how that claim is best presented to ensure payment.

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Guardian Claim Tips and Answers to Other Common Guardian Questions

10. Will Guardian pay my claim?

Guardian policies are typically true own-occupation policies; however, they also contain very specific, technical requirements that must be followed in order to successfully collect benefits.

In our experience, Guardian is a company that conducts very thorough, and sometimes very lengthy, claim investigations. We have also found that Guardian often subjects claims involving younger claimants and/or policies that pay lifetime benefits to heightened scrutiny. Regardless, Guardian will usually send out long lists of additional information it needs to evaluate a claim, before making a claim determination.

If you don’t understand your policy’s requirements or why Guardian is asking for certain information, it may seem like overkill, and you may be inclined to ignore the requests in the hopes Guardian will make a decision based on information already provided. However, if you do not provide the requested information, Guardian will often use that as an excuse to back-burner your claim until the information is received. We have become involved in several physician disability claims where Guardian has put-off making a claims determination for several months because it has medical documentation, but not financial, or vice versa.

Historically, courts have also criticized Guardian for engaging in “artful neglect.” This is a legal term of art that essentially means that the company is not gathering all available information and/or willfully avoiding documentation that could support a claim approval. As one court put it,

Berkshire [Guardian] gives the appearance of investigating a claim in order to render a good faith claims determination.  As part of this appearance, Berkshire [Guardian] timely requests financial information from its insured and then timely requests more information from its insured.  In direct contrast to this “appearance,” however, Berkshire [Guardian] does not analyze the information at all, much less use an analysis in a cogent and rational way to support a proper claims determination.

See Berkshire Life Insurance Company v. Maryland Insurance Administration, 142 Md. App. 628, 791 A.2d 942 (App. 2002),

At the same time, in our experience, Guardian’s analysts do not always thoroughly document the claim file when it comes to communications with their outside consultants, IME doctors, etc. This can also result in a one-sided claim file that does not tell the whole story.

Consequently, with Guardian, it is very important to engage with the company throughout the claim investigation, proactively gather documentation that supports your claim, and fully present your claim properly to Guardian from the start.

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11. If I have a mental health condition, will Guardian pay my claim?

In our experience, Guardian is more skeptical of mental health claims, in comparison to other companies. Guardian’s in-house doctors often prepare lists of certain treatments that have not been tried—including, in some instances, fringe treatments—and imply that x, y or z treatment will allow the physician to return to work.

Guardian—like all disability insurers—is also generally inclined to assert all possible defenses available to them, even in situations where you might expect a disability company to be more sympathetic of the underlying dynamics at play. For example, in one Guardian case, the policyholder—a former CEO—sought to file his lawsuit against Guardian anonymously, in an effort to keep his mental health condition and situation confidential. Guardian could have permitted this, but instead objected and forced him to publicly disclose his identity as part of the case, which only added to the policyholders’ mental and emotional distress.

While, in that particular case, Guardian had a legal right to object and—from a legal standpoint—did not do anything wrong by objecting, Guardian’s objection highlights the fact that, at the end of the day, insurance is ultimately a bottom-line business—for Guardian and all disability insurers.

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12. How does Guardian determine my occupation?

Under most disability policies, including Guardian policies, your occupation is determined based upon what you were doing immediately prior to your date of disability.

Guardian policies can contain several other important occupation-related provisions that are policy-specific. For example, many Guardian policies define your occupation as the “occupation or occupations” you were engaged in prior to disability. Guardian uses this particular provision to draw in other sources of income, in addition to your clinical income, and make your “occupation” more expansive (which, in turn, can make it more difficult for you to establish total disability).

Some Guardian policies also include a 12-month lookback period for determining what counts as “your occupation.” If you have a policy with the 12-month lookback, Guardian may attempt to reach back to other roles or titles you had during that time period, even if you are no longer receiving income from those endeavors.

Alternatively, your Guardian policy may state that working 40 hours a week, itself, does not count as a material duty of your occupation. This provision can make it more difficult for you to collect total disability benefits, because establishing that you can no longer work in your occupation full-time is not enough to qualify for benefits.

Our office has also found that some Guardian analysts are not aware of, or are resistant to, additional considerations stemming from disability case law. For example, some states, such as California and Arizona, require disability insurers to also consider whether the policyholder can perform the duties of his or her occupation in the “usual and customary” way—whether or not that language is in the actual policy. Accordingly, it is important to verify that your Guardian claim was evaluated under the proper standard.

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13. Why does Guardian keep bothering my doctors?

Like most disability policies, Guardian policies typically require you to be under the care of a doctor in order to continue qualifying for benefits. Most Guardian policies require this care to be “appropriate according to prevailing medical standards, for the condition causing the disability.”

Guardian’s in-house doctors are often asked to evaluate whether any treatment or surgeries exist that could improve function and return the policyholder to work in his or her occupation—particularly at the outset of a claim. Guardian may similarly challenge your treating doctor’s plan of care as not “appropriate” if they do not feel the plan is aggressive enough.

Guardian is also aware that treating physicians are often very busy, and in today’s climate, doctor’s offices are often short-staffed, or understaffed. Requests for information can easily go unnoticed, or be set aside, giving Guardian the chance to deny the claim due to lack of medical evidence. Alternatively, Guardian may require you to submit to an in-person IME/FCE by a provider of their choosing, then forward the subsequent report to your doctor for review. Guardian typically interprets a lack of response from your doctor as your doctor signing off on the results, even if your doctor, in reality, disagrees with the conclusions in the report.

