Any medical condition that causes symptoms severe enough to prevent you from performing the duties of your occupation will satisfy the terms of an “own occupation” or “your occupation” long term disability policy. If your policy specifies that you must be disabled from performing the duties of “any occupation” or “any gainful occupation”, your symptoms must meet that standard.
Common long-term disability conditions include cancer, accidents and injuries, mental health issues, musculoskeletal disorders, heart disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), neurological disorders, and vision or hearing impairments. These conditions can result in long-term disability.
Below is a list of the top 10 long term disability conditions that lead to long term disability claims. If you condition is not on this list, you may still be able to successfully file a long term disability claim. Even if your condition has not been diagnosed, if your symptoms prevent you from being able to work, you should explore whether long term disability is an option for you.
1. Cancer: Cancer is a devastating diagnosis that can quickly put someone out of work long term and make it difficult to keep up with medical bills and other costs associated with treatment. Long Term Disability insurance provides some relief in the form of monthly benefits, allowing people to focus on getting better rather than worrying about their financial future. Cancer and treatment for cancer can cause symptoms such as “chemo-brain”, long-term and chronic fatigue, pain, stiffness, limited range of motion, numbness, swelling, and cognitive impairment that may prevent you from being able to do your job long term. To prove disability due to cancer or cancer treatment you should consider testing such as a comprehensive functional capacity examination, a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, and a cardio-pulmonary exercise test.
2. Accidents and injuries: Injuries can be long-lasting, leaving people unable to work long term. Long Term Disability insurance covers the costs of long-term medical treatment and lost wages, helping ensure that those affected are able to make ends meet while they recover. Accidents and injuries can cause a wide range of physical and cognitive difficulties. To prove disability due to an accident or injury you should consider testing such as a comprehensive functional capacity examination, a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, and any relevant imaging or neurological testing.
3. Mental health conditions: Many mental health conditions can prevent someone from working long-term, but long term disability benefits can help lessen the financial burden and ensure that people get the treatment they need. Mental health conditions can cause cognitive difficulties, fatigue, pain, lack of stamina, an inability to make decisions, an inability to deal with stress, difficulty managing interactions with other people, and many other disabling symptoms. To prove disability due to a mental illness, you should consider testing such as a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, and any relevant imaging or neurological testing.
4. Musculoskeletal disorders:
Long-term musculoskeletal disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic back pain or degenerative joint disease can prevent someone from working long-term, leaving them without an income. Long Term Disability insurance can help alleviate this burden so they can focus on getting better and returning to work. Musculoskeletal disorders can cause symptoms such as chronic pain, painful swelling, stiffness, fatigue, and limited range of motion. To prove disability due to a musculoskeletal disorder, you should consider testing such as a comprehensive functional capacity examination. In addition, make sure you are able to provide relevant imaging studies and neurological testing.
5. Heart disease: Heart disease is a long-term medical condition that can leave someone unable to work long term, and long term disability benefits are available to cover the costs of long-term medical care as well as lost wages. Heart disease can cause symptoms such as an inability to handle stress, long-term fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling, dizziness, kidney disease, and cognitive difficulties that can prevent someone from performing the essential functions of their job long term. To prove disability due to heart disease, you should consider testing such as a comprehensive functional capacity examination, a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, and a cardio-pulmonary exercise test, EKGs, angiograms and stress tests.
6. Stroke: Strokes can cause long-term disabilities, and long term disability benefits are available to cover the costs of long-term medical care as well as lost wages. Stroke can cause symptoms such as paralysis, speech and language difficulties, cognitive impairments and memory loss, all of which can prevent someone from working long-term. To prove disability due to stroke, you should consider testing such as a comprehensive functional capacity examination, a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, an echocardiogram, carotid duplex scan, and brain MRI.
