Are Migraines a Long-Term Disability?
If you have severe migraines, it could be possible to recover benefits from a long-term disability policy. The Preszler personal injury law firm might be able to assist you with filing a claim. Our team could help show that your condition is real and that it is debilitating.
To discuss how we could help in every stage of the claims process, schedule a free consultation today.
Understanding migraines
Migraine headaches typically involve severe throbbing or pounding pain in the head. Often, these sensations occur on one side of the head. In more extreme cases, you could also experience nausea as well as sensitivity to light or sound. This pain is often overwhelming. If untreated, a migraine could last as long as 72 hours.
However, this condition impacts people in different ways. Some only experience a migraine once or twice in their life. Others deal with them daily.
In some cases, the effects of the migraine are so severe that they could interfere with your nervous system. This is known as an aura. It is temporary, but it could begin during the headache– and last roughly an hour after it is gone. The symptoms of the aura are different from the migraine itself, and could include:
- Trouble speaking
- Imagining noises or music
- Uncontrollable muscle spasm
- Loss of vision
- Visual phenomena, including flashing lights or bright spots
- Tingling in the arms or legs
- Numbness or partial paralysis to the face
- Partial paralysis to one side of the body
These symptoms can be disorienting, but they are temporary. The occurrence of migraines could be a life-long issue, though. Treatment is available, but its effectiveness varies from person to person.
There are two types of treatment prescribed for migraines: pain relievers and preventative medicine. Pain relievers are intended to stop the symptoms of a migraine after an attack. Preventative medicine could be taken daily to reduce the severity or frequency of these conditions. Whether or not these medications are effective will depend in part on your medical history and other factors.
What qualifies as a long-term disability?
There is no “master list” of injuries or illnesses that could result in a viable disability claim. Both long-term and short-term disability benefits could be available following any injury or illness that renders you unable to work.
To qualify for long term disability, you must first exhaust your sick days and any short-term coverage you might have. Short-term coverage is available for as many as 52 weeks. If you qualify for long-term disability, your policy will provide you with a portion of your weekly wages until you either turn 65– or are no longer disabled. The percentage of wages you are entitled to will depend on the language of your policy. That said, your long term disability lawyer could advocate on your behalf.
While you might feel entitled to disability benefits for migraine headaches, the reality is that insurance companies will look for any reason to deny a claim.
Discuss your options with your lawyer
If your long-term disability claim was denied or terminated unfairly, you still have legal rights. You are entitled to appeal any denial, and you have the right to counsel throughout the appeals process.
Contact us at Preszler Injury Lawyers today
We take pride in our role as a long term disability law firm. We are ready to advocate on your behalf to ensure you are both treated fairly and recover the benefits you deserve. To discuss your options, set up a free case evaluation with us right away.