In many instances, treating providers are happy to help with initial requests for records and initial claim forms. However, as the claim goes on and Guardian continues to ask for physician’s statements and records every few months, and/or begins to challenge the treatment plan, your doctors may become less enthusiastic about helping you with your claim. Many of Guardian’s in-house doctors are not specialists, and some treating doctors can get upset when an in-house doctor, with no training in the relevant specialty, is second-guessing them. In some instances, your doctor may even tell you that you need to find another doctor, because they don’t have the bandwidth to deal with Guardian’s repeated requests for information.

Additionally, treating doctors are often not familiar with the nuances of own-occupation policies. In our experience, Guardian’s doctors sometimes seek to take advantage of this in peer-to-peer calls by asking generic questions about capacity to work, without mentioning your practice area specifically or explaining how your policy works.

If you are not represented by counsel, this often takes place behind the scenes and you may not find out about it until your claim is denied for lack of medical support, or your doctor complains to you about Guardian calling his or her office. Accordingly, if you have a Guardian claim, you need to ensure your doctors are responding to requests for medical information, assuming the requests are appropriate. The best way to do this is to engage counsel, and require all claim correspondence to go through your disability attorney.

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14. Why does Guardian want my CPT codes?

Most disability insurers will ask for CPT codes when you file a disability claim, to verify that you were actively practicing. Guardian will often take it a step further and attempt to categorize your CPT codes, break down each category of procedures, and assign a percentage to each category. Guardian then often seeks to label the categories with higher percentages as your “material duties.”

This can be problematic, from a total disability perspective, if you have a disability based upon physical limitations, but have a significant number of codes that are not physically demanding (e.g. office visits, telemedicine appointments, etc.).

That being said, looking at unit production is only one way to evaluate material duties and may not be appropriate in all circumstances. For example, in situations where certain procedures bring in a disproportionate amount of income (e.g. surgeries versus office visits), it may be more appropriate to label those procedures as “material duties,” even if the total units are not as high as other areas.

In other situations, such as cash-pay scenarios, this data may not be available or the data may be skewed because it does not encompass all services provided, only services billed to insurance.

Accordingly, if you have a Guardian claim you should be aware of the state of your CPT codes and prepared to identify and provide evidence of your material duties in light of your particular situation.

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15. Guardian is saying I should go back to work and if I do they will pay me partial disability. Should I?

In our experience, Guardian tends to suggest a return to work more quickly and more frequently than other companies. Often, Guardian will offer to pay partial disability if you return to work but are not initially able to go back to work full-time, to incentivize you to return to practicing.

Additionally, many Guardian policies have graded lifetime riders that lock-in benefits based on the most recent date of total disability. If your claim shifts from total disability to partial disability, this can reduce or eliminate your ability to receive lifetime benefits.

Sometimes a return to work/partial disability status is appropriate, but it is not always the right path for disabled physicians and can put patients at risk. Unlike other professions, physicians can’t afford to “test the waters” if they unsure about their capacity to work, because the consequences can be drastic (to both patients and their license) if they are not ready to go back yet.

When evaluating whether it is appropriate to return to work, patient safety and your own health are the key considerations, and you should not go back to work before you are ready.

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The information provided above is offered purely for informational purposes. It is not intended to create or promote an attorney-client relationship, and does not constitute and should not be relied upon as legal advice.

Every claim is unique and the discussion above is only a limited summary of information that may be relevant to your claim. If you are a physician concerned that Guardian is not handling your claim fairly, an experienced disability insurance attorney can help you assess the situation and determine what options are available to you.

Notable Guardian Disability Insurance Cases

Paulson v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of America, No. 11:22-cv-977 (RDA/IDD) (E.D. Va. Feb. 5, 2024).

Pak v. Guardian Life Ins. Co., No. 21-cv-05032-WHO (N.D. Cal. Feb. 10, 2022).

Doe v. Berkshire Life Ins. Co., Civil Action No. 20-CV-01033-PAB-NRN (D. Colo. June 23, 2020).

Sadel v. Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America, 473 Fed.Appx. 152 (2012).

Pomerance v. Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America, 654 S.E.2d. 638 (2007).

Shapiro v. Berkshire Life Insurance Company, 212 F.3d 121 (2000).

Guardian Disability Insurance Blog Posts

Disability Insurer Profiles #4: Guardian/Berkshire

Berkshire Criticized by the Maryland Insurance Commissioner for “Artful Neglect”

Medical History Misstatements on A Disability Policy Application Can Void The Policy In The Future

Pennsylvania and California Market Conduct Examinations of Guardian Life Insurance Company/Berkshire Life Insurance Company

Case Study: What Does “Material and Substantial” Mean?

Can I File Anonymously if I File a Disability Lawsuit? A Case Study

Case Study: Berkshire Attempts to Use the “Dual Occupation Defense”

Am I Working in My Specialty? A Case Study

Can I Sell My Practice and Collect on My Business Overhead Expense Policy?

Disability Insurer Profiles: Guardian

Guardian Life Insurance Offers Student Loan Protection Program