Does My Medical Condition Qualify For Long Term Disability Benefits?

At The Law Office of Nancy L. Cavey, we work tirelessly to help disability claimants obtain their full and fair benefits — without unreasonable delay. With nearly four decades of experience under her belt, Florida ERISA/ID disability attorney Nancy L. Cavey has successfully represented over 5,000 clients.

We can help you understand if your medical condition qualifies for disability coverage. In addition, if your short-term or long-term disability claim was denied, or you have any other questions or concerns about your legal rights, please do not hesitate to contact our law firm for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Our law firm has obtained short and long term disability (LTD) benefits for clients with a wide range of different medical conditions and health issues. While some people think that injuries resulting from acute accidents are the only qualifying conditions, in reality, there are many different psychological, physical, and medical conditions that could potentially qualify an applicant for disability coverage under their insurance policy. Are you wondering if you might be eligible for short or long term disability benefits? We are here to get you the answers you deserve.

What are Long Term Disability Benefits?

You can purchase a long term disability policy that will pay a percentage of your income when you cannot work due to health reasons. Some employers offer long term disability benefits to their employees which will be covered under the Employer Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) while others purchase policies on their own.

If you can afford it, you are far better off purchasing your own individual disability policy because if you need to file a claim to collect those benefits, you have more legal rights with a private disability insurance policy.

When Do Long Term Disability Policies Pay Benefits?

Most long term disability policies will pay a percentage of your income when you cannot work due to health reasons. Generally, you must be out of work three to six months before the long term disability benefits will kick in.

But, beware, some long term disability policies will actually limit the length of time that you can get your long term disability benefits. So, for example, if you suffer from fibromyalgia, a psychiatric condition, or even soft tissue muscular-skeletal problems, your policy may limit the payment of those benefits to just 24 months.

You should understand your benefits package so that you can provide you and your family with peace of mind if you become disabled. You can learn more about the disability provisions that you don’t want to see in your disability policy by ordering a copy of Robbed of Your Peace of Mind.

List of Conditions that Qualify for LTD (Long Term Disability) in the United States:

• Anxiety
• Asthma
• Ataxia
• Back Pain/Disorders
• Bipolar Disorder
• Brain Injury
• Cancer
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Cerebral Atrophy
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Chronic Pain
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Covid-19 Coronavirus
• Crohn’s Disease
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Epstein-Barr Virus
• Eye Disorders
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches/Migraines
• Hearing Impairment
• Heart Disease
• Hepatitis
• Herniated Disc(s)
• HIV/AIDS
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Insomnia
• Kidney Disease
• Knee Disorders
• Leukemia
• Lung Disease/Cancer
• Lupus
• Lyme Disease
• Macular Degeneration
• Meniere’s Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Narcolepsy
• Neck/Cervical Disorders
• Non-Epileptic Seizures
• Obesity
• Osteoarthritis
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Peripheral Neuropathy
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Psychosis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• RSD/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
• Shoulder Disorders
• Sjogren’s Syndrome
• Skin Disorders
• Sleep Disorders
• Speech Disorders
• Spinal Stenosis
• Stroke
• Syncope
• Tourette Syndrome
• Trigeminal Neuralgia
• Vestibular Dysfunction

Again, you may be eligible for short or long term disability benefits in the U.S. even if your condition isn’t listed above. Not only do many other conditions qualify, but a combination of medical conditions also can qualify. To find out more about your specific case, please do not hesitate to contact The Law Offices of Nancy L. Cavey. We can determine if your medical condition or combination of conditions qualifies you for benefits under the terms of your disability policy.

You Need a Proper Medical Diagnosis

One of the keys to obtaining successful results in the long-term disability claims process is being able to present strong, well-documented supporting medical evidence. To get access to the full and fair disability benefits that are available under your insurance policy, you must have a proper medical diagnosis from a qualified physician.

Insurance companies will look for ‘gaps’ in your claim. Unfortunately, they will exploit the fact that there is a minor error in your file or you have some missing documentation. Even relatively small issues can result in delays or outright rejections. If your medical records do not adequately demonstrate the extent or effects of your disability or condition, it may be difficult to get full benefits. Our St. Petersburg, FL long-term disability lawyer can help to ensure that all of your medical evidence is in proper order.

Medical Conditions Must Be Connected to Psychological/Physical Impairments

As the non-exhaustive list on this page shows, there are many different conditions that can potentially qualify an applicant for long-term disability benefits. In fact, there are so many that it would be almost impossible to list them all. Yet, unfortunately, people who have qualifying conditions sometimes struggle to get their long-term disability claim approved.

One of the issues that many applicants run into in the disability claims process is that the insurance company does not accept the link between their underlying condition — which may qualify for benefits, at least in the abstract — and the actual psychological/physical impairment that is preventing them from returning to work on a full-time basis.

We will help you establish this link. Our long-term disability attorney has the skills and experience required to make sure that these connections are supported by comprehensive medical evidence and connected with a strong, persuasive legal argument.

Activities of Daily Living Form

The Long Term Disability carrier has asked you to complete an Activities of Daily Living form in which you are asked to document what you are physically capable of doing. In that form, or even in a statement, you might tell the Long Term Disability insurance company that you “always use a cane” or that you always “limp.” If surveillance shows that you are walking without a cane or without a limp you are in trouble! While walking without a cane or a limp doesn’t mean you can work, it does destroy your credibility.

What You Need to Know About Limited Coverage or Pay Period

Many disability policies have limited pay periods as short as two years for mental nervous conditions, subjective conditions like migraines, or certain diagnoses like fibromyalgia. It is crucial that you understand any limits of your coverage before you apply. This is something Nancy Cavey can help you better understand. During your free, no-risk consultation, our legal team will make sure that you understand the full implications of your disability policy. This will give you all of the information you need to move forward in the process in the most efficient and effective manner.

How an Experienced Long-Term Disability Attorney Can Help

When we take on your long-term disability claim, our law firm will always put in the time and energy required to truly understand your case and your individual needs. We will listen to your story, review your file, explain your legal rights and legal options to you, and fight to get you the full and fair long-term disability benefits that you rightfully deserve.

We have a no-fee guarantee. Our legal team will help you recover your long-term disability benefits — or we will not get paid for our services. There are never any upfront fees or out-of-pocket costs for you and your family. We only get paid if you get your benefits. Case evaluations are always free of charge. No matter the specific nature of your claim, Nancy Cavey can help you better understand your rights and your options with a FREE consultation.

Get Help With Your Long-Term Disability Claim Today

At The Law Office of Nancy L. Cavey, we understand that disability insurance policies are confusing. Insurance companies can deny or reduce benefits for many different reasons, from the type of medical conditions covered or how long benefits will be paid. If your long-term disability claim was denied, you need a strong legal advocate by your side.

For a  free, no-obligation 30-minute consultation to learn whether your medical conditions qualify you for disability benefits and any limitations on how long your disability carrier will pay you benefits, please do not hesitate to contact our law firm today. From our office in St. Petersburg, we serve clients nationwide as well as communities throughout Florida, including in Tampa, Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, Ft. Myers, and Naples.