The best evidence is medical evidence from the consumer’s own treating consultant (or other specialist involved in their care) – where the specialist comments on the consumer’s condition at the dates relevant to the claim.
Other medical evidence could come from the consumer’s GP, an occupational physician or an independent specialist. It is helpful if a doctor or specialist can give an opinion on how any condition prevents the consumer from working in their existing occupation or in any other role.
We will look at this evidence carefully, taking into consideration the qualifications of the medical practitioner who provided it and the extent of their involvement in the consumer’s care.
Just because a consumer qualifies for state benefits does not necessarily mean they will meet their insurance policy’s definition of “total disability”. This is because the definition of disability for entitlement to state benefits tends to be less strict than in a typical income protection policy.
So while a consumer should send details of any state benefits they receive for their incapacity as evidence to their insurance company, they will generally also need to provide additional evidence to back up their claim.
