As if coping with Parkinson’s Disease wasn’t enough, insurance companies seem to go out of their way to make applying for long-term disability benefits as complicated and aggravating as possible. While it’s unlikely your insurance company will argue you don’t have Parkinson’s, it may be quick to deny your claim by pointing out that a diagnosis is not an automatic entitlement to benefits.
When you file a claim due to any condition, but especially one such as Parkinson’s, it’s critically important to bolster your claim by including not only your medical records, but also detailed documentation of your symptoms and how they impact your ability to function. While objective medical evidence is certainly helpful, there is no definitive test for Parkinson’s. Thus, you will need to convince the insurance company that your condition and symptoms cause motor, cognitive, and/or mental functioning impairments, resulting in restrictions and limitations that prevent you from being able to continue working.
Unfortunately, even in the face of overwhelming evidence of disability, insurance companies commonly deny claims for LTD benefits due to Parkinson’s. For example, we’ve seen insurance companies argue that because the individual worked with the same condition and symptoms for several years, there hasn’t been enough of a documented change to warrant an approval.
Another argument used by insurance companies to justify an improper denial of benefits is the person can still perform some or all of their activities of daily living (ADLs) so they must be able to continue working. Of course, this reasoning fails to take into account the reality and impossible decision for many people living with Parkinson’s: continue working and lose the ability to keep up with ADLs or continue performing ADLs and lose the ability to keep up with job demands and duties.
Can Dabdoub Law Firm Help Me?
Yes, we are here to help. Our experienced team can help you initiate a claim for LTD benefits by walking you through each step and making sure all forms are completed correctly before submitted to the insurance company. In fact, our office will even submit these forms on your behalf to help take away some of the stress and aggravation that comes with having to deal with insurance companies.