Bank of America employees work in a variety of roles, ranging from customer service and finance to technology and operations. Whether you’re a teller, loan officer, IT specialist, or involved in management, your job can be physically and emotionally demanding.
Unfortunately, illness or injury can happen to anyone, and when it does, long-term disability (LTD) insurance is essential to help you maintain financial stability while you’re unable to work.
Here’s an overview of the specific duties of Bank of America employees, why it can be difficult to obtain LTD benefits, and how you can improve your chances of a successful claim.
Primary Duties of Bank of America Employees
Bank of America employees perform a wide variety of duties depending on their role, but some common duties include:
- Customer Service: Responding to customer inquiries, resolving problems, and processing transactions. This can be emotionally taxing, especially with difficult customers.
- Loan Officers: Evaluating and approving loans, often under tight deadlines and high-pressure environments. These roles require strong attention to detail and financial acumen.
- IT Specialists: Develop and maintain the systems that keep Bank of America’s operations running smoothly. This is a high-stakes, mentally intensive job that often requires long hours and troubleshooting under pressure.
- Managers: Manage teams, oversee operations, and ensure regulatory compliance. Management positions often come with heavy workloads, responsibility, and stress.
Each of these roles requires cognitive focus, communication, and stamina. Even a seemingly minor injury or illness can severely impact your ability to perform essential duties, making LTD benefits critical.
Why LTD Claims Can Be Challenging for Bank of America Employees
Bank of America offers its employees long-term disability (LTD) insurance coverage, which is presently provided through MetLife. While this insurance is designed to help employees maintain financial stability during extended periods of illness or injury, it can still be challenging to get claims approved. Here are some of the most common difficulties:
- “Invisible” Disabilities: Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD, which can be exacerbated by the high-pressure environment of financial institutions, are sometimes denied by insurance companies. These insurers may claim there’s insufficient evidence of disability if symptoms are not visible.
- Sedentary Jobs: While many Bank of America employees work in office environments, insurers may argue that because the job is sedentary, it should not be difficult to continue working. However, chronic pain, cognitive impairments, or mental health conditions can severely impact someone’s ability to perform even a desk job.
- High Income Levels: For those in higher paying positions, such as financial advisors or executives, the insurer may be motivated to deny the claim because of the high potential payout. They may use tactics such as requesting excessive documentation, demanding proof of ongoing treatment, or hiring private investigators to try to discredit the severity of your condition.
- Lack of Objective Testing: Many conditions, such as migraines, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome, are difficult to prove with objective tests (such as MRIs or blood work), making them easier for insurance companies to deny.
Tips for a Successful Long-Term Disability Claim
Having a clear understanding of MetLife’s policies, along with thorough documentation and legal assistance, can significantly improve the chances of a successful claim. To improve your chances of getting approved for a long-term disability claim, consider the following tips:
- Thorough Medical Documentation: Make sure your doctor provides detailed notes that outline not only your diagnosis but also how your symptoms affect your ability to perform specific job duties. For example, if your condition causes fatigue that limits your ability to concentrate, your doctor should make that clear.
- Get a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE): An FCE can help determine the limits of your physical and cognitive abilities. This report can be a powerful tool in proving to the insurance company that you cannot perform your job duties.
- Continued Medical Treatment: Keep consistent with your medical appointments and treatment plan. Gaps in care or noncompliance with recommended treatment are common reasons for denials.
- Job-Specific Information: Provide the insurance company with a detailed description of your job duties. For example, if you are a manager who oversees large teams, explain the mental and physical demands of this role.
- Legal Assistance: If your claim is denied or delayed, consider contacting a long-term disability attorney who understands the financial services industry. They can help you gather the necessary evidence, meet deadlines, and appeal wrongful denials.
How a Long-Term Disability Attorney Can Help
Navigating the complexities of a long-term disability claim can be overwhelming, especially when dealing with the stress of a serious medical condition. Bank of America employees may face unique challenges when filing a claim, particularly due to the subjective nature of some disabilities and the high-pressure environment of the financial services industry.
A long-term disability attorney, such as Nick Ortiz at the Ortiz Law Firm, can provide invaluable assistance if your claim has been denied. A disability attorney can help build a stronger case by:
If you’re a Bank of America employee and your long-term disability claim has been denied, contact the Ortiz Law Firm to discuss how we can help with your appeal. We are here to make sure you get the benefits you deserve while you focus on your health and recovery. Call (888) 321-8131 to schedule your free case evaluation today.