Losing your job due to illness or injury is bad enough. You shouldn’t have to fight with an insurance company over benefits you paid for and are entitled to. At Longo Lawyers, we see how tough it is for people in Guelph when their long-term disability claims are denied or their benefits are cut off without warning. When you lose your income while trying to deal with a serious health issue, the financial stress can be too much to handle. Many people feel helpless when they have to deal with big insurance companies that have teams of adjusters and lawyers. Boating and Watercraft Accidents cases focus on protecting the rights of those harmed on lakes, rivers, or coastal waters.
Long-term disability insurance is supposed to pay your bills when you can’t work because of a medical condition that makes it hard for you to do so. Most people get this coverage through their jobs, but some people buy their own policies. The insurance pays you a percentage of your salary before you were disabled, usually between 60 and 70%. It’s meant to last until you can go back to work, reach a certain age, or in some cases, for the rest of your life, depending on your policy.
Despite this insurance is supposed to protect consumers, many have trouble getting claims approved or keeping their benefits. There are many reasons why insurance companies deny claims. They may wonder if your medical proof is strong enough to show you are disabled. They may say you can’t do your current job, but you can do some other kind of work. They often send people making claims to independent medical evaluations done by doctors who always manage to find people who can work, no matter what their own doctors have said about them. Insurance companies also use surveillance to try to get film of you doing things they can use to say you’re not as limited as you say you are.
We at Longo Lawyers know insurance companies have a lot of money and knowledge when it comes to settling these claims. They know the system, what arguments work, and they have a financial reason to deny or stop benefits whenever they can. Our job is to level the playing field by speaking up for people whose claims have been unfairly denied or whose benefits have been wrongly stopped. Children’s Injuries claims prioritize a child’s safety, future wellbeing, and access to proper care and support.
Medical evidence is key in every disability case. Your doctors are important because they keep track of your condition, explain how it affects your daily life, list your limitations and give their opinion on your ability to work. Insurance companies look at medical records and use any gaps or inconsistencies they find as reasons to deny a claim. We help our clients make sure their doctors write complete, detailed reports that support their disability claims.
The wording of your policy tells you what you need to show to get benefits. Policies differ on how they define disability, what exclusions they have, how long benefits last and when benefits can be cut off. Some laws apply an “own occupation” standard, which means you are disabled if you can’t do your job. Some people have an “any occupation” standard, which means you are only disabled if you can’t do any work you are fairly qualified for. After two years, many policies switch from “own occupation” to “any occupation” which is when payments usually stop.
Deadlines are critical in disability cases. There are deadlines to appeal a denial or to take legal action after you get one. Deadlines are different for group policies your employer buys for you and individual policies you buy yourself. In Guelph and all of Ontario, missing important dates can mean you can’t get benefits again. That’s why it’s essential to go to a lawyer who specializes in disability right away after you get a refusal.
Many people don’t want to hire a lawyer because they’re scared of how much it will cost, especially if they can’t work because of a disability. We work on long-term disability cases on a “no win, no fee” basis. You won’t pay legal fees until we win benefits for you. We only charge you a share of the benefits we get after we win your case, so you don’t have to pay legal fees up front.
The process of fighting a disability denial can vary depending on the situation. Negotiating with the insurance company may settle some claims. Some people have to go through the insurer’s internal process to file a formal appeal. In many cases you will have to file a lawsuit and maybe even go to court. Whatever your situation requires, we will fight for the benefits you are entitled to under your policy.
You have options if your long-term disability claim has been denied or your benefits have been stopped in Guelph. You paid premiums for this coverage because you thought it would be there when you needed it. If your insurance company doesn’t keep their promises, we’re here to help you fight back and get the money you need now.