Insurance Company Denies Benefits for Client with Bipolar Disorder

Lester, 31 years old, grew up suffering from ADD and cluster migraines. His symptoms were manageable throughout childhood and even adolescence, however they got more difficult as he aged. Lester never imagined he would be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, let alone have his benefits denied.

Lester trained as a computer software salesman, found a job, and worked his way up the ladder at a company he respected. Sometimes, though not often, cluster migraines would affect his productivity; when this happened he had to go home from work and spend time away from a computer screen. In 2015, Lester was making a six-figure salary for the first time in his life, but with this compensation also came an intense pressure to excel in his job. He worked harder than usual to keep his ADD and migraine symptoms in check, as he didn’t want them to affect his work.

Panic Attacks Started

Soon after his latest promotion, Lester began to experience panic attacks before going to work in the morning. He immediately went to a medical specialist so he could understand what was happening to him. After being diagnosed with generalized anxiety, he tried several different medications to find the best fit. He also started attending his counselling sessions.

Despite all of this, Lester still felt like he wasn’t getting the care he needed, and his symptoms began to interfere at work. When he began to look for alternative treatments for his anxiety, he started smoking marijuana as a method to cope. His mother, whom he lived with, began to notice the Lester was becoming slow and lethargic, sleeping much of the time and not leaving the house unless he was going to work. He was also angering more easily than usual. Lester’s mother assumed that these changes in his son’s behaviour were due to his marijuana consumption.

Lester Was Arrested

One evening while driving home from work, Lester was pulled over for speeding. He was charged for driving under the influence and possession of marijuana, after the police searched his car. He was released on bail, but now he was facing criminal charges.

After his arrest, Lester’s symptoms seemed to worsen. He began acting erratically and spent much of his time out of the house. He was exercising a lot and posting a lot of confusing things on his Facebook and Instagram. His mother suggested that Lester go to another medical specialist in order to get a second opinion. A second doctor diagnosed Lester with Bipolar Disorder, claiming that he had likely developed the condition earlier in his adolescence and was only recently seeing an increase in symptoms.

After receiving this additional diagnosis, Lester made the decisions to take time off of work. The computer software’s group benefit insurance plan was quite good, and his claim for long-term disability benefits was quickly accepted. Lester was relieved that he could focus on managing his mental health and overall well-being.

Benefits Denied

Two years had passed, and Lester was on the right track. He had used this time to seek talk therapy treatment, and was recently trying meditation in the mornings and evenings. He got a rude awakening in April when his monthly disability cheque was replaced with a notice of benefits denied, so his benefits were stopping. The insurance company believed that Lester was no longer eligible for benefits, because it was beyond the two-year time period, and that he would be able to work another occupation.

Lester was crestfallen. He believed that he was finally getting somewhere with his methods of treatment. He knew there was no way that he could find a new job in his field of training that paid as well as his job with the computer software company. Benefits denied was not an option.

Free Consultation With Share Lawyers

Lester tried doing research online, but was getting nowhere. One day while in his doctor’s waiting room, he stumbled along a Share Lawyers brochure and was intrigued. He gave Share Lawyers a call, and scheduled a free consultation with the firm.

After assessing his medical documents and working closely with Lester’s medical professionals, Share Lawyers was successful negotiating a favourable settlement. Lester felt so grateful and relieved that he could return to his scheduled appointments and treatments.

*All names and identifying details have been changed to protect the confidentiality of all involved.

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A note from our long term disability lawyers

Taking a medical leave from work is not an easy decision to make. Concerns about providing for yourself and your family and keeping your job may cause you to want to push through your pain, but this won’t make your problems go away. Stopping work is often the smartest decision for your long term health and well-being, and your disability benefits are there to provide you with financial support until you can return to work.

If you have made the tough decision to stop working and apply for your short term disability or long term disability benefits, you may feel overwhelmed by the process and have questions that your employer and your insurance company are not able or willing to answer. Share is There to see you through and answer your questions.

Our Disability law firm knows what you have been going through

We understand that things have not been easy for you over the last little while. Your health has been suffering, you are unable to work, and now your insurance company, who was supposed to be there in your time of need, has decided they will not pay your disability benefits or respect your disability claim. These benefits exist to provide you with the financial support you need so that you can focus on your health and rebuilding your life. It is unfortunate that your insurance company has not lived up to its promise. If your disability claim has been denied, we will fight to get you the benefits you are entitled to. Our disability lawyers have helped thousands of Canadians get their long term disability benefits over the past 35 years, and we can help you too.

Our experienced disability lawyers can fight back on your behalf

Share Lawyers believes that every client who is dealing with a disability claim deserves superior personal service. To achieve that goal, we have developed our team of experienced, compassionate, and caring long term disability lawyers, law clerks, and administrative staff to meet all of your needs. Our team of experienced long term disability, life insurance, employment, and critical illness insurance lawyers have made successful claims against many insurance companies, third-party administrators and employers.

If you are unable to work, your disability benefits should be there to provide you with the financial support you need. While your insurance company may be focused on finding ways to avoid paying your claim, our focus is on what is in your best interest. When Share Lawyers gets involved, you have an entire team of lawyers that are there to support you and to fight for what is yours.

Our disability claim lawyers fight for your disability insurance claim by relying on our many years of experience to apply the best strategic planning and approach in each case, using the latest technology available. Experience matters, and with Share Lawyers, you are in the best hands with 35 years of success on your side.

In this video, we explain the role of a long term disability lawyer and how we can support you when you have been denied your long term disability benefits.