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How To Apply For A Disability Waiver of Premium Under A Life Insurance Policy

Step 4. Complete the disability waiver of premium application.

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If your policy is an individual policy

  • Complete as much of the application as you can. Make a copy "just in case." Send or take the form to your doctor to complete the medical provisions.
  • Find out how long it will take the doctor to complete the form. Set alerts on your computer or note it in your calendar. Start following up if you haven't received the form by the date specified.
  • Review the completed form, including the doctor's statements, to be sure everything is completed as desired. If the doctor included information about prognosis or life expectancy, keep in mind that life expectancy is about statistics, and doesn't begin to let us know what will happen in the future -- much less with any particular individual. Life expectancy (unless you are at an end stage) is about what has happened in the past, not what will happen with the new drugs and treatments that are constantly coming on the market.

Keep in mind that the doctor is trying to help you and is likely indicating a life expectancy as short as he or she can for the purpose of helping you obtain this benefit.

  • Make a copy of the form for your files.
  • You can submit the form as is without a cover letter. However, it is preferable to send it to the insurance company with a letter that references your policy number and states that you are requesting activation of the disability waiver of premium. Ask that your request be attended to as soon as possible. Tell the insurer to call you if there are any questions. Be sure to provide a phone number at which you can be reached during business hours.
  • Submit all documentation via certified mail or similar means which will permit you to trace it and to prove that it was received. This way you will have the necessary documentation to prove when the insurance company received your paperwork.
  • Follow-up with the insurance company periodically to find out the status of your application. We recommend that you follow up a day or so after you send your information to confirm its receipt -- even if you already know it was received because you track it through the carrier. At this time, ask how long it will take to process. You should then set alerts to follow-up. Call at least once a week to find out the status of your application until it has been processed.

If you have group coverage

  • Call the insurance company and ask for an application for the disability waiver of premium benefit. Don't be surprised if the insurance company tells you that you have to obtain the application from your group. If this is the case, ask the administrator at your group for the application. If you have your insurance through work, and you haven't previously disclosed your condition, read Disclosing your Condition To Your Employer. You do not have to tell your employer more about your condition at this point than you want to. Keep in mind that you may not be protected against discrimination as a result of your condition unless you formally make a disclosure for that purpose to your employer. To learn more, see Rights At Work.
  • If there is a part of the form that has to be completed by you're the group, give the form to the group to complete that section. Ask that the completed form be returned to you. Find out how long it will take to complete the form and set alerts in your computer or make a note in your calendar to follow up.
  • When you have the form back, check the group's statements for accuracy. Then complete your section.
  • Make a copy of the form "just in case" and send or take it to your doctor Find out how long it will take the doctor to complete the form, set alerts to follow up. Start following up if you haven't received the form by the date noted.
  • Review the completed form, including the doctor's statements, to be sure everything is completed as desired. If the doctor's form includes information about prognosis or life expectancy, keep in mind that life expectancy is about statistics, and doesn't begin to let us know what will happen with any particular individual. Likewise, it is about what has happened in the past, not what will happen with the new drugs and treatments that are coming on the market on a frequent basis.

Keep in mind that the doctor is trying to help you. It is likely that he or she will indicate a life expectancy as short as he or she arguably can for the purpose of helping you obtain this benefit.

  • Make a copy of the form for your files. You can submit it to the insurance company as is. However, it is preferable to send it to the insurance company with a letter that references your policy number and states that you are requesting activation of the disability waiver of premium provision. Ask that your request be attended to as soon as possible. Tell the company to call you if there are any questions. Be sure to provide a phone number at which you can be reached during business hours.
  • Submit all documentation via certified mail or similar means which will permit you to trace it and to prove that it was received. This way you will have the necessary documentation to prove when the insurance company received your paperwork.
  • Follow-up with the insurance company periodically to find out the status of your application. We recommend that you follow up a day or so after you send your information to confirm its receipt -- even if you already know it was received because you track it through the carrier. At this time, ask how long it will take to process. You should then set alerts to follow-up. Call at least once a week to find out the status of your application until it has been processed.

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