Which Medical Conditions Qualify for Long-Term Disability?

When a serious health condition makes it impossible to work, your world can feel like it’s turned upside down.

You are dealing with medical appointments, treatments, and the physical or mental challenges of your illness—and on top of that, you are worried about how you’ll pay your bills.

Long-term disability (LTD) insurance provides financial support during these difficult times, but navigating the qualification process can be confusing. Knowing which medical conditions typically qualify for coverage is the first step toward securing the benefits that you deserve.

If you neeed help with your benefits claim, contact a Minneapolis long-term disability benefits lawyer at Kemmitt, Sanford & Kramer.

What Is Long-Term Disability Coverage in Minnesota?

LTD coverage provides income replacement when you are unable to work due to a qualifying medical condition. In Minnesota, these benefits may come from private insurance policies offered through your employer or individual policies you have purchased. 

Most LTD policies replace a portion of your income—typically 50% to 70%—after a waiting period that can range from several weeks to months. The specific conditions that qualify, the benefit amounts, and the duration of coverage depend on your policy’s terms.

However, most policies require that your condition significantly impairs your ability to perform the duties of your occupation or any occupation, depending on their definition of disability.

Medical Conditions That Qualify for Long-Term Disability

While every insurance policy has its own criteria, certain medical conditions are commonly recognized as qualifying for LTD benefits.

These conditions typically involve chronic, progressive, or permanent impairments that prevent you from maintaining gainful employment:

• Cancer and Malignant Neoplastic Diseases: Conditions where the body develops malignant growths or continuously attacks its own cells often qualify for benefits. Examples include breast cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, mesothelioma, and Hodgkin’s disease.
• Cardiovascular and Circulatory System Conditions: Heart and blood flow disorders can permanently limit your ability to safely engage in physical activity or maintain a healthy cardiovascular function. Qualifying conditions include heart attacks, heart failure, strokes, aneurysms, coronary heart disease, and recurrent arrhythmia.
• Musculoskeletal System Conditions: Disorders affecting bones, joints, muscles, and connective tissue are among the most commonly approved LTD conditions because they often cause chronic pain and severe mobility limitations. These include arthritis, herniated discs, fibromyalgia, sciatica, degenerative joint disease, and amputations.
• Respiratory System Disorders: Lung and breathing conditions can result from environmental exposures or genetic factors and may permanently impair your ability to breathe properly or engage in physical exertion. Examples include chronic asthma, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, sarcoidosis, and chronic pneumonia.
• Digestive System Disorders: When your digestive system fails to function properly, you may be unable to absorb necessary nutrients or experience debilitating pain that makes daily activities unbearable. Qualifying conditions include Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, cirrhosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and severe gastroparesis.

Other qualifying categories include immune system disorders like lupus and scleroderma; permanent infections such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis; sensory impairments like blindness and deafness; neurological conditions like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and multiple sclerosis; and severe mental health disorders such as PTSD and schizophrenia.

Additionally, blood disorders, kidney conditions, severe skin disorders, and endocrine and metabolic diseases may also qualify for benefits.

Get Help with Your Long-Term Disability Claim

Securing long-term disability benefits can be challenging, especially when insurance companies dispute the severity of your condition or question whether it meets their policy definitions.

A Minnesota workers’ compensation attorney with experience in disability claims can be invaluable in building a strong case for your benefits. Contact an attorney at Kemmitt, Sanford & Kramer today to discuss your eligibility and learn how legal representation can strengthen your claim for the benefits you deserve.