Would COPD And Diabetes Qualify For Long-Term Disability?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly called COPD, and diabetes are two medical conditions that may qualify for long-term disability benefits depending on the severity of their symptoms. If you cannot work because you suffer from either or both, you could be eligible for financial assistance from a long-term disability insurance policy or federal disability insurance programs administered by the Social Security Administration.
The Clauson Law Firm, PLLC, wants you to know that help is available when you are out of work and struggling to make ends meet because of COPD and diabetes long term disability. This blog explains the benefits available to you through private long-term insurance policies and government programs, such as Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance. It also discusses the eligibility requirements you must meet to receive financial assistance from each.
As you read through the information, you may have questions or need legal assistance with a claim for long-term disability benefits. Help is available from an outstanding disability lawyer simply by contacting Clauson Law.
What Is A Long-Term Disability, And What Benefits Are Available?
Generally, a long-term disability is any physical or mental health condition that prevents you from working for at least one year or longer. Long-term disability insurance policies purchased by individuals or provided by their employers offer income replacement coverage for when the insured cannot work for an extended period, typically a year or longer. Most policies include elimination periods that specify how long you must wait after the onset of a disability before the insurance company pays wage-replacement benefits.
Government programs, such as the SSI and SSDI programs administered by the Social Security Administration, also provide long-term disability benefits, including monthly cash payments. SSI and SSDI pay when you are unable to work because of a physical or mental impairment lasting longer than one year. Depending on the program, health insurance through Medicare or Medicaid is available for those qualifying for SSDI or SSI.
What long-term disability insurance policies cover depends on the definition of disability contained in the policy. Some policies, called own-occupation policies, pay benefits when you cannot do the type of work you did when you became disabled. An any-occupation policy pays benefits only when you cannot do any kind of work.
For example, if you worked in construction when COPD forced you to stop working, an own-occupation policy pays benefits if you cannot return to your construction job, even if you can transition to another type of work. An any-occupation policy will only pay if you cannot do any kind of work.
COPD And Diabetes Long-Term Disability
Lifestyle changes and treatment prescribed by a physician allow patients with diabetes and COPD to manage their symptoms and continue their normal day-to-day activities, including working and earning a living. When the condition becomes severe, a person’s ability to do work-related activities becomes impaired and may continue to deteriorate until they can no longer continue to work.
It does not matter whether you’re seeking long-term disability eligibility, COPD, or diabetes through a disability insurance policy or one of the Social Security disability programs; you need to be under the care of a physician or other qualified healthcare professional. A doctor will diagnose the condition and recommend a course of treatment that may include medication and lifestyle changes, such as giving up smoking tobacco products for patients with COPD or dietary changes and weight loss for those suffering from diabetes.
COPD And Long-Term Disability
When the airways or other parts of the lungs are damaged, it restricts the flow of air, causing a person to have difficulty breathing. If you suffer from COPD, you know how it produces uncontrollable coughing and a wheezing noise as your lungs struggle to breathe and expel air.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was coined to describe two medical conditions: Emphysema and chronic or long-term bronchitis. Emphysema is a condition that develops when air sacs in the lungs lose their elasticity, so they cannot fill with air as you breathe and expel it when you exhale. Damage to the lungs prevents the air sacs from properly functioning, so it is difficult for you to breathe.
Chronic bronchitis is caused by the lining of the airways to the lungs suffering constant or repetitive inflammation and irritation, which causes a buildup of mucus that makes breathing difficult. Many people with COPD are diagnosed with characteristics of both emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 16 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with COPD. It is a leading cause of disability and death.
Symptoms of COPD
Frequently reported symptoms of COPD include:
- Breathing difficulties.
- Wheezing when breathing.
- Swelling of the ankles, legs, or feet.
- Heavy production of mucus ranging in color from clear to green.
- Tightness in the chest.
- Frequent lung infections.
- Unexplained loss of weight.
- Feeling tired and lacking energy.
- Swelling of the ankles, legs, or feet.
Symptoms vary in type and severity from patient to patient. A person may go through a period with only minor symptoms until triggers, including exposure to cold air, physical exertion, air pollution, or colds and infections exacerbate their condition.
Factors Known To Cause COPD Include The Following:
- Smoking tobacco products
- Asthma
- Exposure to chemical fumes, smoke, dust, and vapors, especially in workplace environments.
Research into the causes of COPD discovered a rare genetic condition, alpha-1antitrypsin or AAT deficiency, that may cause the disorder in only a small percentage of the population.
Documentation Needed To Qualify For Disability Benefits With COPD
Qualifying for disability with COPD requires proof that you have the condition and that it prevents you from doing work-related activities. For example, the Social Security Administration criteria used to evaluate applications for disability benefits from adults seeking SSI and SSDI requires documentation that you cannot do substantial gainful activity because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months or be expected to result in death.
To diagnose your medical condition, a physician reviews your medical history with you, including your symptoms and possible exposure to known causes of COPD. A physical examination usually includes pulmonary function testing, lab tests, and imaging, such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans to determine the extent of the damage to your lungs and airways.
It’s not uncommon for some with COPD to suffer from other disabling physical and mental health conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, and diabetes. A disability lawyer at Clauson Law knows to use information about other medical conditions to prove that you are totally and permanently disabled.
Long-Term Disability Criteria For Diabetes
If your pancreas fails to produce enough insulin or your body does not process the insulin properly, blood sugar or glucose levels become too high. This condition is called “diabetes.”
Diabetes affects adults and children. Uncontrolled glucose levels can cause serious medical issues, including heart disease, coronary artery disease, and stroke, and may result in amputations.
There are several types of diabetes, such as type 1 and type 2. Symptoms you may experience include:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Unexplained weight loss
- Feeling weak or tired
- Blurred vision
- Frequent infections
You also may notice that wounds and sores are more slow to heal than usual.
If you experience symptoms of diabetes, schedule an appointment with your medical professional to discuss your concerns. Your doctor will conduct a physical examination and lab tests, including bloodwork, to determine if you have diabetes and to identify the type.
Diabetes treatment includes maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including engaging in physical activities, losing weight, and eating healthy foods. If you have type 2 diabetes that does not respond well to lifestyle and diet changes, your doctor may prescribe oral medication and monitoring of your blood.
Treatment for type 1 diabetes includes insulin injections or an insulin pump. You also would be required to monitor your blood sugar level.
If you respond well to the treatment prescribed by your healthcare professional, you probably do not meet the long-term disability criteria for diabetes for benefits through SSDI, SSI, or long-term disability insurance. However, if diabetes does not respond well to treatment, it may cause conditions that prevent you from engaging in work activities.
To meet diabetes long-term disability qualification through a disability insurance policy, your inability to work must meet the terms and conditions contained in the policy. Qualifying for long-term disability with diabetes through SSDI and SSI requires you to meet non-medical and medical criteria.
To qualify for SSDI, you must have worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes on your earnings. SSI limits income, and your resources cannot exceed $2,000 as an individual or $3,000 if you and your spouse are eligible for benefits.
The medical requirement for SSDI and SSI is that you have a disabling medical condition as defined in the standards used by the Social Security Administration. Your condition must prevent you from doing work-related activity and be expected to last for at least 12 months or result in death. You must be unable to do work you did in the past, and you must be unable to retrain to do other types of work available in the national economy.
Talk To An Outstanding Disability Lawyer To Learn More
You may be eligible for COPD and diabetes long-term disability through an insurance plan or SSI and SSDI. Qualifying for long-term disability with COPD or diabetes is not easy, so contact Clauson Law today to learn how we can help.
