The biggest reason someone with a concussion will need legal assistance is over long-term disability insurance coverage. Roughly half of LTD claims are rejected by insurers, and getting coverage can be incredibly challenging for those with a concussion as an invisible injury.
To help us navigate these potentially choppy waters, we're thrilled to have Kim Patenaude as our guest. She is a lawyer with Raven Law in Ottawa, specializing in employment law, and an expert in long-term disability insurance. She’s also an engaging guest, and this show is a great listen. David and I enjoyed chatting with her.
In this episode, Kim walks us through the differences between short and long-term disability coverage, how and when to make the transition, the crucial role of doctors and specialists in getting approval for LTD coverage, and some helpful hints on managing the paperwork and when to turn to a professional for help.
We’ve given you some extra information this time; the first link leads you back to the CATT Online (the Concussion Awareness Training Tool). In an earlier episode, we spoke with Dr. Shelina Babul, the director of CATT Online. It offers training modules for anyone interested in learning more about concussions. In particular, there is a module for doctors to help them understand your injury and, importantly, your symptoms. Ensuring your doctor fills out the insurance forms appropriately is important to the LTD process.
The second link is to the Canadian Concussion Centre’s webinar series. Based out of Toronto, Ontario, and at the forefront of concussion research and treatment in Canada, they too are working to reach more people with concussions to help them understand their condition and recover. This webinar is called “Navigating Insurance Systems” and offers a different perspective on the insurance process.
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Concussion Central of Canada is a registered Canadian charity. Our mission is to create easily accessible information for the concussion community, helping people navigate living through concussions, the healthcare system, and their recovery.
12:10 – Using 3rd party help in filling out the forms (if you can’t)
13:30 – What if you’re denied
16:40 – Who is better? Your family doctor or a specialist?
17:40 – Forms are submitted; what’s next?
18:40 – What to do if the insurance company calls you at home?
21:00 – The appeals process
24:00 – Filing a statement of claim against the insurance company, the role of a lawyer
The Canadian Concussion Centre is also an excellent source of information on a wide range of concussion-related topics - though they are in a video format. The link below is the CCC’s webinar “Navigating Insurance Systems,” which provides different details on WSIB and Motor Vehicle Insurance process.
Thank you to Raven Law LLP for supporting this episode of the Concussion Central Audio Guide.
Our aim is to help you, the listener, navigate the often very confusing world of concussions, diagnosis, and treatment.
We understand that for those living with a concussion, the best way to receive information isn’t reading material, it isn’t online, it isn’t on screen. It’s by listening. On this podcast, we’ll be bringing you regular audio interviews with some of the world's leading experts on the many aspects of concussions.
Our aim is to help you, the listener, navigate the often very confusing world of concussions, diagnosis, and treatment.
We understand that for those living with a concussion, the best way to receive information isn’t reading material, it isn’t online, it isn’t on screen. It’s by listening. On this podcast, we’ll be bringing you regular audio interviews with some of the world's leading experts on the many aspects of concussions.
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