Long-Term Disability for Fibromyalgia in Canada

Fibromyalgia is a medical condition characterized by widespread pain in the muscles. In addition to debilitating chronic pain, many people suffering from fibromyalgia will also experience memory problems, extreme fatigue, and mood swings.

If you have an existing long-term disability insurance policy, or if you are interested in purchasing one but have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you may be wondering whether you can obtain long-term disability (LTD) benefits for your condition.

An experienced lawyer can help you best understand your options. In the meantime, read on to learn more about how LTD works for fibromyalgia and how to go about appealing a denied LTD claim.

Can You Get Long-Term Disability for Fibromyalgia?

In the past, medical conditions like fibromyalgia were often overlooked or even considered to be mental health conditions. Thankfully, science and medicine have uncovered more information than ever before about this mysterious condition.

The good news is that if you already purchased a long-term disability insurance policy and are diagnosed with debilitating fibromyalgia that prevents you from being able to work, you may be able to collect LTD benefits.

However, if you already have fibromyalgia and are interested in purchasing a long-term disability insurance policy after the fact, you may be hard-pressed to find the coverage you’ve been looking for.

Fibromyalgia symptoms can come and go, depending on a wide variety of factors. Each person’s fibromyalgia can manifest in different ways. Many also suffer from chronic fatigue in addition to the pain. Your lawyer can review your case and determine whether long-term disability benefits are the best option for you.

How to Appeal a Denied Long-Term Disability Insurance Claim

If you get a denial letter in the mail from your long-term disability insurance provider, don’t be alarmed. It is not uncommon for insurers to deny LTD claims in the hopes of reducing their profit loss. There are several appeal options that could be used to access the benefits you deserve. These options include:

• An internal appeal
• A tribunal hearing
• A court action

Internal appeals are essentially requests made to the insurance company asking them to reconsider your claim. If you needed to provide additional medical documentation, fix an error on your claim, or address another minor error, this may be the best option. With that being said, some insurers have been known to use these internal appeals as a way to try to delay claim approval as long as possible until the statute of limitations expires.

Tribunals are essentially arbitration hearings where a panel of neutral arbitrators can make a decision regarding your benefits.

Court actions occur when you want your case to be heard by a judge and possibly a jury. Your LTD lawyer can help you select the best option for you and your situation.

Contact a Long-Term Disability Lawyer

Are you hoping to collect LTD benefits after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia? Has the insurance company put up a fight after you filed your claim? If so, reach out to a reputable Ontario long-term disability lawyer at Jasmine Daya & Co. by phone at 416-967-9100 or through the convenient contact form below so we can schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.