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Do you know a nurse like Karen Card? Karen is a nurse night shift supervisor who, no doubt, cared deeply for her sick patients…until she got sick and filed for disability. Karen is like any other medical professional among the 1.5 million Americans at-risk for losing their jobs and homes last year due to a medical crisis. In Karen’s case – Card v. Principal Life Insurance Company, 2019 WL 5618182 (6th Cir. Oct. 32, 2019) – it was the denial of her disability insurance claim for six years. This hardworking night nurse was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in February 2013. Suffering from night sweats, exhaustion and fatigue, her health began declining. Over the next six months, Karen continued working…Read More
What gets me up early in the morning and keeps me at the office long after my husband, Cecil, expects me home for dinner, is the ultimate joy when our legal team scores a victory for our clients. Why? Because we know we’ve made a big difference in their lives. Take our recent battle – and win – for a local CT technologist suffering from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue whose insurance company denied her disability. We’ll call our client ‘Jane Doe’ because that’s the name lawyers call clients whose identity they want to protect. If you’ve ever had a CAT scan, you have met a ‘Jane Doe’. She’s the medical professional who calms your fears while positioning your body ‘just…Read More
Franklin first published it in 1748, and it’s as true today as it was hundreds of years ago, especially when it comes to filing your disability, life, or health insurance claim. Filing your claim or appeal too late can be the final blow for your case as the delicate balance between time and money can tip the scale of justice in the wrong direction, ultimately costing you the financial benefits you deserve as Emily Smith was soon to discover. In Smith v The Hartford, No. 4:20-CV-00041-CLM, 2020 WL 4815143 (N.D. Ala. Aug. 19, 2020), Emily Smith received disability benefits from Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company due to depression, until her benefits were terminated by Hartford since depression benefits were…Read More
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