The article ‘Disability – it can’t happen to me,’ garnered some personal experiences from readers about their own experience of going through the system.
One reader, Kevin Cahill, expressed his frustration at being caught between what doctors were telling him and what insurance companies were saying.
“As someone who has been off full time work for over the past year due to Severe Post-Concussion Syndrome and Major Depression, I can assure you it can happen to anybody,” wrote Cahill. “Worst part is being stuck between the sick care system and the insurance system – where a team of doctors are telling you that you cannot work full time, while the insurance companies say that there is nothing wrong with you.”
The article looked at a recent RBC Insurance survey, which showed that nearly half of Canadian workers (45 per cent) believe that disability occurs infrequently; and that in fact, one-in-seven Canadians are currently disabled and one-in-three working Canadians will experience a period of disability lasting longer than 90 days during their working lives.
Another reader, Ken MacCoy, shared his perspective from being on both sides of the table.
“Prior to moving to the life insurance business, I was disabled for four months and just about starved on Employment Insurance,” he wrote to Insurance Business. “This is why I recommend disability insurance to my clients. Most people are under the misconception that they are covered by their group LTD coverage; the problem is they fail to realize LTD is subject to a 120 day (four- month) waiting period.”
“When it comes to disability, what Canadians don't know can hurt them,” says Mark Hardy, senior manager, life and living benefits, RBC Insurance. “The research indicates that Canadians are overly optimistic about avoiding a disability and that lack of understanding reinforces the need for more education around this critical issue.”
