If you have a physical condition that prevents you from working, it’s tough. And it’s even tougher when your insurance company denies your long-term disability claim. Longo Lawyers helps clients in Cambridge who are in this situation: they can’t work because they’re sick or hurt and their disability benefits have been denied or cut off and they’re left with financial uncertainty. When you’re already dealing with health issues and now have to deal with a big insurance company with deep pockets, it feels like there’s no way out.
Long-term disability benefits are supposed to replace your income if you can’t work because of a medical condition. Most people get this through their job’s benefits program which means their company pays for it or takes it out of their paycheques. The insurance is supposed to give you a percentage of your regular income, usually between 60 and 70% so you can stay financially stable when you can’t work. These payments may last for a certain period of time or even until you reach retirement age, depending on the terms of your insurance and the type of disability you have. Product Liability claims hold manufacturers accountable when unsafe products cause preventable harm.
You paid for this protection. Most people think it’s for them. But many people find out that getting the benefits is much harder than they thought. Insurance companies deny disability claims and the reasons they do are often different. They can say your medical evidence doesn’t do a good enough job of proving you’re disabled. They can say you can’t do your current job but you can do something else. They’ll have you go to independent medical exams with doctors they choose, who often give conclusions that downplay your handicap and back up denying your claim. Some insurance companies even approve claims at first but then stop paying benefits after a while. They may say your condition has improved or the policy’s definition of disability has changed.
The truth is insurance companies are in business to make money and their financial interests are at odds with their obligations to policyholders. Not every denial is wrong but there are many times when insurance companies read policy language to favour denial, question actual disability or make it harder for patients to file valid claims. Psychological Injury claims recognize the real and lasting impact of trauma on mental and emotional health.
At Longo Lawyers we help people who have been unfairly denied disability payments fight for the benefits they are entitled to. The first step is to carefully read over your insurance policy. It’s important to know the exact words, definitions, exclusions and criteria in your policy because each one is different. The definition of impairment in your policy, whether it’s for your own job or any job, has a big impact on what you need to show to get payments.
In cases of disability strong medical evidence is very important. Your doctors must write down a lot of information about your health such as your diagnosis, symptoms, how it affects your daily life and ability to work, what treatments you’ve had and your prognosis. Insurance companies will deny a claim if they find any flaws in the medical proof. We help our clients by working with their doctors to ensure their medical records fully and clearly support their disability claim.
After a certain period of time, usually two years, many long-term disability policies change how they define disability. At first you may only need to show you can’t do your own job. After two years the policy may say you have to show you can’t do any job you are properly qualified for based on your degree, training and experience. This change usually means the end of benefits because the insurance company says you can still work in some way even if you can’t go back to your old job.
When dealing with denied claims time limits are very important. The time limits to appeal a denial or launch a lawsuit depend on the type of insurance you have and other factors. If you miss these deadlines in Cambridge or anywhere else in Ontario you may never get your benefits back. It’s crucial to go to a lawyer that handles disability claims as soon as you get a denial to protect your rights.
Many people don’t get legal aid because they don’t want to pay for it especially if they can’t work because of a disability. For long-term disability cases we usually work on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t have to pay us legal fees until we win compensation for you. You don’t have to worry about paying legal fees up front while you wait for your claim to be resolved because our fee is a percentage of what we recover.
You may have to negotiate with the insurance company, file formal appeals or go to court to fight a disability denial. It depends on your situation what you should do. Some cases can be settled while others need to be taken to court and possibly go to trial. No matter what your case needs we promise to fight for you and get you the benefits you are entitled to.
You have options if your long-term disability claim has been denied or stopped in Cambridge. You don’t have to accept the insurance company’s decision without fighting it. We’re here to help you get the money you need to get through this tough time.