7. Multiple sclerosis: Multiple sclerosis is a long-term, degenerative disorder that can leave someone unable to work long term. Long Term Disability insurance can help cover the costs of long-term medical treatment and lost wages. Multiple sclerosis can cause symptoms such as chronic pain, cognitive issues, muscle spasms, depression and anxiety, numbness and tingling, vision problems, and fatigue. Any of these symptoms can be disabling. To prove disability due to multiple sclerosis you should consider testing such as a comprehensive functional capacity examination, a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, MRIs, magnetic resonance venography testing, and visual evoked potentials testing.
8. Chronic pain, chronic fatigue, and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): Chronic pain and chronic fatigue can be long-term, disabling conditions. Long Term Disability insurance can help cover the costs of long-term medical treatment and lost wages. These conditions can cause symptoms such as long-term fatigue, cognitive impairment, pain, sleep disturbances, and difficulty concentrating. To prove disability due to ME/CFS, chronic pain, and/or fatigue, you should consider testing such a comprehensive functional capacity examination, a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, myofascial pain provocation tests, and laboratory testing.
9. Neurological disorders: Neurological disorders like Parkinson's Disease or Alzheimer’s can
leave someone unable to work long term, and long term disability benefits are available to help cover the costs of long-term medical treatment and lost wages. Neurological disorders can cause symptoms such as memory loss, impaired judgment and coordination, speech difficulties, and confusion. Any of these symptoms can be disabling. To prove disability due to neurological disorders you should consider testing such as a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, a comprehensive functional capacity examination, and relevant imaging studies and neurological testing.
10. Vision or hearing impairments: Vision or hearing impairments can be long-term and make it difficult to work long term. Common vision or hearing impairments include age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, tinnitus, hyperacusis, and hearing loss. Long Term Disability insurance provides some relief in the form of monthly benefits, allowing people to focus on getting better rather than worrying about their financial future. To prove disability due to vision or hearing impairments you should consider testing such as a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, visual acuity tests, audiograms, and MRI scans.
The Experienced Team at The Maddox Firm
While the bar is lower for “own occupation” long term disability policies, you will still have to present objective medical evidence of your condition and symptoms regardless.
Proving your symptoms to your insurance company presents many challenges. We will work with your healthcare providers to ensure their visit notes and letters of support provide a complete picture of your condition and symptoms. We will also help you to complete a diary tracking your symptoms. Because your symptoms may not show up on test results, and because they may vary day-to-day, a symptom diary is a good way to show the long term disability insurance company that your symptoms are real.
We also will coordinate any necessary testing for you that gives the insurance company an in-depth, exhaustive, and objective evaluation conditions and symptoms. The Maddox Firm knows exactly what objective evidence you need to make your long term disability claim as bulletproof as possible.
We Fight Back Against Your Insurance Company
Your insurance company will try every trick in the book not to pay out your long term disability benefits. They may request copious amounts of information from you, whether it’s medical records, statements from your physicians, or financial documents. They may even try to arrange an “independent medical examination” with one of their biased doctors. In these scenarios, it’s all too easy to fill one of their endless forms out wrong, have your doctor’s statements taken out of context, or make any other oversight that ends in your claim being denied. The whole process can be exhausting and overwhelming to handle on your own.
With The Maddox Firm on your side, we take charge of all communications with your insurance company and make sure they treat your long term disability claim fairly. If your insurance company wants to schedule an independent medical examination, we can help postpone or cancel the exam. If the exam does go forward, we arrange for a medical professional to accompany you to the appointment and document your experience as a third-party witness. The Maddox Firm will ensure your insurance company receives the information they are entitled to while protecting your rights as a claimant.
The Maddox Firm Can Help You Prove Your Disability
You should always consult with an experienced attorney before filing your long term disability claim. If you have already received a denial, you should consult with an experienced attorney before filing an appeal. The team at The Maddox Firm will look over your insurance policy, correspondence from your insurance company, medical records, and any other relevant documentation in order to give you personalized guidance on how we can help you win your long term disability claim.