Spinal Cord Stimulators and Disability: Do I Qualify for LTD?
Jan 5, 2021 | Blog | ShareWhen you’re living with chronic back pain or a spinal cord injury, you may be willing to try anything to alleviate your symptoms. From physical therapy and surgeries to chronic pain management, doctors have a wide variety of treatment options that may improve your quality of life. Sometimes, they suggest a spinal cord stimulator. These devices can reduce pain and improve function, but they are not a cure-all. If you’re considering a spinal cord stimulator, here are the essentials that you need to know. We’ll also explain how a stimulator may impact your long-term disability claim. What Is a Spinal […]
Why Does It Take So Long to Get Disability Insurance Benefits? Look Out for Bad Faith
Jan 5, 2021 | Blog | ShareIt can seem like disability insurance claims drag on forever. Sometimes delays are justified and inevitable—it can take time to collect and evaluate all of your medical records and other evidence. However, not all delays are so innocent. Occasionally, insurance companies hold off on approving undeniably valid claims for disability insurance benefits, hoping that you’ll give up, make a mistake, or accept an unreasonably low settlement. When this happens, you have legal options. In Illinois, as in most other jurisdictions, disabled policyholders can sue their insurance company when it delays decisions about coverage, eligibility for benefits, or other issues in […]
What Is a COLA Rider and Do I Need One on My Disability Insurance Policy?
Dec 29, 2020 | Blog | ShareMost of us understand that the value of a dollar changes over time due to inflation and the evolving cost of living. However, when you’re considering your disability insurance options, you might not assess how far your monthly benefit will go in five to ten years. What may seem like an adequate recovery may quickly become insufficient as the cost of living rises. Disability policyholders concerned about the sufficiency of their coverage over an extended period can purchase a supplemental cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) rider that will result in a steady increase in their benefits as time passes. Keep reading to […]
Arthritis, Hand Pain, and Disability Insurance: A Claimant’s Guide
Dec 28, 2020 | Blog | ShareHand-intensive work that involves gripping, grasping repetitive motions, or vibration can take a toll on your body. As we age, studies show that we’re more likely to develop hand arthritis and pain—and if you’re a dentist, surgeon, or work in another field that requires dexterity and hand strength, your condition may quickly become disabling. If you’re considering filing a claim for short-term or long-term disability insurance, we want to help. Our lawyers assist people living with osteoarthritis and hand pain with their disability insurance claims. In this article, we discuss the essentials of hand-related claims and suggest some simple ways […]
How Long Can You Stay on Long-Term Disability? It Depends
Dec 22, 2020 | Blog | ShareFor many people, long-term disability insurance benefits seem like a financial lifeline helping make up for your lost income. However, do you know how long those monthly benefit checks will last? As you plan for your future, you must know the answer. In this article, the team at Bryant Legal Group discusses factors that may impact the duration of your long-term disability benefits. We’ll also outline steps you can take if your benefits are cut off prematurely. Applying for Long-Term Disability Benefits? It’s Time to Review Your Policy Long-term disability (LTD) benefits pay a monthly benefit when you are unable […]
Will Volunteering Impact My Long-Term Disability Benefits?
Dec 22, 2020 | Blog | ShareVolunteering can help disabled individuals find purpose in their lives or even prepare them for re-entry into the workforce. Unfortunately, insurance companies sometimes use volunteer activities as an excuse to terminate long-term disability (LTD) benefits. How do you balance your need to contribute to society with your personal interests? In this blog, the disability insurance lawyers at Bryant Legal Group discuss how volunteering could impact your long-term disability benefits and how you can protect yourself. Volunteering Can Improve Your Quality of Life Most of us crave a sense of purpose. This is especially true if you’ve worked your entire life, […]
Liver Disease and Disability Insurance: A Claimant’s Guide
Nov 25, 2020 | Blog | ShareLiver disease is more common than you might imagine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.5 million Americans have a diagnosed liver disease, and roughly 42,000 people die every year as a result. If you or someone you love is suffering from liver disease that affects your ability to do your job, you should understand your options for disability insurance claims. In this blog, the Bryant Legal Group team will outline what you need to know about liver disease, how it affects the body, and how you can strengthen your long-term disability claim. How Does the Liver Function? The liver is one of the most critical organs in your body. Roughly the size of a […]
Disability Insurance Exclusions: We Answer Your FAQs
Nov 20, 2020 | Blog | ShareWhen you file a claim for individual disability insurance benefits, you assume everything will go smoothly. Unfortunately, even if you hand-picked your policy’s terms and conditions, you may discover that exclusions and limitations can impact your short-term and long-term disability benefits. In this article, we answer our clients’ frequently asked questions about policy exclusions. What Are Disability Insurance Exclusions? When you purchase disability insurance coverage, you’re presented with various choices that impacted both your monthly premium and your coverage. In all of that fine print, you probably agreed to a series of exclusions. A disability insurance exclusion outlines certain situations […]
Will Illinois’ Courts Enforce a One-Sided Insurance Contract?
Nov 19, 2020 | Blog | ShareWhen you have health insurance, disability insurance, or property insurance, you may sometimes find that the insurer has an unreasonable amount of power over you — perhaps more than you anticipated when you purchased the policy years before. This issue is all too common. Insurers often design and execute unfair contracts designed to put you, the policyholder, in a weakened position. Suppose you’ve had your claim denied or mishandled due to an underlying contract provision that you believe is unreasonably oppressive. In that case, you may have a right to bring a lawsuit against your insurance carrier based on “unconscionability.” In this article, the […]
How Long Does It Take UNUM to Process a Claim? It Depends
Nov 19, 2020 | Blog | ShareIf you’re applying for short-term or long-term disability benefits, you’ve probably heard that UNUM is notoriously difficult to deal with. The company has a reputation for denying valid claims, delaying benefit payments, and violating state and federal insurance laws. However, you can fight back. At Bryant Legal Group, we help people stand up to UNUM and other disability insurers. In this blog, learn more about disability insurance claim deadlines and what to do if your adjuster unreasonably delays paying your benefits. What Happens After I Apply for Disability Insurance Benefits With UNUM? After you’ve filed a short-term or long-term disability […]
