By Matt Lalande in Long-Term Disability on August 05, 2020
Typically, LTD policies contain a provision that considers a person eligible to receive benefits if he is disabled from working at his own occupation for the first two years. This is known as the “own occupation” (own occ) period. Thereafter, the test changes to a more difficult definition which requires the individual to be disabled from performing any occupation for which he is reasonably suited (language like “qualified, or could become qualified for, by reason of education, training or experience”). This is known the “any occupation” (any occ) period. The juncture between the two definitions of total disability is known as the “Change of Definition” or the “COD”.
Because the test for the “own occ” period is less onerous, and the insurance company’s potential exposure is lower, insurers will often pay benefits during the “own occ” period, but resist paying benefits into the “any occ” period. During the latter period the potential payout, especially for a young person, could be significant.
Before the “own occ” period expires, the insurance company may:
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I was a dental hygienist that suffers from really bad scoliosis. My insurance company ignored my doc & cut my benefits off & told me I could do “something”. Matt got me CPP Disability and and LTD settlement – I don’t know what I would have done without him.
My daughter was killed by a drunk driver and it forever changed all of our lives. It seemed that for two years time stopped. This was no an easy journey. Matt let me sit in on the discovery of the driver and boy, he never let up. In the end, our grand-daughter was taken care of and we were compensated for our loss – which we then donated to a cause we believed in.
I call Matt my knight in shining armour. After I was struck by a car while cycling and permanently crippled, he fielded all communications with my especially difficult and downright nasty insurance adjuster. Every step of my care was a battle and I did not have the strength to fight alone.
I lost my leg in a terrible motorcycle accident and Matt help me recover compensation I need because I could not work and the cost of prosthetics and rehab are out of this world. I don’t know what I would have done without him.
My brother ended up paralyzed after a car accident and Lalande did SO MUCH to help get things straight from him getting out of the hospital to all his care for life. We are so grateful for Matt & Heather. I don’t know how my family could have done this without them.
