Claim not paid

I fell ill in January 2024 and I was unable to perform well at my job and I was booked off sick after being diagnosed and went through over 10 surgeries for 3 conditions. I depleted my sick leave and my employer couldn't pay me my salary for almost 9 months, I'm also not sure how I survived an entire year without a salary. I was covered under Discovery Life income continuation benefit by my employer but even now, my insurer doesn’t want to approve my claim, for unknown reasons. They're asking me redundant questions, trying to make it seem like this is a pre-existing condition when my medical reports, admissions and their date of disability prove that this particular condition I'm claiming for affected my performance and my ability to work and was a condition diagnosed in January 2024 and not 2021. An OT named Kim Cawood has been nothing but difficult throughout the process and dealing with Discovery Life has been nothing but horrible ever since my employer submitted my claim in October of 2024. They first declined my claim from a non-medical perspective, I appealed and waited 45 working days, reminded them about my claim and they still asking me stupid questions and keep on deferring the claim and requesting reports that I have to pay for that are non-existent prior to August 2023. With what money when I don't have a salary. Having Discovery Life as an insurer has been nothing but horrible. I am still waiting on a claim submitted in October of 24, now it's June of 2025