At age 61, our Miami, Florida client was still living life to the fullest. She worked as a technology sales consultant and loved traveling, going to amusement parks, and dancing with her husband. Unfortunately, our client’s health began to slip in April 2021. At first, she thought she was experiencing stress and/or panic attacks and continued working.
When she complained about heart palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, chronic diarrheah, anxiety, and depression, however, her doctor referred her to a cardiologist. The cardiologist diagnosed her with chronic systolic heart failure and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.
With such serious diagnoses, our client was forced to stop working and make her health a bigger priority. She filed for short-term disability (STD) benefits to get her medical conditions under control without undue financial hardship, but UNUM denied her claim.
The Symptoms of Chronic Systolic Heart Failure Prevent Our Client from Working
Chronic systolic heart failure leads to many unpleasant symptoms, including fatigue, weakness, swelling, dizziness, nausea, and confusion. It also causes shortness of breath and an irregular heartbeat.
To manage these symptoms and preserve her health, our client took a potent cocktail of medications, which alleviated some symptoms but brought on brain fog and forgetfulness and intensified her dizziness, nausea, weakness, and fatigue.
Our client’s medical conditions are life-threatening. The kind of stress and pressure she experiences in her career in sales could push her over the edge. Additionally, the symptoms she experiences have removed her physical ability to keep up with her job.
Put bluntly, returning to work could kill our client, so we have no idea why UNUM denied her claim for STD benefits.
ERISA Law is Clear
Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), policyholders should never have to risk their lives to receive disability benefits. Our client meets the definition of disability and does not deserve the treatment she has received from UNUM.
Dabdoub Law Firm simply asked our client’s insurance company, what, if anything, it needed to approve her claim. UNUM responded by promptly awarding our client the STD benefits she was entitled to.
Lawyers with Expertise in Disability Insurance Claims
Dabdoub Law Firm has always focused only on disability insurance law.
Because we specialize in long term disability, our clients get the benefit of:
- Having an attorney who is an expert in long-term disability claims.
- Having an attorney who has experience with every major disability insurance company.
- Being backed by a law firm with a proven track record of winning tough disability lawsuits.
Call Dabdoub Law Firm to get experienced disability lawyers on your side.
We can help with:
- Submitting a disability insurance claim,
- Appealing a long-term disability denial,
- Negotiating a lump-sum settlement, or
- Filing a lawsuit against your disability insurance company.
Our firm represents clients nationwide with disability claims governed by federal law, so we can represent you even if we are not located in your state.
Call us at (800) 969-0488 or contact us online to speak with an experienced disability attorney. You won’t owe us legal fees or face any costs unless you get paid.
