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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.

The terms of your long term disability policy will heavily influence the outcome of your claim. The policy serves as your primary source of rights with respect to your benefits, but it also sets forth many obligations that you must satisfy.  You should thoroughly review your policy before going out on long term disability, filing your claim, or filing an appeal.  Understanding your policy's terms will substantially increase your chances of success. 

There’s a lot to consider, and you need answers.  We can help.  Below you'll find the important terms found in most long term disability policies.  You'll also find numerous tips and best practices for taking advantage of your policy provisions. 

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, you may find it challenging to file a short- or long-term disability claim or appeal within the prescribed deadlines. Thankfully, many ERISA long term disability deadlines have been suspended amid COVID-19.  This is a tremendous help because COVID-19 may make it difficult to gather the medical evidence needed to support your claim or appeal. Even with telemedicine appointments available from some providers, getting an appointment scheduled can be hindered due to office closures, reduced hours, and staffing reductions. Some providers may not have any available appointments at all.

COVID-19 has created significant uncertainty surrounding group short and long term disability insurance benefits.  Get answers about from NYC's top long term disability attorneys below.