Law Offices of Kevin M. Zietz

Law Offices of Kevin M. Zietz Representing Individuals Denied Disability, Life and Health Benefits

If your employer is refusing to provide information about your disability benefits, you may have more rights than you re...
06/02/2026

If your employer is refusing to provide information about your disability benefits, you may have more rights than you realize. Employees are often entitled to important plan documents, benefit information, and explanations regarding coverage and claims. When employers or plan administrators fail to provide that information, it can make an already difficult situation even more stressful.

In our latest blog, we discuss what employees need to know about accessing disability benefit information, common issues that arise when employers fail to communicate, and the steps you can take to protect your rights.

Read more here: https://ow.ly/27gw50Z6pbp

If you have group disability insurnace through your employer, your claim is most likely governed by a federal law called...
05/18/2026

If you have group disability insurnace through your employer, your claim is most likely governed by a federal law called ERISA. Under ERISA, the claiment must timely appeal and exhaust an administrative appeal process. There are real deadlines, and the insurance company’s claim file becomes very important.

In many ERISA disability cases, the court's review is generally limited to only those documents contained in the insurance company's file as of the final denial on appeal. So if a denial letter arrives and gets set aside for a few weeks, or months, or if key medical records never make it into the file, that can seriously affect the outcome.

This is why we spend time looking closely at:

🔹The policy language.
🔹The denial letter.
🔹The medical and employment records that are (and are not) in the file.

If you’re dealing with an ERISA-governed disability denial in California, you do not have to guess about these rules on your own. We can walk you through the timing and the evidence so you can make a clear decision about next steps.

You can read more here: https://zietzlaw.com/blog-insurance-lawyer/

See examples of past results here: https://zietzlaw.com/results/

One of the comments we hear most often from clients is how much it helps simply to have someone in their corner during a...
05/14/2026

One of the comments we hear most often from clients is how much it helps simply to have someone in their corner during a difficult claim.

A long-term care client recently shared that we didn’t just handle the legal steps of the case. We took the time to explain what the insurance company was doing, answer questions, and help calm some of the fear and frustration she and her family were feeling. In the end, she received a result that gave her more stability as she moved forward with her disability.

That kind of feedback means a lot to us, because we know these cases are not just about paperwork. They involve real people, health problems, and families who are already under a lot of stress.

If someone you know in California has had a disability or long-term care claim denied and feels overwhelmed by the process, you’re welcome to share our information. We’re always glad to listen, review the situation, and give clear, honest guidance about next steps.

You can learn more about what clients have shared here:
https://zietzlaw.com/testimonials/

Not every disabling condition is visible or subject to objective verification. Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PT...
05/04/2026

Not every disabling condition is visible or subject to objective verification. Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and other psychiatric or cognitive conditions can affect a person’s ability to work just as much as a physical injury. In some cases, focusing, remembering instructions, or even getting through the day can be extremely hard.

Disability insurers do not always make this easy. They may question symptoms, request additional records, or focus on “normal” moments in the file while ignoring how up-and-down things really are.

We understand that mental health conditions are real and can be disabling on their own or along with physical health problems. When we look at a claim, we pay close attention to the medical records, the physical and mental requirements of your job, and how your symptoms
affect your ability to perform the essential duties of your job on a full time basis.

If you or someone close to you is dealing with a disability claim involving psychiatric or cognitive issues and has run into a denial, we’re here to talk through the situation and explain your options under your policy.

Learn more about our disability work here: https://zietzlaw.com/

Pre-existing condition clauses in group long-term disability policies can have a major impact on whether benefits are ap...
04/30/2026

Pre-existing condition clauses in group long-term disability policies can have a major impact on whether benefits are approved or denied. In our latest blog, we explain how these exclusions work, what insurers look for during a review, and why understanding your policy language matters before filing a claim.

Read the full article here: https://ow.ly/AaJx50YS19u

Long-term care insurance is meant to help when daily life becomes too difficult to manage alone. For many families, this...
04/30/2026

Long-term care insurance is meant to help when daily life becomes too difficult to manage alone. For many families, this comes up when a parent or loved one needs help with basic tasks like bathing, dressing, or getting safely in and out of a chair. It can also become important when someone is living with memory loss, dementia, or another cognitive condition and needs supervision to stay safe.

These policies are supposed to provide support in exactly those moments. But when a claim is denied, families are often already tired, worried, and trying to juggle doctor visits, caregiving, and finances all at once.

If you’re in California and a long-term care claim has been denied or delayed, we can review the policy and the denial letter with you and talk through realistic next steps.

You can read more here:
https://zietzlaw.com/practice-areas/los-angeles-long-term-care-lawyer/

One of the things we value most is when past clients and colleagues trust us enough to send someone our way. We know the...
04/21/2026

One of the things we value most is when past clients and colleagues trust us enough to send someone our way. We know these conversations usually start quietly among friends and family who may be sharing their experiences with benefits or disability denial, or feeling overwhelmed by all of the paperwork.

These are the kinds of situations we handle every day.

When you refer someone to us, they get personal attention, clear answers, and an honest assessment of their options under the policy they paid for.

If someone in your life is struggling with a denied disability or long-term care claim in California and needs guidance, feel free to share our website with them: https://zietzlaw.com/

We truly appreciate every referral and the trust that comes with it.

Not all disability policies work the same way, and that can really affect your claim. Some people in California have dis...
04/09/2026

Not all disability policies work the same way, and that can really affect your claim. Some people in California have disability coverage through their employer, typically a group plan, often governed by a federal law called ERISA. These claims follow strict rules and short deadlines and are often decided based on the paper file the insurance company creates.

Others have a individual disability policy they bought themselves. Those claims are usually handled under California state law, which gives policyholders different rights and options. Some people even have both types of coverage without realizing it.

When a claim is denied or benefits are stopped, knowing which kind of policy you have is one of the first questions we ask, because the legal strategy can vary widely.

If you’re not sure what kind of disability coverage you have, or how it affects your claim, we can help you sort it out.

Learn more about group plans here: https://zietzlaw.com/practice-areas/long-term-disability-claims-group-plans/

And about individual disability policies here: https://zietzlaw.com/practice-areas/individual-disability-claims-private-policies/

A denied letter can feel like the end of the road in a disability claims case. But, for many, it is not. Insurance compa...
03/30/2026

A denied letter can feel like the end of the road in a disability claims case. But, for many, it is not. Insurance companies often deny claims based on the type of policy you have and what is or is not in your claim file.

For people in California, that can mean very different things depending on whether it is an employer group plan or a policy you bought on your own. Details like medical records, doctor statements, and how your job is described can all play a big role. If the files are missing or incomplete, the insurance company may use that as a reason to say no.

The good news: a denial is not always final. However, there are strict time limits and important steps to take early on. That’s where we come in. If your disability claim has been denied or your benefits have been cut off, we’re here to look at the policy, the claim file, and the deadlines with you so you can decide what to do next.

You can learn more here: https://zietzlaw.com/blog-insurance-lawyer/ or visit our website: https://zietzlaw.com/

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16055 Ventura Boulevard, Ste. 650
Encino, CA
91436

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