Collecting Lyme Disability Benefits Is A Reality

Our disability insurance attorneys understand how the nature of Lyme disease can result in significant limitations and struggles if not diagnosed quickly. However, many physicians do not properly diagnose Lyme disease from the initial stages. Lyme disease is a controversial diagnosis among the medical community and disputed within numerous medical publications. We have helped numerous claimants suffering with Lyme disease and our disability lawyers are familiar with all of the arguments used by the disability insurance companies. The tests used to detect Lyme antibodies, the enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) and the Western blot, only have a 60 percent chance of accurately indicating the presence of the disease. Because several factors can affect the incidence of the antibodies, countless infected patients are turned away with a false negative test result. Additionally, about one out of four individuals who get Lyme disease never develop the most common sign of the disease – a rash. This is why many do not know they have the disease until it reaches the devastating second and third stages. Once these stages are reached after being left untreated, individuals with Lyme disease may be severely affected by mild to serious long-term disabling conditions.

If you or someone you love is suffering from the symptoms associated with Lyme disease, talk with our firm about securing benefits from your disability insurance provider. We will share with you our past experiences with Lyme disease disability claims and let you know how we can assist you. We have helped claimants such as a vice president of a fortune 500 company disabled by Lyme Disease to numerous school teachers. Disability companies will not deny that Lyme disease exist, but they will argue that it is not a permanently disabling medical condition. Our attorneys will work closely with you and your doctor(s) to make sure that the proper medical documentation necessary to support you claim is presented.

Disabling Disorders Caused by Lyme Disease

The disease is carried by deer ticks found in the northeastern and central northern regions of the United States, as well as by the western black-legged ticks which are found mostly on the Pacific Coast. These ticks can spread the disease to animals and humans through their bite, and subsequently into the bloodstream or lymphatic system. The disease can begin to involve the joints, bones and muscles as it progresses throughout the body. These symptoms can be disabling to sufferers as the disease not only affects them physically but also cognitively. Disability companies will not deny that Lyme disease exist, but they will argue that it is not a permanently disabling medical condition.

During the late stages of Lyme disease, it can spread to other parts of the body such as the heart and nervous system. An individual may feel an irregular or slow heartbeat if the disease spreads to the heart.

Nervous system disorders caused by late-stage Lyme disease may include:

  • Trouble concentrating
  • Changes in mood
  • Loss of memory
  • Changes in sleep habits
  • Muscle weakness
  • Bell’s Palsy
  • Numbness in the arms and legs
  • Meningitis
  • Inflamed knees and other large joints
  • Fatigue
  • Lethargy
  • Vision changes

If you have a claim for disability benefits as a result of Lyme Disease, our disability lawyers can help you at any stage of your claim for short or long term disability benefits. Contact us for a free immediate consultation.

Resources

To learn more about Lyme disease, visit the following links for more information:

You may also return to this page to continue receiving updated information regarding changes in Lyme disease disability benefit laws and news articles.

Resources to Help You Win Disability Benefits

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Disability Company Reviews
(633)
Showing 8 of 633 Reviews
Unum

Low payments

Reviewed by Dorothy on November 30th 2023   Verified Policyholder | November 2023 date of disability
I was injured at work. I did house keeping in a hospital. I tore just about everything imaginable in my knee. I was let go from my job, because I was no longer able to do ... read more >
Lincoln Financial

Well Documented correspondence

Reviewed by Joshua on November 23rd 2023   Verified Policyholder | May 2023 date of disability
I read other situations and it’s all very similar to my case. I have received STD from May 2023 and when my FMLA run out LF would not respond or answer my calls. My last... read more >
Unum

They closed my claim and I have been without income since they closed it

Reviewed by Mary C. on November 8th 2023   Verified Policyholder
Went off work on 9/26/22 due to back issues. Applied for Short Term Disability. On Jan 2023 switched over to Long Term Disability and Unum had me to apply for Social Secur... read more >
Hartford

Bad Faith

Reviewed by Dustin G on October 12th 2023   Verified Policyholder | November 2020 date of disability
They kept asking my doctor for the same information that they did not need to process my claim. He kept sending in the same information, and they kept asking for it. My do... read more >
Hartford

Denied by Hartford after 20 years of Payments

Reviewed by Mary on October 11th 2023   Verified Policyholder
Hello,I am a Multiple Sclerosis patient. I also have Lymph-edema, Asthma, Blood-clot problems, Bi-Polar 1 Depression, and Head & Neck Injuries. And now, due to MS, Spast... read more >
Standard

Standard insurance just dropped me with no communication with me.

Reviewed by D Larson on October 4th 2023   Verified Policyholder | June 2019 date of disability
I was put on Standard insurance by my employer in 2019. I was told by them when I was first on disability that I would be on this for the rest of my life. After 2 years of... read more >
Reply
Sent on October 4th 2023 by Attorney Gregory Dell

I am sorry to hear about your experience. Do you currently have a denial letter from them that you can email to me?

