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“Bill” was a successful mergers and acquisitions attorney with a major law firm. Bill suffered from debilitating fatigue and cognitive deficits as a result of chronic fatigue syndrome.

The insurance company denied his claim on the sole ground that Bill stated in his application form that he was “exercising lightly three or four times a week.” The insurer claimed that this was inconsistent with his claim of disability.

“Todd” was a sales trader at a major investment bank. Todd suffered severe cognitive deficits as a result of Lyme Disease. Todd continued to work as long as he could despite the deficits, but was forced to go out on disability when he made several incorrect trades that cost his employer thousands of dollars. The insurance company denied Todd’s claim, asserting that he submitted insufficient objective evidence of disability.

“Jason” was a successful investment banker in New York City suffering from Seronegative Arthritis, Spondyloarthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Chronic Low Back Pain, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Anemia, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Tachycardia and Adenoma.  These illnesses caused myalgias and pain throughout Jason’s body, along with tenderness/swelling, fatigue and stiffness of the lower back, shoulder, knees, hands and hips. 

Jason was the Head Training Consultant for a number of high-end banks and insurance companies in New York City.  Jason was diagnosed with throat cancer and HIV.  The chemotherapy treatment, in addition to HIV, resulted in severe and debilitating fatigue, neuropathy of the hands and feet, stiffness in his hands and feet and dry mouth making it difficult to talk.

Jason was receiving LTD benefits under his group disability policy he purchased years before through his employer. Unfortunately, his insurer without warning discontinued his benefits, claiming that Jason was not totally disabled and that he could return to work.

Laurel worked for a large national mail-delivery pharmacy conglomerate as a pharmacist.  Laurel worked at home filling and reviewing hundreds of thousands of prescription orders.  Two decades earlier, Laurel was diagnosed with muscular cancer of the shoulder and had to have the muscle removed in order to continue arm function.  Unfortunately, complications included chronic pain, frozen shoulder, and neuropathy.  One day, Laurel lost complete use of her shoulder which forced Laurel to stop working all together.