Blog

Alzheimer’s disease can seriously disrupt a person's life, causing progressive memory loss and mental impairments. If you are unable to work because of the disease or its complications, you may be able to receive long-term disability benefits. What Is Alzheimer's? Alzheimer's is a degenerative neurological condition. Usually the first symptoms include short-term memory loss, which worsens as the disease progresses. Changes in the brain eventually severely impact all aspects of a person's life — speech, behavior, problem solving ability, and even the ability to recognize family members or feed oneself. While Alzheimer's typically affects people who are already over the age of 65 and retired, it can appear in younger patients. This is known as early-onset Alzheimer's. While the disease can't be cured,…Read More

Disability insurance is an important part of any personal financial plan. It ensures that if you are injured or become too ill to work, your income will be at least partially replaced. Policy options vary, including the length of elimination period or the time you wait to collect. But what is an "own occupation disability" policy? If you're a high-income earner — such as a doctor, lawyer, or engineer — true own occupation disability insurance allows you to collect monthly disability benefits if you are unable to work at your chosen profession and allows you to work in a different occupation without losing disability benefits. Learn more about the types of policies below. Types of Own Occupation Disability Insurance There…Read More

When you purchase disability insurance, you expect coverage in the event an accident or an illness prevents you from working. Unfortunately, insurance companies like MassMutual employ a variety of tactics to collect premiums and avoid paying disability benefits. Unfair practices to delay payments or avoid paying claims are all too common. If you received a MassMutual long-term disability denial, you have the right to appeal the decision.  How Do MassMutual Policies Work? MassMutual is a Fortune 500 company that sells a variety of insurance products. including life insurance, long-term care, and disability insurance. Like most disability insurance companies, MassMutual's disability policies are designed to pay a portion of your salary if you are disabled, usually between 45 and 60 percent. The length of time benefits are paid, or the benefit…Read More

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause damage to blood vessels and organs such as the heart and kidneys. And the consequences of HBP may be more severe than you realize. But is high blood pressure a disability? Learn more about HBP and disability benefits below. What Is High Blood Pressure? Blood pressure is the pressure created by blood flowing through the circulatory system. BPH is measured using two readings: systolic and diastolic. Systolic pressure measures whether the heart is contracting and diastolic pressures show if the heart relaxes between beats. The normal range for blood pressure is systolic pressure of 100-140 and a diastolic pressure of 60-90 and is read with the systolic number followed by the diastolic number such as "100 over 60" and written…Read More

Many people who find themselves unable to work due to an injury or long-term illness are unsure what types of benefits they can receive. Can you collect long-term disability and Social Security benefits at the same time? For most people, the answer is yes. But each case is different. Some of the factors that determine your eligibility for both types of benefits include income, terms of your long-term disability policy, and how Social Security categorizes your disability. What Is the Difference Between the Two Programs? You purchase long-term disability insurance from your employer or from a private insurance company. In the event you are disabled, the insurance company pays your benefit. Conversely, Social Security benefits are paid by the federal Social Security…Read More

If you experience an unexpected injury or illness, disability insurance is as important to your financial well-being as medical care is to your physical well-being. Most people get disability benefits through their employer. But it is possible to purchase an individual policy if disability insurance is not offered by your employer or if you want to supplement the coverage that's available. But what is the difference between short-term vs. long-term disability? The main differences between short and long-term disability are how long benefits last and what percentage of your income you will receive.  Understanding How Short-Term Disability Insurance Works Short-term disability insurance will cover injuries, illness, and it is used to replace income during pregnancy. The amount of time you can…Read More

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD causes inflammation of the lungs and limits airflow to the body. COPD is usually the result of exposure to airborne irritants, or in rare cases, a genetic abnormality. But is COPD a disability? Yes, if your symptoms are severe and your are unable to work as a result, you may eligible for disability benefits. What Are the Causes of COPD? COPD is an inflammatory disease that affects the lungs and restricts your ability to breathe. Conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis are considered types of COPD. Generally, COPD is caused by exposure to irritants such as cigarette smoke, harmful gases, dust from wood, grain, or coal, or reflux disease. In rare cases, COPD may be caused by a genetic abnormality related to an AAT-deficiency. What Are the…Read More

The purpose of disability insurance is to help you in the event an accident or an illness prevents you from working. Unfortunately, many insurance companies like Northwestern Mutual are more interested in collecting premiums than paying disability benefits. Insurance companies often use unfair practices to delay payments or avoid paying claims altogether. If you received a Northwestern Mutual long-term disability denial, you don't have to accept it as the end of your claim. How Does Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance Work? Northwestern Mutual offers both short and long-term disability policies that allow employees to supplement insurance coverage provided by their employers. Both types of disability insurance have an elimination period or waiting period between the time of your accident or illness and when the coverage begins.…Read More

You've decided to apply for disability insurance. But how long does long-term disability last? The answer will depend on the type of policy you have. Below, we discuss what to look for, like your policy's elimination period and length of benefit period. How Long-Term Disability Benefits Work The elimination period, or waiting period, will determine how long you have to wait before you can receive benefits. You may have to wait 30, 60, or 90 days or the wait period could be 6 months to a year. The benefit period is the length of time your insurance company will pay you disability benefits. You choose the length of time you'll receive benefits when purchasing your policy. You can decide if you want…Read More

Applying for paralysis disability benefits or appealing a denial can be an overwhelming process. An Ocala FL long-term disability attorney can help. What Is Paralysis? Paralysis is caused by nerve damage and can be localized to a specific part of the body or generalized depending on the part of the body affected and the cause of the paralysis. You may be unable to use your arms, legs, or the paralysis or other muscles such as your vocal cords. There are a variety of diseases or injuries that can cause nerve damage. Multiple Sclerosis Guillain-Barre syndrome Spinal column injuries Spinal cord injuries Lupus Stroke Paralysis may be temporary or permanent and may make it impossible for you to perform your work duties. If you…Read More