Resources

Why do women need to consider long-term disability pregnancy benefits? Because complications from pregnancy are more common than many people realize. As many as 25% of pregnancies result in some type of complication such as the need for a C-section, preeclampsia, or postpartum depression (PPD). In the case of PPD, nearly 15% of women experience depression after childbirth. You'll need additional time to receive appropriate treatment and to recover. Pregnancy can also cause dormant illnesses to manifest themselves resulting in unforeseen illnesses. Long-term disability pregnancy benefits could help protect your income in the event you experience serious or lasting complications associated with pregnancy. Traditional Pregnancy Income Replacement Typically, time off for maternity leave consists of a combination of personal vacation time, company-provided maternity leave,…Read More

Ataxia is a condition that affects voluntary muscle movements such as walking, speech, eye movement, and swallowing. Ataxia is usually caused by damage to the cerebellum from brain trauma, stroke, cerebral palsy, encephalitis, or other brain infections. Severe cases of ataxia can make it impossible to work and may make day-to-day living very difficult. Not everyone with the condition will be eligible for ataxia disability benefits, but an experienced LTD attorney at CJ Henry Law Firm PLLC can assist you in determining your eligibility and can help you file a claim with your insurance company. What Is Ataxia? Generally speaking, ataxia is defined as a loss of the ability to control voluntary muscle movements including walking, speaking, eye movement, and swallowing. There…Read More

As many as 25% of American workers will experience an unexpected illness or injury that will prevent them from working. In the event of a long-term disability, insurance policyholders expect their insurance coverage to be there as a financial support system. However, for people insured by Metropolitan Life (MetLife), that may not be the case.  Unfortunately, large insurance companies like MetLife often employ unfair practices to deny legitimate disability claims and increase their revenues. Unfair or bad faith practices include asking for large amounts of paperwork, delaying decisions on a claim, trying to settle a claim for less than its value, or requesting exams by independent medical professionals. If you have received a MetLife long-term disability denial, there are things you can do to appeal the…Read More

Private disability insurance companies do not make the process of filing a claim simple or easy. The standard of proof on your end is incredibly high. Most claims will be denied, or the insurance company will claim they require more information. For that reason, many people enlist the help of an ERISA disability appeal attorney to handle both the claims process and the appeals process. A denial is not the end of the road. You can appeal the decision. CJ Henry Law Firm PLLC can guide you through the filing a claim with your ERISA disability insurance providers, as well as help you with your ERISA disability appeal in the event that your claim is denied. Contact us today to…Read More

If you have Lupus and it prevents you from performing the duties of your job and affects your daily life, you may qualify for Lupus disability benefits. What Is Lupus? Your immune system plays an important role in keeping your body healthy. A normally functioning immune system creates antibodies that attack bacteria, infections, and viruses. With Lupus, your immune system is tricked into producing auto-antibodies which cannot distinguish between bacteria and healthy tissue. These auto-antibodies destroy healthy tissue and can damage your joints, skin, blood vessels, and organs. Types of Lupus The most common type is systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE, which affects the skin, joints, internal organs, and the nervous system. Cutaneous Lupus affects only the skin and causes rashes and lesions. Subtypes…Read More

The opioid crisis in this country is a reminder that addiction affects the lives of all types of people. Prescription drugs as well as illegal drugs can lead to addiction and impact your ability to perform your job or manage your daily life. But is addiction a disability under your long-term disability insurance plan? It's important for you to be aware of what your policy covers. How Addiction Begins For many people, the road to addiction starts with an accident or injury. A doctor may prescribe medication to help manage the pain you experience. If the pain isn't controlled by the prescribed dosage, people may begin to misuse their prescription drugs or look for illegal drugs as a way to manage…Read More

Like many large insurance companies, CIGNA has been known to employ bad faith practices to avoid paying long-term disability benefits. Misplacement of medical records or repeated requests for authorization forms are just two of the many tactics the insurer uses to deny claims. If you're aware of the tactics CIGNA uses to deny your long-term disability benefits, that knowledge can help you prepare your claim and understand how to appeal a CIGNA denial. CIGNA's Denial Tactics 1. Failure to Provide Updated Medical Information When you apply for benefits, CIGNA will require you to sign forms to authorize your physician(s) to provide them with your medical records. If they do not receive authorization from your health professionals, they may deny your claim based on…Read More

When your immune system is functioning normally, your white blood cells sense the presence of foreign (or unhealthy) cells like viruses and bacteria, attacks and destroys them. When your immune system malfunctions, your white blood cells begin to attack healthy blood cells. Many autoimmune disorders are genetic or age-related but you can still qualify for autoimmune disease disability benefits. One word of caution. Your long-term disability insurance company may latch on to the genetic or age-related aspects of autoimmune disorders and deny your disability claim because they consider them pre-existing conditions or the results of natural aging. Don't be discouraged by these tactics. Insurance Companies May Unfairly Deny Your Claim Depending on whether you have an individual or group long-term…Read More