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I would like to introduce you to one of our claims consultants, Ellie Bedard, who attended Professor Michael Sullivan’s training course on the Progressive Goal Attainment Program (PGAP). This program is, in our experience, the “gold standard” in interventions for claimants with psychosocial issues, helping them return to work. To become an accredited clinician is not […]

Are mental health claims getting the attention they deserve? Is our industry doing enough to support claimants in their return-to-work journey while managing carrier risk? Lingering claims impact everyone. Munich Re Life US and The Claim Lab invite you to an insightful discussion on practical strategies and insights to improve outcomes and reduce long-term disability exposure. […]

Introduction In conversations around mental health and disability, it’s easy to assume that rest is synonymous with recovery. We often default to the belief that stepping away from responsibilities—especially work—is inherently healing. But as clinical psychologist Dr. Les Kertay recently reminded us, this well-meaning instinct can inadvertently hinder recovery. “I never thought it was a […]

…And that might be a stretch! When mental health claims extend into long-term disability (LTD), there’s often an unspoken assumption: the condition must be chronic, severe, or permanent. But as Dr. Les Kertay, Chief Psychologist at The Claim Lab points out, that’s rarely the case. “By the time we’re in LTD… Perhaps unstable, treatment resistant bipolar-I […]

Dr Les Kertay – Chief Psychologist at The Claim Lab We’re facing a mental health crisis in the workplace, but perhaps not exactly the one most people think. While headlines focus on rising demand for mental health services, the deeper issue is our collective inability to distinguish between normal work stress and clinical conditions requiring […]

How about managing psychosocial factors! The longer any claim remains open, the less it has to do with the original medical condition. While medical recovery is often measured on a 6-month timeline—where the majority of conditions improve or resolve during this period—Longer term claims frequently tell a different story. For many conditions, individuals recover within […]

This month I am very pleased to welcome a contribution from Dr Kristin Tugman, who many of you may know. Dr Tugman has just launched her own consulting business, after building some great programs at some of the top disability insurance carriers in the US. The issues addressed are the same in every return-to-work situation, whether in Canada, […]

In the claim’s world, managing the ‘whole person’ not just a medical diagnosis has long been considered best practice. Whether you are concerned about mental health parity (in the US) or just the rising focus of mental health issues in the workplace, there are great reasons for taking a closer look at the whole individual behind the […]

Dr Les Kertay – Chief Psychologist at The Claim Lab Mental Health Crisis – What’s in a Number? Is there a mental health crisis?Yes, I think so. I base this on these premises: 1. There is a substantial degree of stress that people are feeling at work, and it is contributing to increased reports of […]

Ok let’s set a bar here…Serious medical conditions or injuries, whether at work or elsewhere, will result in disability or workers compensation claims, and our job in the insurance business is to support the individual in their time of need. Yet in every claim there is more than just a medical condition.Let’s look at an […]