North Bay Long Term Disability Lawyer
Nobody ever expects to be diagnosed with a chronic physical or mental illness, or to sustain a severe injury. But sometimes, due to circumstances that are entirely out of your control, you might become unable to participate in activities you normally enjoy because of a disabling medical condition. For people living with a disability, engaging in routine tasks could become an impossibility. On top of that, completing the duties of their jobs might all of a sudden seem like an insurmountable feat, all because of a newly acquired medical condition.
That said, certain businesses provide their employees with group insurance plans that offer long-term disability (LTD) benefits to policyholders who can no longer complete their work-related duties. If your employer’s insurance plan does not provide sufficient coverage, you might wish to purchase your own policy to supplement your available benefits in case you sustain an unexpected injury or develop a chronic illness.
LTD benefits are not intended to replace an eligible policyholder’s entire regular salary. Instead, they typically provide between 60-70% of a recipient’s normal wages. Depending on the policy’s terms, that amount might be subject to certain payment caps. However, in a time of great need, receiving LTD benefits can be critical. If a person is no longer able to continue earning the income they have become accustomed to, they might easily struggle to support themselves and their families financially. Simply because they were severely injured or struck ill unexpectedly, without access to disability coverage, a patient could find themselves in financial distress, unable to afford even their basic costs of living.
Clearly, LTD benefits are an important source of income for insurance policyholders who cannot return to their places of work after receiving a severe medical diagnosis. However, not all claims for LTD benefits are approved by insurance providers. In fact, it can be ascertained that, each year, more than half of the country’s claims for LTD benefits are routinely denied by insurance companies.
Those who are fortunate enough to be awarded LTD benefits from their insurance provider without hassle often encounter issues after receiving income replacement payments after a number of months. LTD benefits payments could be terminated well before a recipient reaches retirement age, even if their condition prevents them from continuing to work in their chosen occupational field.
Many insurance providers reassess their LTD benefits recipients’ eligibility requirement in relation to stricter guidelines after two years of coverage. This can happen if the policy’s definition of what constitutes a disability changes after twenty-four months, as many do. These insurance plans initially make LTD benefits available to policyholders who cannot perform the duties associated with their own occupation because of their debilitating medical condition. However, after two years, a benefits recipient must be able to prove that their condition prevents them from performing any occupation in order to continue receiving their regular monthly payments.
While some conditions might improve within a matter of months, many do not. And even if the symptoms of a benefits recipient’s medical condition are so severe that they cannot return to their workplace, their crucial source of income could be withheld by their insurance provider.
Our North Bay long-term disability lawyers are committed to helping the clients we represent fight against unfair treatment. If your claim for LTD benefits was unfairly denied, or if your payments were prematurely terminated without reason, our long-term disability lawyers serving North Bay may be able to assist you. To learn more, schedule a free initial consultation with Preszler Injury Lawyers by calling 1-800-JUSTICE.
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If you are eligible to pursue legal action against your insurer, by working with our North Bay long-term disability lawyers, you might be able to receive compensation for:
- Previously withheld benefits payments
- Damages incurred because of your claim’s initial denial
- Punitive damages
- Legal fees
- And possibly more
To discuss your case with our long-term disability lawyers serving North Bay, take advantage of your free initial consultation by contacting us today.