Primary Care Physicians And Specialists
Social Security may send you to see one of their own doctors for an evaluation at one or more times during the course of your case, or not at all. You should not rely on Social Securitys doctors to provide all of the medical evidence needed to prove your case.
To build a strong case for Social Security disability benefits you should have your own doctors whom you see regularly before you file your application and you should continue seeing them throughout the course of your disability claim and even after your benefits have been granted. You should start with a family doctor , and this doctor can refer you to specialists appropriate to help treat your conditions. For example, your PCP can refer you to a psychiatrist and therapist or counselor for mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. Your PCP can refer you to a rheumatologist for fibromyalgia, an endocrinologist for diabetes, pain management and/or an orthopedic specialist for back problems, and so on.
You should have appointments with your doctors regularly, as often as they feel is appropriate. Be sure to keep these appointments, or reschedule them if you must miss the appointment, as it will not help your case if your records are filled with No Shows. This can give Social Security the impression that you are not complying with your treatment, or not taking it seriously.
Final Thoughts On 7 Signs Of A Bad Doctor
If you think your doctor shares some of the 7 signs of a bad doctor, dont let that stand in the way of finding a new one. You should feel comfortable enough to speak with your doctor openly about your health. In turn, they should offer helpful information and alternatives.
Dont let a bad relationship with your doctor stand in the way of getting the help that you.
Have you ever had a doctor that you thought was bad? Tell me in the comments below!
Have You Recently Been Denied Your Claim Benefits
Many disability insurance companies make wonderful promises about the coverage found in their disability policies, but when a medical professional files a claim, these promises are broken. Our disability team at Eric Buchanan and Associates has experience holding insurance companies to their promises and helping medical professionals get the benefits they deserve.
We know how to combat the tactics that insurance companies use to deny medical professionals claims. Have any of these happened to you?
- Many insurance companies promise doctors that their policies will be very generous and cover the doctors own specialty. But when the doctor files a Long Term Disability claim, the insurance company claims the doctor can still do portions of his or her specialty and is therefore not disabled and entitled to full benefits. Our disability team is familiar with this tactic and can help fight to get the benefits you were promised.
- Disability insurance companies also try to avoid paying full benefits by claiming that the doctor is only partially disabled based and only entitled to partial benefits. Similarly, the insurance company may try to shorten the length of benefits owed. some policies say if a person is totally disabled before a certain age, such as age 55, then benefits are payable for the persons lifetime. In order to avoid paying lifetime benefits, the insurance company will find the person only partially disabled at age 55.
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Free / Low Cost Clinics & Medical Resources
When applying for Social Security Disability, documentation is the second most important factor behind your actual disability when trying to become approved for benefits. Completing an application with all the proper medical documentation needed to become approved can be rather cumbersome and time consuming. With the cost in medical care at an all time high, receiving the treatment needed to gain proper documentation can sometimes be impossible for an individual who is disabled and unable to afford doctors visits. Thankfully, there are doctors offices and medical clinics that offer low cost or free medical care throughout the United States. If you haven’t been seen by a doctor in the past 90 days and have an up to date diagnosis of your condition from a physician, you need to do so before completing an application.
If you are unable to afford medical care due to financial reasons, please click on your state to find a list of local free or lost cost medical clinics in your area:
How To Ask Your Doctor For Disability
This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow’s Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards.There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 72,805 times.Learn more…
The process of filing for disability benefits or accommodation can be long and frustrating. A doctors support, however, can go a long way in getting you the help you need. Whether you want Social Security benefits or an excused leave from work, you should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. Take time to explain why you need their help. If you need a letter or form, make sure that the doctor provides strong evidence of your condition and its impact on your life.
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The Ce Will Not Be Performed By Your Own Doctor But By A Doctor Who Is Contracted By The Social Security Administration
The DDS examiner will request the information or tests that are needed from the physician. Your exam may include a physical, psychiatric or psychological evaluation and may or may not include blood work, x-rays or an eye exam. The examining physician will not prescribe any medication or treatment for you.
The examination process will not take long at all. In fact, one criticism of CEs is that they tend to be too short. The examination may take 10 minutes at the most. Some examinations may be longer, but it will depend on who your doctor is and what their workload is for that day.
Be sure that you attend the CE if you are asked to go. If you do not attend, it may give the examiner a reason to dismiss your claim. If you are unable to attend a scheduled exam, contact your DDS examiner or the CE physician to reschedule as soon as you know you will not be able to make your appointment.
Some do not like CEs because the doctor does not know them and they may overlook many of the medical issues the client has due to the quickness of the procedure. If you do not want to have a CE, make sure your medical documentation is as detailed as possible.
Preparing For A Consultative Examination
Even if youve already seen your personal doctor, you may have to go through an additional consultative exam . This is required if the SSA needs to get additional medical information on your condition, clarify some of the info youve already given, or ensure that the info is up-to-date. The SSA will schedule and pay for this exam through the local Disability Determination Services office.
The exam will not be conducted by the SSA itself but by an independent physician. In fact, the SSAs first preference is for your own personal doctor to conduct your supplemental exam. If your doctor is not available, not willing, or not qualified to perform the CE, the SSA will call on a different independent doctor to do it.
What should you expect from the disability doctor during the CE? The physician will only gather the needed medical information on your condition the consultation is not intended to treat you. However, you can expect to undergo certain tests such as x-rays, blood work, psychological exams, and the like, if the doctor sees the need. You are also allowed to bring in or request a free qualified interpreter if you are not confident with your English proficiency.
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Why You Should Not Share Any Personal Opinions
A typical CE exam is quick and to the point, so it is important to stay focused on the review of your condition. Limit yourself to only talk about your condition and not opinions.
