TORONTO, ON, CANADA - 06/05/2018 (PRESS RELEASE JET)
Like many people, Faith always assumed if she fell ill she would be covered by her group benefits insurance company if there ever came a time when she wasn’t able to work. Unfortunately for this 40 year old from Mississauga, she was given a rude awakening when her claim was denied while she was suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is also known as systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID) or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). Sometimes it's abbreviated as ME/CFS. The condition presents with: a constant feeling of malaise or unrest that lasts for more than six months, constantly feeling feverish or cold, being unable to sleep properly, feeling exhausted even after getting 8-10 hours of sleep, developing depression or anxiety, unable to work, and feeling isolated because of total inability to interact with friends or family, joint or muscle pain, headaches, swollen lymph nodes, or gastrointestinal issues.
Despite the fact CFS is a very serious condition, it is often misunderstood by medical professionals, and in Faith’s case, dismissed by her insurance provider. “I came down with a nasty flu two years ago and just didn’t get better. That’s when I started getting tired all the time, my head felt cloudy, my joints ached. Something was really wrong.” said Faith.
“Just going to the grocery store was torture.”
Like many suffering from CFS, Faith didn’t get a diagnosis right away. “It was just awful going from doctor to doctor and not knowing what was wrong yet still knowing I was sick. Just going to the grocery store was torture.” With two kids to run around after and a full-time job, Faith was totally unable to work and continued her search for a diagnosis. After seeing several specialists, she, like over 200,000 other Canadians, was diagnosed with CFS.
When her insurance company informed her that her application for long-term disability benefits was denied because she wasn’t sick enough to qualify, Faith felt totally helpless.
“They made me feel like it was just all in my head.”
Being denied these benefits meant Faith was left with no income while she was trying to get better. Her husband Greg, a 43 year old landscaper, saw an ad for a Toronto law firm who helps people with long-term disability claims. “I never thought that an insurance company would just not help a sick person,” said Greg.
Share Lawyers, located near Yonge and Lawrence, focuses its practice on cases like Faith’s, where someone with a long-term disability has been denied by their insurance company. “We want people to know they can fight their insurance companies,” said Janice Grevler, Associate Lawyer. “They feel like the insurance company has the final word, but we want to let them know they can fight for the benefits they need.”
Share Lawyers was able to ensure a settlement for Faith by gathering the medical evidence to support her claim and demonstrating how she was unable to work. “Many people suffering from CFS have a difficult time having their illness understood,” said Grevler, “but we helped the insurance company see not only how much Faith needed these benefits but that she was entitled to them under the contract.”
Media Contacts:
| person_outline | Full Name: | Wendy Share |
| phone | Phone Number: | N/A |
| business_center | Company: | Share Lawyers |
| language | Website: | www.sharelawyers.com |
