It’s tough to deal with a physical problem that keeps you from working, but it’s even worse when your insurance company denies your long term disability claim. People in LaSalle who are sick or hurt and can’t work and are trying to get the disability payments they paid for and are entitled to are our clients at Longo Lawyers. When you’re dealing with health issues and money problems at the same time, it’s much easier for an insurance company to say no to your benefits.
Long term disability benefits can help you pay your bills. Most people get this insurance through their employer’s benefits package. The company may pay the premiums or take them out of your paychecks. The idea behind this insurance is simple: it gives you a percentage of your monthly income, usually between 60 and 70%, so you can stay financially stable while you can’t work. Depending on your insurance and the type of disability you have, these benefits may last for a certain amount of time or until you retire.
Many people find out that collecting the benefits is much harder than they thought it would be, even if this protection is in place. Insurance companies will deny disability claims for many reasons, some good and some not. They can say your medical records don’t show you’re disabled enough. They may agree you’re sick but they’ll also say you can still work, even if it’s not in your old job. They’ll send you to independent medical exams with doctors they choose, and these doctors will write reports that downplay your disability and support denying your benefits. Some insurance companies will even pay out benefits at first but then stop and say you’re better or the policy definition has changed. The big problem is that insurance companies are businesses that want to make money and their goals are not always the same as their obligations to policyholders. Not every denial is bad but there are times when insurance companies read policy language in ways that make it easier to deny claims, dispute true disabilities or make it hard for people to make valid claims.
Longo Lawyers helps clients fight back against unfair disability claim denials and get the money they’re owed. The first thing you should do is read your policy thoroughly. Each policy is different so it’s important to know the specific words, definitions, exclusions and criteria. The definition of impairment in your policy, whether it’s for your employment or any employer, has a big impact on what you need to show to get paid. Children’s Injuries claims prioritize a child’s safety, future wellbeing, and access to proper care and support.
Strong medical evidence is needed for disability claims. Your doctors must give you a full report on your health that includes your diagnosis, symptoms, how it affects your daily life and ability to work, the treatments you’ve had and what they think will happen to you in the future. Insurance companies look for any gaps in medical evidence they can use to deny a claim. We help our clients get in touch with their doctors to make sure their medical records fully and clearly support their disability claim.
Many long term disability policies state that the definition of disability will change after a certain amount of time, usually two years. At first you may only have to show you can’t do your job. Now the policy says you have to show you can’t do any work that’s reasonably suitable for your education, skills and experience. Most of the time this means benefits will end because insurance companies say you can still work in some way even if you can’t go back to your old job. Chronic Pain cases address the ongoing physical and emotional impact injuries can have on daily life and work.
Time limits are especially important when you’re dealing with denied claims. The time limits for appealing denials or filing lawsuits vary depending on the type of policy you have and other factors. If you miss these deadlines in LaSalle or anywhere else in Ontario you may never get your benefits back. If you’re denied disability benefits you should see a lawyer who specializes in these cases right away to protect your legal rights. Many people don’t get legal help because they don’t want to pay for it especially if they can’t work because of a disability. We normally work on a contingency fee basis for long term disability cases. This means you won’t have to pay us any legal fees until we get you money. You don’t have to worry about paying legal fees up front while you wait for your claim to be settled because we only charge you a percentage of what we get back. If your disability claim is denied you may have to talk to the insurance company, make formal appeals or go to court. What you do depends on your situation. Some can be negotiated, others need to go to court and maybe even trial. Whatever your case needs we will fight for you and get you the benefits you’re owed.
Your long term disability claim in LaSalle has been denied or ended, you have options. You don’t have to believe what the insurance company says without a fight. We can help you get the money you need to get through this tough time.