Adriana Patino, 36, has been battling COVID-19 since December 2020. First, the virus made her very sick, prompting several trips to the ER when her blood-oxygen levels had dropped dangerously low. Then the long-term symptoms set in: palpitations, difficulty breathing, overwhelming fatigue, and concussion-like cognitive issues. “I have memory issues, it takes me a […]

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Insurance companies can make it difficult to start receiving long-term disability (LTD) benefits. The claims process is intimidating, especially for people coping with a physical or psychological disability. As an LTD lawyer who used to work for insurance companies, but now advocates for disabled individuals, I believe this is all by design. Insurers make […]

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A successful case for long-term disability benefits requires strong medical evidence of a disability. But medical evidence is not always the critical factor in determining the final result of a case.  A recent matter involving a client of the disability law practice at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP illustrates how an insurance company tried to avoid […]

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Citing a pre-existing condition is often a way for an insurance company to try to avoid paying long-term disability benefits. Insurers rely on exclusions in policies that essentially say you cannot receive benefits if you suffer from a pre-existing condition. This is usually defined as a condition for which you previously received treatment that is […]

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