Employer Paid vs. Employee Paid Premiums for Denied Long-Term Disability Benefits

Posted on by Ben Tarnow Posted in Long-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Insurance DenialsTagged ,

Long-term disability (LTD) benefits provide financial support to individuals who can no longer earn income from their job, or any job, due to a medical disability. There are different types of long-term disability insurance policies out there with different terms and arrangements. 

One of the main differences you see are personal long-term disability policies and group long-term disability policies. Long-term disability policies through an individual’s work are almost always group policies. Under these policies, the source of funding for the insurance premiums can vary, with employers and employees adopting different payment structures.

What are Employer-Paid Premiums?

When the insurance premiums for long-term disability policies are paid by an Employer, it is considered an employee benefit, meaning that the employer assumes the financial responsibility for providing this coverage to all their employees who qualify. Employer-paid premiums are often part of a comprehensive employee benefits package offered to attract and retain … Continue reading

Denied Long-Term Disability Claims for Anxiety Disorder: Why It Happens and What to Do Next

Posted on by David Goldberg Posted in Insurance Denials, Long-Term DisabilityTagged , ,

Anxiety disorder can be disabling, yet long-term disability (LTD) insurers often deny or cut off claims.

Anxiety disorder is one of the most common conditions behind disability leave, but it’s also one of the most frequently challenged by insurers. People often assume an LTD claim is about “proving you have anxiety.” In reality, most denials come down to something else entirely: proving functional impairment. You need to show how symptoms prevent you from reliably doing the essential duties of your job, day after day.

Below are the most common reasons anxiety-based LTD claims are denied or terminated, and the steps that usually make the biggest difference in getting benefits approved or reinstated.

Diagnosis is Not the Same as Disability

Insurers rarely deny that anxiety exists. They deny that it is disabling under the definition of the policy.

Most LTD policies focus on whether you are “totally disabled” from:

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Long-Term Disability Denial Claims for Lawyers

Posted on by Brian Jacobson Posted in Insurance Denials, Long-Term DisabilityTagged , ,

In British Columbia, long-term disability claims are typically governed by the Insurance Act and the specific terms of insurance policies. Lawyers often have coverage through their employer’s group insurance plan which outlines the eligibility criteria, the definition of disability, and the process for making a claim. The definition of “disability” can vary significantly between policies and often an insurance plan will require that the individual be unable to perform their own occupation for the first two years of disability and thereafter that they be unable to perform any occupation in order to qualify as “disabled” under the policy.

In British Columbia lawyers have access to insurance coverage through specialized providers (Including the Canadian Bar Insurance Association, often referred to as Lawyers Financial) and plans which are more beneficial than the standard commercial policy due to the high earning potential of lawyers. This can result in higher disability benefits and better … Continue reading

How to Write an Effective Appeal Letter for a Denied Long-Term Disability Claim

Posted on by David Goldberg Posted in Insurance Denials, Long-Term DisabilityTagged ,

If your long-term disability (LTD) claim has been denied or terminated, your first instinct may be to fire off an angry email, but you would do well to resist that urge. A strong appeal letter should be focused, evidence-driven, and clearly anchored to your policy’s definition of disability. Below is a practical, lawyer-approved guide to help you write an appeal that actually gives the insurer a reason to change its decision. 

It is important to note that internal appeals are usually optional. In many provinces (including BC), strict limitation periods can keep running from the date of denial. Don’t let appeals eat up your right to sue. If you’re unsure, get legal advice early.

Step 1: Get Your Long-Term Disability Documents in Order

Before you start drafting your appeal letter you should look at your:

  1. Denial/termination letter: Highlight every stated reason for denial and any deadlines.
  2. Policy/benefits booklet
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Denied Long-Term Disability Claims for Doctors

Posted on by Ben Tarnow Posted in Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance Claim DenialsTagged , ,

Physicians, be they family doctors, specialists, residents, fellows, and locums, work in roles that combine medical judgment, speed, documentation, and ethical obligations that leave little margin for error. When illness or injury strikes, long-term disability (LTD) coverage is supposed to protect your income. Yet many doctors see their claims denied or terminated, especially where the impairment is cognitive, psychological, episodic, or “invisible.” If your LTD (or individual disability) claim has been denied, this guide explains the common traps for physicians, the evidence that actually moves the needle, and how our LTD lawyers help doctors across British Columbia get back on claim.

Why Physicians Face Unique LTD Hurdles

Insurers often frame medicine as “light” or “sedentary” work. That ignores the material duties and risk profile of real medical practice:

  • Cognitive load & decision-density: diagnosis, triage, prescribing, and risk disclosure require sustained attention and executive function.
  • Procedural precision: for surgeons, anesthesiologists, interventionalists,
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