Sun Life

What a mess

Reviewed by Unknown on September 12th 2023   Verified Policyholder | July 2020 date of disability
This place has no idea what day it even is. First they attach my claim to my previous claim in which was a new claim. They messed up and denied me then made me wait yet ag... read more >
Reply
Sent on September 12th 2023 by Attorney Gregory Dell

I am sorry to hear what you are experiencing. Make sure you deal with Sunlife writing and follow up every day. If you would like assistance please contact us.

Reliance Standard

Reliance Standard is attempting to doctor shop and send me to an unqualified specialist.

Reviewed by Steve on January 20th 2016   Verified Policyholder
I was bitten by a black legged tick (ixodes pacificus) while working on the job at the Nevada Test Site in 2004. Only after I tested positive for Lyme disease and 2 co-inf... read more >
Reply
Sent on January 20th 2016 by Attorney Stephen Jessup

Steve, as it appears that your claim is for Worker’s Compensation and not for benefits under a disability insurance policy, you will need to consult with an attorney ... read more >

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Showing 8 of 363 Dell Disability Cases

LTD claim approved by Lincoln for former Biomet, Inc. employee suffering from Meniere's Disease

Although it took two separate appeals to convince Lincoln to approve our client's long term disability claim, we are happy to announce that ou... Read More >

After appeal filed by Attorney Jay Symonds, Prudential overturned its previous denial of long term disability benefits for New York Financial Control Officer

Our client, Ms. L, formerly worked as a Control Officer for a large financial services institution. In May 2016 a number of medical issues, in... Read More >

MetLife Removes 24 Month Limitation for Mental Health Condition for Financial Advisor

The road to long term disability benefits is far too often a difficult and arduous journey for many insured. Our client's story is a testament... Read More >

Hartford Admits Decision to Deny LTD Benefits to Claimant with Chronic Lyme Disease Was Wrong

Dell Disability Lawyers filed an appeal with Hartford for a 36 year-old claimant seeking total disability benefits due to Lyme disease and its... Read More >

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Judge Agrees that MetLife's Denial of Long Term Disability Benefits was Reasonable

In Anne Ehlert v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife), Ehlert was a consulting pension actuary for pension plans at Towers... Read More >

California Federal Judge Orders Standard Insurance Company to Pay Disability Benefits to Teacher with Lyme Disease

In Tisha Entz v. Standard Insurance Company, Plaintiff Entz was a classroom teacher in Victorville, California from 1997 until she became... Read More >

After paying for 13 years Unum Denies Disability Benefits to Woman with Lyme Disease and Endometriosis

In Stephanie Dorris v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America (Unum), Plaintiff was President of Beans Plus, Inc... Read More >

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The case of Stephanie Dorris v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America (Unum) is an example of how an inexperien... Read More >

Unum Denial of Disability to Claimant with Lyme Disease Remanded by Washington ERISA Judge

In Bunger v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, the plaintiff was a Web Content specialist for Costco when he became ill and unable to wo... Read More >

Court grants partial summary judgment in favor of Plaintiff, remanding claim back to Aetna to review records it failed to review during the appeals process

In the case of Cannon v. Aetna Life Insurance Company, a Massachusetts Court found that Aetna abused its discretion in denying LTD benefits to... Read More >

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In cases such as Lyme's Disease, and the wider gamut of chronic pain conditions such as Fibromyalgia or RSD and chronic fatigue conditions, th... Read More >

New York Federal Court Denies MetLife's Motion To Dismiss Lyme Disease Victim's Petition For Disability Benefits

In the case of Karen N. v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company et. al, the United States District Court of New York, after hearing arguments f... Read More >

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Since we represent disability insurance claimants at different stages of a disability insurance claim we offer a variety of different fee options. We understand that claimants living on disability insurance benefits have a limited source of income; therefore we always try to work with the claimant to make our attorney fees as affordable as possible.

The three available fee options are a contingency fee agreement (no attorney fee or cost unless we make a recovery), hourly fee or fixed flat rate.

In every case we provide each client with a written fee agreement detailing the terms and conditions. We always offer a free initial phone consultation and we appreciate the opportunity to work with you in obtaining payment of your disability insurance benefits.

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No. For purposes of efficiency and to reduce expenses for our clients we have found that 99% of our clients prefer to communicate via phone, email, fax, GoToMeeting sessions, or Skype. If you prefer an initial in-person meeting please let us know. A disability company will never require you to come to their office and similarly we are set up so that we handle your entire claim without the need for you to come to our office.

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When you call us during normal business hours you will immediately speak with a disability attorney. We can be reached at 800-698-9159 or by email. Lawyers and staff must return all client calls same day. Client emails are usually replied to within the same business day and seem to be the preferred and most efficient method of communication for most clients.