newbrunswick
04-16-2008, 01:50 PM
I wanted to drop a line on getting long term disability from a private insurer. My work provides 15 weeks of short term disability and at 17 weeks it goes over to a private insurer for disability. I live in Canada.
My illness is a non-specific neurological illness. At 17 weeks, there was still no diagnosis. I was unable to work, but also unable to get benefits as there was no diagnosis. All the test results (MRI, lumbar puncture, ENG, EEG, blood tests etc) all indicated no issue. However, I was suffering debilitating dizzy spells - could not drive, difficulty talking, walking. Of course, with each specialist I saw (even drove over 700 miles to see a Neuro for a second opinion) gave no new hope. After over 2 years of this, I got depressed and attempted suicide. I was put into a psychiactric hospital for 3 days. From there, I was given anti-depressants and finally something for the dizzy spells. Within 2 months, I was feeling better - not cured, however, finally able to function.
Went back to work - I had appealed the decision from Long term - giving them the new information.
Just 2 weeks ago (12 months after I first went off work) after being back at work for 3 months - I was finally accepted for Long term. I was given the money for the 5 months they owed me. Seems that they are willing to consider paying out for a psychiactric condition but not for an "unknown" condition.
I'm still pursuing why I am sick - the dizzy spells are only less intense with the new meds - the nerve problems are still there and I still use a cane to walk. So, just wanted to drop this line for those that are struggling to get benefits.
Hope that for those that are trying to get benefits they deserve - keep appealing. Get more medical information. Don't listen to doctors that say they can't find anything wrong. There is hope!
My illness is a non-specific neurological illness. At 17 weeks, there was still no diagnosis. I was unable to work, but also unable to get benefits as there was no diagnosis. All the test results (MRI, lumbar puncture, ENG, EEG, blood tests etc) all indicated no issue. However, I was suffering debilitating dizzy spells - could not drive, difficulty talking, walking. Of course, with each specialist I saw (even drove over 700 miles to see a Neuro for a second opinion) gave no new hope. After over 2 years of this, I got depressed and attempted suicide. I was put into a psychiactric hospital for 3 days. From there, I was given anti-depressants and finally something for the dizzy spells. Within 2 months, I was feeling better - not cured, however, finally able to function.
Went back to work - I had appealed the decision from Long term - giving them the new information.
Just 2 weeks ago (12 months after I first went off work) after being back at work for 3 months - I was finally accepted for Long term. I was given the money for the 5 months they owed me. Seems that they are willing to consider paying out for a psychiactric condition but not for an "unknown" condition.
I'm still pursuing why I am sick - the dizzy spells are only less intense with the new meds - the nerve problems are still there and I still use a cane to walk. So, just wanted to drop this line for those that are struggling to get benefits.
Hope that for those that are trying to get benefits they deserve - keep appealing. Get more medical information. Don't listen to doctors that say they can't find anything wrong. There is hope!