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If you’re filing or already receiving long term disability benefits for a mental health condition, you may be asked to attend a psychiatric “Independent Medical Examination” — which, in reality, is anything but independent.  These exams are more accurately called Defensive Medical Examinations (“DME”) because they’re arranged and paid for by your insurance company, often with the goal of cutting off or denying your benefits.  One tool insurers frequently rely on in psychiatric DMEs is the MMPI-3, a psychological test that can significantly influence the outcome of your claim.

Below we’ll answer common questions to help you understand what a psychiatric DME involves, how the MMPI-3 fits into the process, and how to protect your rights before and after the exam.  Whether you’re preparing for an upcoming DME or dealing with a claim denial based on one, it’s important to know what you’re up against—and how a long term disability attorney can help you push back.

As the dialogue around mental health grows, so does the recognition of the profound impact that psychiatric conditions can have on your ability to work and function.  If your mental illness prevents you from performing your job duties, you may be eligible for long term disability insurance benefits.

However, it’s important to understand that mental illness disability claims are often more complex and difficult to navigate compared to claims with disabling physical conditions.

Here’s what you need to know before filing your long term disability claim for mental illness.

Are you mentally exhausted from the never-ending flow of COVID patients?  Have you seen more death and suffering than you can even think about?  Are you frustrated, angry, unmotivated, and feeling helpless? You’re definitely burned out, but are you disabled?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, an unprecedented number of physicians are reporting mental health conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to post-traumatic stress disorder.  In a recent study published in The Lancet, researchers from the American Medical Association and Hennepin Healthcare surveyed 21,000 U.S. healthcare workers, nearly 3,000 of whom were physicians.  Almost a third (29.9%) of doctors reported experiencing high stress.  Nearly half (47.7%) reported symptoms of burnout; more than a third (37.3%) said they felt overloaded with work.

As a doctor, you’re used to seeing your patients apply for disability benefits, but the process can seem entirely foreign when it’s your own claim.  Is burnout a covered disability?  Where do you start when you need to file a long term disability claim?

It’s a complicated process.  Here’s what you need to know.

Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time – but those who suffer from anxiety disorders know firsthand how paralyzing it can be to function day-to-day. If you’ve been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, your symptoms may significantly interfere with your ability to perform your job duties.

You may consider filing a long term disability insurance claim due to your anxiety.

Here’s what you need to know before filing your long term disability claim for an anxiety disorder.

Many people afflicted with bipolar disorder find themselves struggling to carry out their daily activities. The fluctuating symptoms may lead to serious complications in functioning and problems with personal relationships – making it difficult to hold down a job. Even with proper treatment, bipolar disorder can be problematic to manage.