Long Term
Disability Coverage
Many of us have long term disability (LTD) coverage available through
our work or private insurance plans. When the time comes to use this coverage,
you may find yourself unfairly denied your rightful LTD.
You may not even realize you have LTD until you need it. It’s usually
bundled with short term disability coverage, which covers the beginning of a
longer leave. Your coverage usually covers your lost income due to an injury or
sickness that prevents you from working. It’s important to know your policy. An
illness that is exempted under one policy may be included under another.
A policy will often state that you have to be "totally disabled” in
order to claim your benefit. There’s no uniform definition of the term, which
is where disputes with insurance companies can arise. This can be especially
challenging for people who are on LTD because of a
mood
disorder.
Typically LTD plans pay your benefit for up to two years if you can
show that you cannot do your job. After that point, you may be required to show
evidence that you cannot do any job you’re reasonably suited for if you are to
continue receiving benefits. If you’re young, your insurance company may be
wary of paying benefits for the rest of your life and, as a result, attempt to
cut you off when the requirements for coverage change.
Who Needs
Long Term Disability?
According to Statistics Canada,
3.8
million Canadians were in some way limited by a disability in 2012, a full
13.7% of the adult population. One quarter of those with disabilities are
classified as having a severe disability.
The Canada
Pension Plan Disability Benefit
If you’ve sustained a long-term disability or illness that prevents you
from working, you may be eligible for the
CPP
Disability Benefit. To be eligible, you must be under the age of 65, have a
severe and prolonged disability, have contributed to CPP for a minimum amount
the previous year and contributed for a minimum number of years.
Apply for your benefits as soon as you become unable to work due to
disability or a terminal medical condition. Terminally ill patients who have
completed and submitted their applications will have them reviewed within 48
hours. Others have to wait longer for their claim to be investigated.
Why You
Should Hire a Long Term Disability Lawyer
When you’re up against a large insurer with years of experience and
resources you can’t match, you need a long-term disability lawyer to help you
level the playing field. After all, the insurer isn’t an independent and
unbiased corporation, but rather has a vested interest in minimizing or denying
your claim.
If your coverage is denied, it could be because of surveillance evidence
gathered that refutes your claim. Even an act as simple as reaching down for
your morning paper may be enough for an insurance company to deny your LTD. A
video of you bending over while waiting on LTD because of a back injury ignores
the pain you may suffer later.
A long term disability lawyer can also protect you from releasing
credit information that may damage your claim later or signing other documents
that might be used against you.