On October 5, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new study on long COVID, a health condition that affects millions of Americans after they contracted COVID-19. After almost three years since the beginning of the pandemic, no medical treatment exists for long COVID and its symptoms can vary from one person to another, in type, frequency, and severity.
Common long COVID symptoms include:
- Changes in the menstrual cycle
- Chest pain
- Chronic fatigue
- Cognitive impairment or “brain fog”
- Dizziness
- Heart palpitations
- Labored breathing
- Lost taste and/or smell
- Musculoskeletal pains
- Post-exertional malaise
The new study from the CDC revealed that a significant segment of those struggling with long COVID experience challenges with everyday tasks.
The Challenges of Obtaining Disability Benefits for Long COVID
In an August 2022 study, Brookings Institute estimated that up to four million Americans are no longer able to work due to debilitating long COVID symptoms. Long COVID received the disability classification and people can qualify for Social Security benefits if they can prove they had the condition for at least a year.
One of the major hurdles in the process is that there is no specific diagnostic test for long COVID. The pandemic and long COVID have also demonstrated how other oft-dismissed conditions like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, make it difficult to get a proper diagnosis.
Obtaining a long COVID diagnosis requires having the necessary resources for healthcare and finding doctors who understand the condition and do not dismiss patients’ symptoms.
Long COVID Especially Impacts Specific Communities
Long COVID poses misunderstandings and stigma similar to other chronic conditions, especially for communities that also face other systemic challenges such as women and individuals of color.
Although long COVID can happen to anyone, studies show that people from the following groups are more likely to develop it:
- Women
- Black
- Hispanic and Latino
- LGBT+ individuals especially transgenders and bisexuals
- Individuals with one or more disabilities
People without a high school diploma are also at a higher risk to experience long COVID according to the recent CDC study.
What Is Next for Long COVID?
Although people can develop long COVID regardless of gender, other medical conditions, ethnicity, or age, the current CDC data present certain limitations to gaining a more detailed understanding of how long COVID affects Americans. Indeed, the study only covers adults and does not account for someone’s immunization status or the severity of their COVID-19 infection.
Long COVID requires further studies to develop diagnostic protocols and treatment options, and actively educate medical practitioners to identify the condition and reduce the stigma associated with this type of chronic health issue and the communities especially prone to long COVID.
The lack of current prevention measures at the federal level when it comes to masking or vaccinations may result in another spike in COVID-19 cases during the winter, and its corollary of increasing the number of people struggling with long COVID.
Disability Insurance Companies Have Lawyers. Shouldn’t You?
Our team created Dabdoub Law Firm to focus on disability insurance and we have developed a successful track record in this complex area of the law.
Our expertise in long-term disability claims means our clients have the backing of attorneys who:
- Are experts in disability claims;
- Fought all major disability insurance companies and know their tactics;
- Have a track record of success;
- Won major disability lawsuits that created good laws; and
- Recovered millions of dollars in disability benefits.
All our lawyers commit every day of their legal career to helping people get disability benefits from UNUM, MetLife, Prudential, Northwestern Mutual, Hartford, CIGNA, and other major insurance providers.
Because federal law applies to most disability insurance claims, we do not have to be located in your state to help. We help clients nationwide.
Call us today at (800) 969-0488 to get experienced disability lawyers on your side with:
- Submitting a disability insurance claim;
- Appealing a long-term disability denial;
- Negotiating a lump-sum settlement; or
- Filing a lawsuit against your disability insurance company.
Contact Dabdoub Law Firm today at (800) 969-0488 for a free consultation with a disability attorney.
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