Long-Term Disability Benefits In Florida: Filing A Heart Disease Claim

Heart disease is a leading cause of death throughout the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that it claims the lives of over 700,000 people each year while leaving millions of others suffering from long-term disabilities.

If you suffer heart disease in Florida and are unable to work, you may be entitled to long-term disability benefits through your employer. Our Jacksonville long-term disability lawyer explains what you need to file a claim and common reasons for denied benefits.

Filing A Long-Term Disability Claim For Heart Disease in Florida

Heart disease often involves a wide range of conditions that can have potentially life-threatening impacts on your health. Whether you previously had a heart attack or suffer high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, coronary or peripheral heart disease, congestive heart failure, or other conditions, it can impact your ability to work, preventing you from providing for yourself and your family.

If your employer provides long-term disability insurance as part of your compensation package, you may be entitled to file a claim. After getting a diagnosis from your doctor, one of your first steps should be to check the terms of your policy. If you need a copy of your policy, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) mandates that private employers provide these documents free of charge and at your request.

Once you confirm eligibility for long-term disabilities due to heart disease, your next step is to gather the information needed to file a claim. This includes:

• Medical documentation, including detailed records, statements from your doctor confirming your diagnosis and disabled status, test results, treatment plans, and a list of all medications;
• Documentation from your job, including your wages, types of work performed, and how your condition is likely to hinder you in performing required tasks;
• Other evidence, such as a disability journal and statements from family members, documenting the severity of your symptoms and how your condition impacts other areas of your life.

Documenting the consistency of treatment is also important and something insurers should look for. Include any information on lifestyle changes or other efforts to manage your condition.

Common Issues With Heart Disease In Long-Term Disability Claims

Gathering the above evidence can help support your long-term disability claim, but you should still expect pushback from insurers. Common ways they might attempt to dispute your claim include:

• Denying the severity of your condition and the impacts on your health;
• Downplaying your symptoms and how they impact you on the job;
• Disputing the evidence provided and requiring additional documentation;
• Claiming you fall under policy exclusions or finding other administrative reasons to deny your benefits.

Consult Our Florida Social Security Disability Lawyer

Long-term disability claims in Florida for heart disease are routinely denied, but ERISA gives you the option of filing an appeal. Farrell Disability Law protects your rights throughout the process. Call or contact our Florida long-term disability lawyer online. Request a consultation today in our Orlando or Jacksonville office.

Sources:

cdc.gov/heart-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html#:~:text=Heart%20disease%20is%20the%20leading,every%205%20deaths.12

dol.gov/general/topic/health-plans/erisa#:~:text=The%20Employee%20Retirement%20Income%20Security