Disability insurance companies don’t always make it easy for policyholders who have congestive heart failure to get the disability benefits they deserve.
Congestive heart failure affects over 6 million Americans. It can be caused by everything from heart attack to ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, kidney disease and diabetes.
The Common Reasons Disability Carriers Deny Congestive Heart Failure Disability Claims
Unfortunately, many claims are denied because the disability insurance company says:
(1) There is no objective basis of the congestive heart failure,
(2) There is no objective basis for the restrictions and limitations assigned by your physician, or
(3) There is no causal relationship between your congestive heart failure and/or your restrictions and limitations, and your inability to do your own or any occupation.
(4) There is no reason you can’t work in a sedentary capacity.
Nancy Cavey, who has 35 years experience handling disability cases, has successfully represented many policyholders with congestive heart failure. She overcomes a claims denial by working closely with you and your physician.
If you are ready to file a disability application and want to improve your chances of getting disability benefits, or if your claim for congestive heart failure benefits has been denied, it is time to call Nancy Cavey.
She offers a free initial consultation and welcomes the opportunity to speak with you about your disability claim.
What Is Congestive Heart Failure?
When your heart’s pumping power is weak, blood moves through your heart and body slower than normal. Your heart just can’t pump enough oxygen. The chambers of the heart stretch to hold more blood to pump thought the body, or they become stiff and thickened.
As your heart muscles weaken and become less efficient, your kidneys can respond by retaining water and salt. Fluid builds up in your arms, legs, feet and lungs. The body becomes congested.
There are two types of heart failure: systolic and diastolic dysfunction. An echocardiogram measures how well your heart pumps with each beat, and is used to determine the type of heart failure you have.
What Are The Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure?
Symptoms can be mild to severe and can come and go. Common symptoms include:
- Congested lungs that cause shortness of breath at rest or with exercise, wheezing or a hacking cough,
- Fluid and water retention that can result in swelling, weight gain, bloating, nausea and increased need to urinate,
- Dizziness, fatigue, weakness and confusion, and
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat.
Blood tests, b-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), chest x-rays, echocardiograms, EKG or ECG, cardiac cauterization and stress tests are used to make a diagnosis and determine the severity of your congestive heart failure.
Your physician rates the stages of heart failure using the New York Heart Association classification, which rates symptoms and functional limitations.
How Do I Get The Disability Insurance Benefits I Deserve?
Chronic heart failure can make it difficult, if not impossible, to do things around your home and work. If you no longer can work or your doctor has told you to apply for disability, before you apply for benefits, you should:
- Obtain a copy of your disability policy. See how it defines “disability,” “occupation” and “self-reported conditions.” You’ll need to understand what you have to prove to get your benefits for chronic heart failure.
Your policy can include a self-reported limitation. It limits how long you can get benefits that result from self-reported symptoms, including shortness of breath or fatigue. You’ll want to know what’s in your policy before you apply for benefits.
- Obtain a copy of your medical records. Review them to see if there is an objective basis for your diagnosis, what your records say about your report of symptoms and your restrictions and limitations. It is crucial that you have testing to document the reason for your symptoms and their severity.
- Obtain a copy of your personnel file to see whether your congestive heart failure has affected your work performance.
- Obtain a copy of your job description. Create your own description of your physical duties with an explanation of how your symptoms impact your ability to do your occupation.
- Provide your doctor with the occupational description. Ask your doctor to prepare a report that explains the objective basis for your diagnosis, the objective basis of your restrictions and limitations, and the objective reasons you can’t perform some or all of the material and substantial duties of your occupation.
- Prepare a diary that explains your symptoms and the side effects of medication you are taking. Be sure to give examples of how your symptoms interfere with your ability to do things on a daily basis.
- Hire Nancy Cavey to help you file your initial application. The application process is confusing and designed so you and your physician make mistakes that can result in a delay or even a denial of your benefits. Ms. Cavey knows how to prepare and file a winning shock and awe disability application that leaves the carrier little reason to question your claim.
- Hire Nancy Cavey to help you appeal a wrongful denial or termination of your disability benefits. Disability carriers are in the business of collecting premiums and not paying disability benefits for congestive heart failure. They’ll use any reason to deny your claim. The odds of getting your benefits on appeal are greater when you are represented by an experienced ERISA/private ID policy disability attorney.
Contact Disability Attorney Nancy L. Cavey, Who Can Help You Regardless of Where You Live
Congestive heart failure can make it difficult, if not impossible, to work. You owe it to yourself and your family to get help today! Nancy Cavey can review your policy and your medical records, and explain to you what your policy says and how to get your disability benefits. Call today for a free consultation at 727-894-3188.
