On Long Term Disability? Read This!

I'm not much of a sharer of personal information. As an educator, I was all about sharing professionally. I think we all benefit from one another's expertise. But personally, I like privacy. The whole reason I created this blog was to help other people who might find themselves or their loved ones in a similar position to mine. In that spirit, I want to share what I have learned about Long Term Disability insurance.

© 2007 Martin Abegglen, Flickr | CC-BY-SA | via Wylio

Mine was approved rather quickly for my PPPD, much to my surprise. I was very lucky in that regard, I know that. I also knew they would check in with me periodically to see how I was doing and to check my medical records. No problem. What I did not know is what you should take careful note of. Many LTD insurance companies do not like to pay benefits for longer than 2 years. Therefore, the 2 year review is critically important!. In my case, as it turned out, they were looking for any excuse to discontinue my benefits. And I inadvertently gave it to them.

At the two year point, I was SO TIRED of not being well, not having a life, not being able to see my family and friends. I was struggling and the only way I could cope was to focus on the positive. I focused on my small successes and improvements and I would become upset if my husband talked about my true condition, which was not great. Consequently, when the insurance company called to do my two year review, we were in that mindset. Both my husband and I focused on the improvements I had made. I thought, mistakenly, that I was showing good faith. Clearly I was unable to work, but I wasn't just sitting around collecting a disability check. I was working hard trying to get better.

Suffice it to say that the insurance company seized onto one or two statements, twisted them around, took them out of context and fabricated a denial of benefits out of it. The letter they sent me illustrated this so clearly it would have been laughable if it wasn't so upsetting.

I'm not saying anyone should be anything but truthful in this reviews. But it matters how you frame events and facts and how you state them. That's what I learned. For all I know, they may have found some other reason to deny my benefits. I have caught them in so many blatantly untruthful statements and they have contradicted themselves so many times that they are probably capable of anything. But let my story be a heads up to others so they can benefit from my experience.

One more thing - this recorded webinar contains excellent information on applying for disability benefits and also how to appeal a denial. It was sponsored by the good people at VEDA (Vestibular Disorders Association) and is well worth watching.

As for me, I will focus on the positive. I did get 2 years worth of benefits and that's more than many deserving people get. I'm moving on.