Friday, May 4, 2012

DO's and DONT's of the Insurance Investigator Interview


DO’s and DON’T’s of the Insurance Investigator Interview

As an investigative tactic, your Disability insurer will sometimes require an in-person interview with a claimant early on in the process.  Here are some tips on dealing with that interview.

#1.  DO Schedule the Interview

            Often they will send someone out to your home without notice and try to catch you by surprise.   You should politely tell them that it is not a good time and schedule the interview for a day and time that is convenient for you.  Do not be bullied into letting the investigator into your home unprepared.

#2.            DO have someone present

            Many times we have seen the investigator’s report and it comes back with inconsistencies and facts never discussed.  It is therefore very important to have someone present, preferably your attorney, so as to corroborate what you have said or not said, or what you were or were not able to do (physically).

#3.  DO tape record the interview

            Along with having a witness, we also recommend that you tape record the interview.  This way, there can be no question as to what you said, did or otherwise.

#4.            DO NOT be Inconsistent

            While you could be having a particularly good day, it is very important not to do or say anything inconsistent with what you or your physicians have described as your restrictions and limitations.  For example, if you cannot sit for more than 20 minutes without pain, do not feel that you have to endure pain to finish the interview. When you experience the pain that sitting for a prolonged period causes, take a break, stretch, move around, lay down, or whatever else you need to do to relax and alleviate some of the pain.  The investigator is already looking for inconsistencies; do not give him or her any ammunition.

#5.            DO NOT Volunteer Extraneous Information

            Answer only the questions that are asked of you, and do not fill the “void of silence” between questions with chatter.  You run the risk of giving out information that the investigator can misconstrue and use against you.





#6.              DO NOT be Fooled into Thinking the Investigator is Your Friend or On Your Side

            The investigator is not your friend.  Although this is not true of every claim or every insurance company, very often the investigator has been given marching orders to find information that will permit the insurer to deny your claim.  They may appear friendly, but they are not looking out for your interests in any way. For example, the investigator may comment about your lovely home and ask to tour it.  You should say “no” as this is not required. More often than not, if you do allow the investigator a tour, he or she will find something about your home that will have a negative effect on your claim, like that your house is particularly clean (meaning that you have the ability to do the hard work required to keep it that way), or that you have stairs (which you are obviously able to climb repeatedly throughout the day), and other such matters.  In short, no good will come from sharing too much information!

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