What Medical Conditions Qualify For Long Term Disability?

While you may purchase long-term disability insurance (LTD) from an insurance broker, it is typically offered by employers as part of a compensation package, but what medical conditions does long-term disability cover? A debilitating injury from an acute accident is the qualifying option. This assumption is only slightly true since there are a variety of physical, psychological, and medical conditions that could potentially qualify an applicant for long-term disability.

Qualifying Long-Term Disability Medical Conditions

The following is an inexhaustive list of medical and psychological conditions that an insurance company may consider severe enough to qualify as a disability. We should point out that depending on the disabling condition, the individual may have complete functionality, partial functionality, or none at all.

Musculoskeletal Conditions

Musculoskeletal functionalities include supporting the body, protecting internal organs, and facilitating movement. When affected, long-term disability may cover conditions that include:

Carpal tunnel syndrome
Arthritis or inflammatory arthritis
Back pain
Scoliosis
Spinal disorders
Herniated disks
Amputations
Degenerative joint disease
Fractured bones and dislocations
Fibromyalgia and fibromyositis

Psychological Disorders

These are mental or behavioural conditions that hinder personal functionality or result in the individual suffering significant distress.

Depression
Bipolar disorder
Chronic anxiety
Schizophrenia
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Drug addiction
Autism
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Agoraphobia
Panic attacks
Mood disorder
Organic mental disorders
Borderline personality disorder

Respiratory Conditions

Respiratory diseases are pathological conditions affecting the tissues and organs that facilitate gas exchange in humans.

Asthma
Lung cancer
Cystic fibrosis
Chronic lung infections
Sarcoidosis
Pneumoconiosis
Influenza
Pleural effusion
Emphysema
Chronic restrictive ventilatory disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Bronchiectasis
Acute respiratory distress syndrome

Cardiovascular Conditions

Medical conditions that affect the functions or structures of the heart may qualify for long-term disability. They may include the following:

Recurrent arrhythmias
Peripheral vascular disease
Congenital heart disease
Rheumatic heart disease
Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism
Heart failure
Heart muscle disease
Heart valve disease
Pericardial disease
Other severe vascular diseases

Nervous System Disorders

Medical conditions that affect the nerves and neurons may interrupt transmission signals between different parts of the body.

Epilepsy
Parkinson’s disease
Cerebral palsy
Multiple sclerosis
Myasthenia gravis
Syringomyelia
Stroke (cerebrovascular accident)
Traumatic brain injury
Alzheimer’s disease
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Seizure disorder
Bell’s palsy
Paralysis
Neuropathy
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Meralgia paresthetica
Empty sella syndrome
Dystonia

Digestive System Disorders

The following are infections and diseases that affect the digestive tract. Depending on the policies your insurance company has in place, you may be eligible to receive coverage.

Hernia
Colitis
Irritable bowel syndrome
Liver disease
Crohn’s disease
Short bowel syndrome
Gastritis
Wilson’s disease
Temporomandibular joint disorder
Kidney failure
Inflammatory bowel disease
Gastroparesis
Cirrhosis

Hematologic Diseases

Primarily, these disorders affect the blood and the organs that form them. If you have any of the diseases listed below, call your insurance company to verify your eligibility.

Sickle cell anemia
Coagulation defects and hemophilia
Waldenström macroglobulinemia
Thalassemias
Hereditary telangiectasia
Hemochromatosis
Chronic anemia
Pernicious anemia
Chronic granulocytopenia
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Polycythemia vera
Pancytopenia
Chronic thrombocytopenia

Skin Disorders

Depending on the policies set in place, your insurance company may provide coverage for the following skin conditions and infections that cause the skin to act in unusual ways.

Basal cell carcinoma
Severe burns
Lupus
Wart
Genetic photosensitivity disorders
Cellulitis
Psoriasis
Dermatomyositis
Bullous diseases
Sebaceous cyst
Ichthyosis
Chronic skin diseases

Other Medical Conditions That May Qualify for Long-Term Disability

From neoplastic diseases and endocrine disorders to metabolic and parasitic diseases, the following are a wide range of diseases that may receive long-term disability insurance coverage.

Diabetes
Phenylketonuria
Parathyroid gland disorders
Myelofibrosis
Hodgkin’s disease
Lymphoma
Macroglobulinemia
Fetal alcohol syndrome
Tuberculosis
Mesothelioma
Anorexia
Obesity
Malnutrition
Caudal regression syndrome
Coma
Salmonella
Uterine prolapse
Cervicitis
Meningitis
Urinary tract infections
Genital organ disorders
Prostatitis
Acute leukemia
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Chronic myelogenous leukemia
Seasonal affective disorder
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Tumors
Migraines and other severe headaches
Insomnia
Polio
Hepatitis
Sleep disorders
Sleep apnea
Gout
Nephrotic disorder
HIV/AIDS

We May Be Able to Provide Legal Help

As a personal injury law firm in Ontario, Canada, Preszler Injury Lawyers has been assisting people with injuries and long-term disability claims since 1959. If you need legal representation to navigate a claim against your insurance company, we are the company for you. Our lawyers support you with a free initial consultation, contingency fees, and direct communication. To speak to us about your legal needs, call now at 1-800-JUSTICE.