Do not tell a disability doctor you think you are dying, that you think the examination is unnecessary, that you do not trust doctors, or that you believe your current medical treatment is not good.
Some or all of these opinions may be true, but as mentioned, this is not the time to complain or opine about the validity of the exam. The doctor is not there to diagnose you or treat you, so do not say things that will make them question you or make you appear untrustworthy.
Is There Anything You Should Not Tell A Disability Doctor
by Guadalupe Ovalle | Nov 11, 2020 | SSD Application Process
Are you currently applying for Social Security Disability benefits, or was your application recently denied by the Social Security Administration ? On your journey to receiving benefits, you may be required to complete a Consultative Examination with an SSA-approved physician.
The consultative exam can be nerve-wracking, and knowing what not to tell a disability doctor could make a big difference in your claim. Furthermore, you can help your case by not lying, exaggerating statements about your condition, or sharing your personal opinions with the physician during your exam.
We highly recommended that you go to your disability exam prepared. Continue reading to find out more about what you should never say to a doctor during a CE.
Need immediate support with your disability claim? Contact Crest SSD at the number above to schedule a free consultation. You pay nothing upfront or out-of-pocket!
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Contact An Experienced Long Term Disability Insurance Attorney
If you are struggling to secure compensation, get the help you need from Tucker Law Group. We have helped thousands of clients with disability insurance claims and have experience dealing with various types of disability insurance policies. This includes employer, group and individual disability policies. Our long term disability lawyers can assist you at every stage of the process, from filing a claim to appealing a denial. We also have experience with disability insurance litigation. For a free consultation, leave us a message or call us at .
How To Ask Your Doctor For Disability: 7 Steps To Winning Doctor Support
by Stanley Denman | Last updated Aug 14, 2021 | Published on Jul 11, 2021
STEP 1: Start with reality. Your doctor does not want to get involved.
Your doctors support in your social security disability case, though not required, is a big help. But unfortunately, most doctors do not want to get involved.
Its not that they are bad people. Doctors want to heal, and supporting a disability claim is an admission that they have failed.
Moreover, many think that once people get on disability they stop trying to get better. Most doctors have patients seeking disability that they really dont think should be on disability.
And lets face it: doctors are busy, and already have too much paperwork, thanks to the government and the insurance industry. They are not excited to add to that burden by filling out forms or dictating a letter of support in your disability case.
This attitude can make things difficult for you and youll want to carefully consider how to ask your doctor for disability.
STEP 2: Adjust your attitude. Get over the fact that your doctor will have to be courted to help you in your disability case.
You have been through a lot. Different and uncomfortable surgeries and procedures. Different medications, all with uniquely annoying side effects. It is understandable if you have at least a tiny bit of resentment toward your doctor. After all, she has not gotten you back to work and a normal life.
Ask her precisely:
I dont get involved with disability matters
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How To Qualify For Va Disability
Before we dive into all the details of a nexus letter, lets talk about the basic qualifications you need to meet to get a VA disability. First, you must have an official diagnosis of your medical condition. This diagnosis needs to come from a medical provider who meets VA requirements.
Once you have your official diagnosis, you will need to prove a service connection. This means youll have to be able to point to a specific incident or a set of circumstances during your military service that could have caused your condition. Finally, you will need to get a medical nexus from your doctor.
Planning Ahead For The Appointment
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What Information Do I Need To Get From My Doctor
The exact information you need to get from your doctor depends on the basis of your claim. Here are some examples.
Back pain. A claimant who files for disability based on lumbar and thoracic spinal stenosis and who has received treatment from an orthopedic doctor, a neurosurgeon, a physical therapist, and a pain management doctor needs the following types of information:
- copies of CT scans, x-rays, and MRIs that show the extent of the spinal stenosis
- radiologists’ reports that describe the findings from imaging studies
- records from any surgical attempts to relieve the symptoms
- detailed records of pain management visits, including medication list, dosages, reported side effects, and results from random urinalysis demonstrating compliance with prescribed medication
- detailed physical therapy plan and the applicant’s response to treatment
- statements from doctor about applicant’s ability to work , and
- physical residual functional capacity assessments .
Mental illness. A claimant who files for disability based on bi-polar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder and who has attended an in-treatment program at a local psychiatric facility on weekends needs the following type of information:
Combination of impairments. A claimant who files for disability based on type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , and depression needs to provide the following types of information in support of her claim:
Seeing More Than One Specialist
Most people who make a disability claim are doing so because of one disability, but if you are suffering from multiple disabilities it cannot hurt to have the opinions of multiple specialists on file. For example if you are applying for disability based on being paralyzed but also have asthma or another condition, seeing a specialist for each of these will help. When the SSA makes a determination on a disability claim, they take into consideration all information you have provided them. The more information you give them, the better chance you have of having your disability claim approved.
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Bureau Of Medical Disability Program Services
This bureau is responsible for coordinating the analysis and dissemination of federal and internal policies and procedures congressional and critical case inquiry responses training development and processes requests for consultative examinations from administrative law judges in the Social Security Administrations Office of Disability Adjudication and Review .
Disability Benefits For Veterans
You may be eligible for disability benefits if you’re on disability from your service in the Canadian Armed Forces or Merchant Navy.
You may get social assistance payments from:
- your province or territory
- your First Nation
These payments will depend on your household income, savings and investments.
You may also be eligible for health-related benefits from your province or territory. These benefits may include benefits that help cover the cost of:
- medications
- medical aids or devices
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Contact An Attorney For Help
Because the medical evidence and doctors’ opinions you provide to the SSA in support of your claim will be determinative in whether you win or lose your disability claim, you may want to contact a lawyer. An experienced disability attorney is trained to identify what type of information you need to win and will look over your case to determine what further evidence you need. Consult an experienced disability attorney in your area.