Travelling While On Long Term Disability: What You Need To Know
You don’t have to put your entire life on hold just because you’re living with an injury or illness that restricts your ability to work. Whether you’re travelling within Canada or abroad, you need to know what’s allowed so that your long term disability (LTD) benefits remain intact. This guide is here to help you understand your rights and what you need to do to ensure you stay in compliance with your long-term disability insurance policy.
Need help with travelling while on long term disability? Share Lawyers’ experienced disability lawyers work with you to explore your options.
Travelling While on Long Term Disability: What You Need to Know
Travelling while on LTD is often possible with your doctor’s approval. While most policies allow for short trips, you may need to follow specific guidelines if you're planning to be away for more than 2-3 weeks, especially outside of Canada.
Staying informed helps ensure that you can enjoy your travels with peace of mind. Luckily, your side of the process is fairly straightforward. Before planning your trip:
- Review your coverage details.
- Check with your insurer.
- Look into travel insurance, understanding that pre-existing conditions may not be covered.
Here are some ways to protect your LTD benefits while travelling.
Review Your Insurance Policy
Some policies may require you to stay within Canada to maintain benefits. This means that travelling abroad can result in a loss of benefits. Understanding these limitations before making plans helps protect your coverage. Prior to travel plans, check your LTD policy for any travel restrictions.
Additionally, being proactive prevents potential issues with your benefits and gives you peace of mind during your trip. Before travelling, ensure all requested documents and requirements, like independent medical exams, are completed.
Travel Medical Insurance Denied
Make Sure Your Doctor Has Given You Clearance To Travel
Before you travel, it’s a good idea to consult with your doctor, especially if the trip might interfere with your treatment plan or require rescheduling appointments. Ask if your journey could impact your recovery. If your insurance company needs documentation from your doctor confirming that travelling won’t hinder your progress, make sure to get that done early. This will help ensure that your travel plans align with your health needs and insurance requirements.
Contact A Disability Claim Administrator
Even if you’ve read through your policy and can find nothing that would prevent you from travelling outside of the country, you should still double-check by contacting your Disability Claim Administrator. If you are concerned that travelling will look bad for your claim, it’s a good idea to give the insurance company a heads-up.
Keep a Journal
Even if your doctor and insurance company have cleared you to travel while on long term disability, it’s normal to feel uneasy. To ease your mind, keep a journal of your trip to record when your disability limits you—like if you can’t walk long distances or play with your children as you normally would.
If you encounter issues with your insurance provider after returning, this journal can serve as evidence that your disability continues to impact your daily life, even though you were able to travel.
Be Conscious of What You Put on Social Media
While it can be tempting to share photos and status updates from your trip on social media, it’s important to remember that travelling while on long term disability might subject you to surveillance by your insurance company.
They could misinterpret your enjoyment as inconsistent with your disability claim. While this may feel unfair, it’s crucial to be mindful of how your social media activity could affect your benefits. Protecting your long term disability coverage means being cautious about what you post online during your travels.
Contact a Long Term Disability Lawyer
Insurance companies sometimes assume that if you're well enough to travel, you must be well enough to work, which can lead to unfair benefit denials. If your disability insurance company cuts off your benefits because of your travel plans, don’t hesitate to reach out to Share Lawyers. We specialize in disability law and can help you explore your options.
Our free consultation can provide the guidance you need to understand your rights and determine the best course of action.
FAQs about LTD and Travelling | |
Can I travel while on long term disability? | Yes, you can travel while on LTD, but you need approval from both your doctor and your insurance company. Be sure to review your policy for any restrictions as they may impact your benefits. |
Will travelling affect my LTD benefits? | Travelling can affect your benefits, especially if your insurance company sees it as inconsistent with your disability. Many LTD policies have restrictions on how long you can be outside of Canada, typically allowing travel for up to 2-3 weeks. Be sure to get prior approval from your insurer and consult your doctor before making any travel plans. |
What precautions should I take when travelling on LTD? |
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Why does my insurance company monitor my travel? | Insurance companies often view travelling as a sign that you may be fit to work. Because of this, they may conduct surveillance or question your ability to remain on LTD. It’s essential to ensure your activities during travel do not contradict the terms of your disability claim. |
What should I do if my disability benefits are cut off because I travelled? | If your benefits are suspended or terminated due to travel, contact a disability lawyer immediately. At Share Lawyers, we offer free consultations, can help you explore your options, and fight to restore your benefits. |
Share Lawyers Fight to Protect Your Rights
At Share Lawyers, we understand that travelling while on long-term disability is still an important part of your life. Many people ask, “Can I travel while on long-term disability?” The answer is yes—having a disability doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy travelling. We’re dedicated to protecting your rights and ensuring you continue to receive the benefits you’re entitled to, even when travelling.
If your benefits have been denied or terminated due to travelling while on long-term disability, or if you’re planning a trip and are concerned about your LTD coverage, we’re here to help. We offer free consultations to review your case and provide advice with no commitment.
If we take your case, you won’t owe us anything until you win. Let us help you keep your benefits intact so you can travel with peace of mind.
“I needed help for my long term disability a couple of years back, called Share Lawyers and found peace of mind, and kept good communication all the way through to my settlement, which I would never have gotten without their help! Now once again, I need help and know with confidence who to call, moving forward with this new claim with confidence with Share Lawyers and team at my side!” – Debbie L. |
Need more information on travelling on long term disability? Share Lawyers is here for you.
Contact Share Lawyers today and put our experience to work for you. Our 35+ years of experience can help you win your case against Canada Life, Desjardins, Manulife, RBC Insurance, Sun Life, and other insurance companies. Our legal team offers a free consultation and works on a contingency basis - there are no fees unless you win your case.
