The above title seems absurd. Why would anyone pay to be disabled? The answer is that far too many people see disability as an investment – especially for retirement or a lump-sum payment at the expense of employers and the workers compensation insurance system paid for by employers.
Disability is currently a vast industry. Workers comp, no-fault, Social Security, and long-term disability are disability programs that have experienced explosive growth in the past 40 years – and have established a firm presence on late night cable stations in the form of lawyer advertisements. (WCxKit)
Amazingly, many people who do not look, act, or feel disabled wish they did; at least in a submitted medical report, in hopes of getting “benefits.” Such reports are not free. They come at a price. Actually, two prices. One price is paid to the doctor for the report. The other price is paid by the patients in ways they never imagined.
Disability is not a hobby. It is a full time job. Furthermore, it is the most expensive job most people will ever have – and they, in the end, pay for these expenses. There simply is no free lunch. When you wish to present yourself as disabled your wish comes true. You begin to act, think, and finally BE disabled, although not entirely physically. One exchanges a full time job for activity of little purpose for less than half your former wages as an able person.
But what is the entry price for becoming disabled? Many doctors charge nearly $1,000 for an exam and a report. If the report is for a negligence claim it is far higher. And you need not fear the report will conclude you are healthy and in good shape. It won’t.
Every workers comp lawyer has had a client at one time or another who was a convincing example of the ravages of injury and disability. However, at the time of the modest final settlement, the client will suddenly blurt, “If I had known this was all I would get, I would have gone back to work years ago!” See:
To Be Injured or Not To Be Injured An Actress Dilemma
A “successful” disability claim ought never to be measured in weeks, months, years or decades of disability; the goal is return to the prior disability-free life. The monetary payments are a measure of losses, not gains. Consult with your spouse and children before you consider a career change to “disabled.” (WCxKit)
Author Attorney Theodore Ronca is a practicing lawyer from Aquebogue, New York. He is a frequent writer and speaker and has represented employers in the areas of workers compensation, Social Security disability, employee disability plans, and subrogation for over 30 years. Mr. Ronca has 21 years experience in searching and retrieving medical records and many other types of documents for defense of workers compensation claims. Contact Attorney Ronca at 631-722-2100 or medsearch7@optonline.net.
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