Living with Parkinson’s Disease may not be easy, but it can be made even more difficult without the proper financial help for your medical bills.
Read on to learn more about Parkinson’s Disease and how you can obtain long-term disability benefits to help pay for costs associated with the ailment.
Parkinson’s Disease Breakdown
According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, “Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominately dopamine-producing (“dopaminergic”) neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra.”
In a nutshell, PD is a disorder that impacts brain function and becomes more severe over time. PD symptoms do not appear all at once. In fact, PD symptoms tend to advance slowly as time passes.
Everyone with PD experiences the ailment differently because the degeneration of neurons and their impact on the brain is unpredictable.
If you have PD, you may experience:
- Tremors
- Slow Movement
- Limb rigidity
- Gait and balance issues
The reasons why PD develops in certain people is not yet known. There is no cure, but there are treatment options available that include medications and surgery.
PD does not cause death, but complications as a result of the disease can be significant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), complications as a result of PD are the 14th leading cause of death in the United States. In addition, according to Parkinson’s Foundation, PD is the second most prevalent movement disorder.
The Stages of Parkinson’s Disease
There are five stages of Parkinson’s Disease that provide a scale of the progression of the disease.
Stage One
Characterized by mild symptoms that tend not to get in the way of your daily life. Tremor and other symptoms of movement occur only on one side of your body. You’ll notice changes in your posture, walking, as well as facial expressions.
Stage Two
Symptoms begin to advance and cause more discomfort. Tremors, rigidity and other symptoms of movement impact both sides of your body. Issues walking and unfavorable posture make themselves evident. You will likely still be able to live alone, but your daily duties become more challenging and take longer to complete.
Stage Three
This is when the disease reaches mid-stage. You’ll begin to lose your balance and you won’t be able to move as quickly. You’re more likely to experience falls. You’ll still be totally independent, but your symptoms will make it more difficult for you to get dressed and eat.
Stage Four
At this stage, your symptoms become severe and restrictive. You may still be able to stand without someone’s help, but you may need to use a walker for other movements. You’ll be unable to live alone and you’ll likely require assistance for activities associated with daily life.
Stage Five
This stage is the most developed and incapacitating. You may be unable to stand or walk due to severe stiffness in your legs. You’ll need a wheelchair or you may even become bedridden. You’ll need 24/7 nursing care for all activities. You may suffer apparitions and delusions. Additionally, the mental symptoms may be more devastating than physical symptoms.
Parkinson’s Disease & Long-Term Disability Insurance
In order to obtain long-term disability insurance to help cover the costs of your Parkinson’s Disease, you’ll want to make sure you keep an accurate and detailed record of all your medical treatments, visits, and receipts. The better your records, the more likely you are to receive the compensation you deserve to help pay for your ailment.
When you go to apply for long-term disability benefits, the insurance company will expect to see your medical records and request that you complete disability forms or give them other information. The doctors responsible for your care will be asked to fill out a form called the Attending Physician Statement (APS).
Additionally, you may also be sent for a medical examination by the disability insurance company’s doctor they may order surveillance of your activity levels.
In order to qualify for long-term disability benefits, you must be able to prove that you’re unable to work in your “own occupation” for the first 24 months after you discover your ailment. After 24 months, you’ll need to prove that you’re disabled from working in “any occupation.”
It’s Helpful to Hire the Right Attorney
While it may be possible to file a long-term disability insurance claim for Parkinson’s Disease on your own, this is not always the best idea. If you are inexperienced with personal injury law, you won’t have the best chances of attaining the highest amount of compensation.
Living with Parkinson’s Disease can become quite costly over time. That’s why it’s important you receive as much money for your ailment as possible.
Hiring an experienced long-term disability insurance attorney will provide much better chances for you to be able to earn the highest amount of compensation possible. Our attorneys at Dabdoub Law Firm are highly skilled in the realm of long-term disability insurance and know how to obtain the compensation you are rightly owed.
Our seasoned team has helped many other people with Parkinson’s Disease recover the compensation they deserve, and we can help you, too. Don’t hesitate to contact our office with your case right away. After all, it is your health and well-being on the line.
Call
Dabdoub Law Firm today at (800) 969-0488 to speak with an attorney about your case.