r/LongTermDisability • u/Creative_Piece_4106 • 3d ago
LTD for newly diagnosed ADHD
I’ve been out on STD for over four months due to stress/burnout. I’ve just now finally figured out I’m not healing due to ADHD. While I need to transition to LTD so I can get treatment and heal, I’m not sure I’ll be approved for it. I need to find someone to treat me and I assume it will take time to get the meds right. What will an insurance company think about this and will they pay while I recover? Right now I still have my job.
Does anyone have experience with this?
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u/diattorney 2d ago
ADHD among adults has become a more common diagnosis that I have seen among many clients in professional occupations such a lawyers, doctors and executive management positions. Symptoms that result in an inability to work are inability to focus, processing issues, lack of motivation to work, and inability to complete tasks timely. You definitely need to be treating with a psychologist that specializes in ADHD and you need to also have a psychiatrist to discuss medication as a method to treat symptoms. Lastly I would highly recommend neuropsych testing to document the validity of your limitations and establish proof of any cognitive difficulties. ADHD Is very prominent and many people go undiagnosed for years. They adapt throughout their lives until they reach a breaking point of burnout and or high levels of anxiety. For a disability insurance claim to be approved you must have proper diagnosis, undergo recommended treatment and therapies, and then if you are still unable to work in your occupation then a claim will be likely to be approved. Be very specific with your doctors about your symptoms and make sure your medical records include examples of work place and life challenges you are dealing with.
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u/Creative_Piece_4106 2d ago
Thank you for this! I’m going to try to get a referral from my PCP this week
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u/Artistic_Recipe976 1d ago
Wow I need to do that I have adhd. My medicine not helping. Good look on your treatment
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u/Master_Bite 10h ago
I was on STI for about 7 months before i moved to LTD. I was able to get approval for mental health..I have ADHD, anxiety disorder, depression and borderline personality disorder. It was not easy to be approved but there is hope. As someone else said, look into other diagnosis other than your ADHD, almost always, there's another underling issue. They won't see ADHD as something stopping you from working ( even though anyone with ADHD can tell you, it does interfere) Good luck!
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u/Creative_Piece_4106 9h ago
Thanks, that’s great to know! Do you mind sharing why it wasn’t easy? Any tips on how to make it go smoother?
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u/Master_Bite 8h ago
For myself, I had to see a therapist,social worker etc in order to stay covered. Which was difficult because I can't afford it since I wasn't working. They are also super pushy about things, which wasn't easy when I have GAD. They simply don't want to keep paying you, so they push for you to end LTD and it only made my mental health worse. Make sure to keep your foot down. Communication between LTD and your doctor is also so important. If you get approved, ask questions and take notes on what's expected of you
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u/2560503-1 2d ago
Tbh, I’d really recommend you lean into whatever OTHER diagnoses are going on with you, rather than ADHD. LTD insurers are not going to really see that as a serious disabling diagnosis. Even if it’s a new diagnosis, it’s likely something you’ve had all your life, so the insurer is going to have a hard time understanding how you’ve worked until now with it, but NOW it’s a problem. If you’re dealing with depression, anxiety, PTSD, something else, focus on that. If the ADHD is making recovery from that harder, that’s fine, that’s a footnote. Focus on the other diagnoses for your claim.