Travelling On Long Term Disability: What You Need To Know
[UPDATE: March 19. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team at Share Lawyers recommends following the advice of both national and provincial governments by limiting any travel that isn't non-essential.]
For those on Long Term Disability (LTD) planning a vacation can have some complications. There are many things you need to know before you travel on long term disability. Your insurance company may see traveling as being inconsistent with being disabled from gainful employment, so it is very important to know the correct measures to take when planning a trip.
Traveling is a wonderful way to experience new cultures, foods, and sights. Whether it’s to see a whole new place for the sake of knowing what it’s like, or making the journey to visit friends and family, experiencing time in new places can be rewarding, rejuvenating, and provide lifelong memories!
Review Your Policy Before You Travel On Long Term Disability
Before planning your trip, review your disability policy. It may have certain restrictions prohibiting your right to travel on long term disability. Going on a holiday is not usually under the scope of these restrictions about your right to travel, so read closely.
Get Medical Clearance
Ask your healthcare professional to put in writing that your treatment plan will not be affected by your travel. They will ask you to provide contact information. Make sure to check your LTD plan for what may be required for your travel. Be advised - for longer absences from the country, pre-approval may be required. Some policies will not continue payments if you leave Canada.
Contact A Disability Claim Administrator
If you’ve reviewed your policy and can’t find any reason why you shouldn’t be able to take your holiday, contact your Disability Claim Administrator to be double sure you are in the clear to leave. It’s worth double checking.
Keep A Journal
If you are anxious about leaving, make sure to keep a journal that chronicles your activities. In your journal, include how you are feeling and what you may have had issues with. Also include how your disability prohibited you from engaging in certain activities. For example, you couldn’t go horseback riding, take long walks, weren’t able to play with the children, etc. This can serve as a way to show that you traveled for relaxation, but your activities were still restricted.
Be Wary of Surveillance and Social Media
There is a possibility of surveillance while you are away. It’s especially important to be mindful of how public images, videos, and posts come across on social media. There’s the chance your insurance company may misunderstand. They may misconstrue you having a good time and relaxing as inconsistent with having a disability.
Everyone deserves rest and relaxation. If you take the necessary precautions before leaving on your trip, there should be no reasons to worry or stress about taking some time for yourself.
Has your long-term disability claim been denied? Contact Share Lawyers and put our experience to work for you. We offer free consultations and there are no fees unless we win your case.Find out if you have a disability case.
We have recently settled cases against SSQ, Manulife, Sun Life, Great West Life, and many more. We love hearing feedback from our clients, so please share your own experience with us.
Denied your long term disability claim?
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. We offer free consultations and there are no fees unless you win your case. Join us on Facebook and become a Top Fan for a chance to win each month.
_________
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.
