Can I Claim Insurance Disability for “Long COVID”?

For too many, COVID turns into Long COVID. It’s a new condition, but you may qualify for long-term disability insurance benefits.

Though we have discovered so much about COVID-19, including how it spreads, how to combat it, and who is most at risk, we are only now beginning to comprehend the virus’s long-term effects on our bodies. Roughly 30% of coronavirus patients suffer from long-term COVID or post-COVID symptoms. If this is you, you may be eligible for long-term disability insurance benefits.

COVID-19 has the potential to cause permanent damage and disability

Most people with COVID-19 begin to feel better within a few weeks, but this life-threatening virus has a profound influence on the human body that we are only now beginning to comprehend.

At least one-third of hospitalized COVID-19 patients suffer symptoms a month following their diagnosis, according to a Michigan-based survey of 1,648 individuals. Furthermore, 10% of those who were not admitted to the hospital complained of persistent fatigue, physical weakness, mental fogginess, anxiety, and shortness of breath.

What is Long COVID?

Long COVID, or “post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV2 infection,” is still not yet fully understood by doctors and researchers. After contracting COVID-19, a large number of patients struggle to completely recover. They have trouble returning to their pre-COVID routine, even though their viral loads appear to be low and their diagnostic tests are within “normal limits.”

Can I claim long-term disability for Long COVID?

Possibly. Start by studying the text of your policy to determine your eligibility and coverage for long-term disability benefits. Look for the following details in particular:

• The definition of disability in your policy
• Its limitations and exclusions, particularly when it comes to “self-reported” symptoms.
• The procedures for filing a claim and appealing a decision.
• Any applicable waiting or exclusion periods for your claim

If you need help understanding the lengthy, technical language in your disability insurance policy, arrange an appointment with an experienced disability insurance lawyer at our Cunnane Law Office in Edmonds, WA.

You’ll need a lot of information regarding your medical issues and actual abilities to file a claim for disability insurance benefits. Because Long COVID is a new condition, insurance adjusters are unfamiliar with its characteristics and symptoms, which means you’ll have to educate them.

You should collect:

• Copies of your medical records, particularly those relating to your COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment.
• Doctors’ statements about your long-term COVID symptoms, as well as any objective evidence that support your claim.
• Any other details you have regarding your condition and limitations

Are COVID Long-Haulers’ Disability Claims Being Denied by Insurers?

When there is a rare or newly discovered condition, disability insurance adjusters are more likely to refuse claims, especially when they have hard-to-measure symptoms like fatigue and mental fogginess. When it comes to Long COVID, we’re currently seeing a lot of skepticism from insurance companies.

Many adjusters are likely to argue that persons with Long COVID have fully recovered from the coronavirus and may return to work, suggesting that their symptoms are exaggerated. They could also claim that Long COVID symptoms are self-reported, triggering a two-year long-term disability benefit limitation. That means you might only be eligible for two years of benefits, dramatically reducing the value of your claim.

To fight back, you’ll need to work closely with a top disability insurance lawyer and experts, such as our team at Cunnane Law in Edmonds WA, who can explain the new diagnosis, the objective evidence that supports it, and how it affects a person’s capacity to work. Contact us today and let’s start talking about how we can help.

Note: This information was provided not for any specific claim and is written in broad and general terms and may not be the right path to follow for a particular claim or case. This information is not intended to create an attorney client relationship. It is always best to receive direct legal counsel for your legal issues. It is never too early to call the attorney, but it can be too late.