Alzheimer’s disease can have a profound impact on an individual’s ability to perform their job duties.
For Canadians who can’t work due to this neurological disorder, long-term disability (LTD) benefits can provide a vital financial lifeline.
Sadly, it’s not uncommon for insurance companies to deny legitimate LTD claims in cases involving Alzheimer’s.
One excuse frequently used by insurers to prevent claimants from accessing disability benefits is that they don’t meet the definition of “totally disabled” under their policy.
If your insurance company rejected your claim for LTD benefits based on Alzheimer’s, here are three things you need to do.
1. Request a denial letter
Denial letters force insurers to “lock in” their rationale for turning down an individual’s LTD claim.
If your insurance company didn’t have a legitimate reason for denying you access to disability benefits, this document will make it very difficult for them to pivot to a different explanation at a later date.
READ MORE: Invisible illnesses: Can I still get long-term disability even if I don’t look sick?
As soon as you receive the denial letter from your insurer, connect with an experienced disability lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP. We can review your situation, assess your legal options and help you secure the compensation you deserve.
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Even if you don’t have this document, it’s still in your best interest to contact our firm. We provide free consultations for issues involving LTD.
2. Discuss the denial with your treatment team
After receiving the denial letter from your insurance company, schedule a meeting with your treating doctor. It’s very important that the document is brought to this appointment.
During the meeting, ask your physician if they agree with the insurer’s decision. In the event that they disagree, have them explain in writing why your condition prevents you from resuming your job duties.
If you are seeing other medical professionals for Alzheimer’s, gather their opinions as well. The more supporting documentation you can provide, the better.
READ MORE: ‘Get full support from your doctor’: Disability lawyer’s guide to making insurance claims
In some cases, insurance companies cut individuals off LTD benefits on or around the “change of definition” date. This usually occurs two years after a claim was approved.
If this situation applies to you, make sure that your treating doctor clearly outlines in writing why it prevents you from doing any work – not just your own occupation.
3. Contact us
For many of our clients, having their legitimate LTD claim turned down was incredibly distressing. They weren’t sure how they were going to support themselves or loved ones financially without access to disability benefits.
If you’ve been denied or cut off LTD, contact an experienced disability lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP. It’s crucial that you get the right legal advice before appealing your insurer’s decision.
Our compassionate team regularly resolves issues involving LTD, short-term disability, life insurance, critical illness and mortgage insurance claims across Canada.
We provide consultations at no cost to you and don’t get paid unless we get results. Over the years, we have helped thousands of Canadians, including Sandra Bullock and Julie Austin, secure the compensation that they are legally entitled to.
READ MORE: Insurer being difficult? 3 reasons you should hire a long-term disability lawyer
A heartbreaking case that our firm will never forget involved an accountant struggling with Alzheimer’s.
Two weeks after applying for LTD benefits, the individual received a letter from her insurance company – informing her that her claim had been rejected because their medical consultant didn’t believe she was disabled.
Not sure what to do next, the accountant called her family. Outraged by the update, they helped her schedule a free LTD consultation with Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.
Confident that she had a strong case, we told her to get the denial letter reviewed by her treatment team.
The accountant’s treating doctors were shocked by the insurer’s decision. They clearly outlined in writing why her condition prevented her from doing any work – even on a part-time basis.
READ MORE: The insurer cut off his benefits. Then his lawyer reviewed his medical assessment
With full support from the medical professionals involved in her care, she contacted us again.
Following conversations with the accountant’s insurance company, we were able to secure an extremely favourable amount of compensation for our client.
Denied or cut off long-term disability? Asked if you want to appeal your insurer’s decision?
Contact the firm or call 1-855-821-5900 for a free consultation with a disability lawyer. We help Canadians across all provinces (excluding Quebec). Get the advice you need and the compensation you deserve.
Sivan Tumarkin and Albert Klein are disability lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, Canada’s most positively reviewed law firm specializing in employment law and long-term disability claims. The firm provides legal insight on Canada’s only Disability Law Show on TV and radio.