Long-Term COVID Symptoms Are a Significant Public Health Issue
And They May Prevent You From Returning to Work
Not everyone enjoys a smooth recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As of December 8, 2020, more than 285,000 people had succumbed to the illness in the United States, and tens of thousands of survivors continue to experience symptoms.
Many news outlets are calling these people COVID long-haulers, and on December 4, 2020, the federal government hosted its first workshop dedicated to long-term COVID-19. According to The New York Times, however:
“Some survivors and experts feel that name [COVID long-haulers] trivializes the experience, lessening its importance as a medical syndrome which doctors and insurers should recognize, diagnose and try to treat.”
The quote above expresses one of the biggest problems with long-term COVID symptoms – doctors and insurance companies have no idea how to address or treat the debilitating condition. Fortunately, public health experts agree, and they are working on recognizing the condition as a syndrome and giving it a name that doctors can recognize and take seriously.
“This is a phenomenon that is really quite real and quite extensive,” said U.S. infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci. The nation’s top COVID-19 advisor went on to explain that if long-term COVID symptoms infect even a portion of the millions infected, this condition will represent “a significant public health issue.”
What Are the Symptoms of Long-Term COVID?
The symptoms of long-term COVID are as debilitating as they are real. Many ‘COVID long-haulers’ have been unable to return to work – some since March.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warn that the long-term effects of COVID-19 can include:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Joint pain
- Chest pain
- Difficulty thinking (brain fog)
- Cognitive impairment
- Depression
- Muscle pain
- Fever
- Headaches
- Heart palpitations
Researchers have compared the symptoms of long-term COVID-19 to those of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), which is another illness that often emerges after viral infections, but they still don’t know enough about either 'mysterious' condition.
While the country struggles to help, those afflicted face excruciating realities. One patient with long-term COVID symptoms emphasizes that COVID’s long-term effects are “as real and possible as dying from the virus itself.”
Getting Help
Individuals with long-term COVID-19 cannot wait for help. Many of them have been disabled from their occupations since the pandemic began, struggling to find providers who take their condition seriously and offer valid treatment options. With growing numbers of patients experiencing cognitive dysfunction and psychological issues, the severity of this emerging medical condition cannot be understated.
Although official laws have not yet gone into place, the growing urgency surrounding long-term coronavirus can work in your favor.
Dabdoub Law Firm has been helping patients with long-term COVID-19 symptoms recover short-term and long-term disability benefits from their insurance companies. We can help you, too.
Help from an Attorney with Expertise in Disability Insurance
Disability insurance law is complicated, especially in the midst of a global pandemic. If you need help filing a claim for disability benefits or your COVID-19 claim was denied or delayed by an insurance company, you need an attorney who has expertise in disability law.
Why Us?
- Our lawyers specialize in disability insurance.
- Our lawyers have experience with , , , , and just about in the United States.
- Our lawyers have won and improved the law for those facing disabilities – we are ready to innovate for you in this special situation.
- Our lawyers have recovered millions in disability benefits for our clients.
Because federal law applies to most disability insurance claims, we do not have to be located in your state to help.
Dabdoub Law Firm represents clients nationwide with:
- Submitting disability insurance claims,
- Appealing long-term disability denials,
- Negotiating lump-sum settlements, and
- Filing lawsuit against their disability insurance companies.
Our team can help you, too. Call us at (800) 969-0488 or contact us online to speak with a disability insurance attorney. You will not owe any legal fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf.