December 14, 2004
UNUM insurance trying to cancel disability benefits
July 29th: The Chicken or the Egg, FMS or depression:
""I think SSA and insurance companies alike try to use the 'you were depressed first' so they can classify the patients' illnesses as psychiatric which generally the benefits for are much less than a physical disability. I was dx'ed with the physical disability of FMS, qualified for benefits for private insurance in 12/97 and SSA about a year later (with 45 days because my dr's report was complete and thorough as was her exam, per the SSA agent), and have continued treatment by a rhuematologist for FMS. I have seen a counselor when I felt I needed help getting a handle on changes or issues. Then this summer after the ins co 'independent exams' they found I was mildly depressed, and don't have fms. This way they can say that a psychiatrist should be able to cure me in a few months. Do I feel threatened?? heck yeah! They're trying to make an end run aruond paying my benefits. But my new psychiatrist accepts that I have FMS and finds I have the 'major depressive' disorder and is reporting the same to the ins. co. One kicker in my situation is that my disability policy doesn't have the usual 2 year limit on psychiatric benefits, I could be nuts forever and get paid.....but I think that if I don't get better on their schedule they're going to cancel my benefits.........and yes I have a 'bad faith insurance claim' atty in the wings already fully informed.""
Well today a letter came from my personal disability insurance co, UNUM Provident. They wrote that one of their "" field agents will be calling me soon to schedule a visit whereby they can assess and discuss my 'psychiatric disability' and treatment plan."" Just getting this letter upset me. I still consider it an insult that they have reclassified my disabilty to psychiatric, I HAVE A PHYSICAL DISEASE, FMS, WHICH DESTROYED MY LIFE AND DREAMS AND, YEAH, I GOT A BIT BUMMED ABOUT THAT.....YEAH ENOUGH THAT I'M SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND PANIC DISORDERS!!!!!
Once I read the letter, I cried out to my dh that I can't go through this alone, that I don't know what to do. My psychiatrist diagnosed me with major depressive disorder while their experts dx'd mild depression treatable and I should return to work in a couple of months....after 7 years?! The difference is my psychiatrist BELIEVES the 5 specialists that dx'd FMS and is treating me accordingly.
That's the other shoe dropping....."your physician's report was not complete"..."please request your physician to complete the form in full monthly so we may monitor your progress"......
1) I finally found a great Psychiatrist who would 1)treat me...and has helped my sleep markedly, and 2) fill out the insurance form.....though he says this form is something he'll do once or twice a year.....that in the 15min. appt. for meds evaluation, he can't be expected to fill out the whole form. So I told him not to fill it out, and let the other shoe drop. He didn't want me to have my benefits taken away, so he put "Same as last report" in the main area of the form and signed and dated it. He's done this twice. I wondered how long UNUM would accept that.
I blurted out, panic stricken by the letter, that " I can't do this, I can't do this alone". My dh said I didn't have to be alone, he'll be with me. My mother said she'd be with me, (tho she's off to visit her sister and be there for the birthday of my beautiful Molly, cousin Kevin's daughter, in Arkansas for 2 weeks.
I faxed a copy of the letter to my attorney in the wings.......we're apparently waiting for the ins co to commit an act of bad faith in cancelling my coverage, then ready to sue them. I'd rather none of these hassles be necessary.
So do I try to prove to the field agent that I'm' not nuts....that could get me cancelled.
Do I try to prove I am nuts?? That would help their supposition that I have a psychiatric disab.
Do I just be me and see how the cookie crumbles.......I guess so.
And I will pray about it and your prayers would be welcome.
Hugs, Judy
Posted by on December 14, 2004 6:54 AM
Hi JudyThanks so much for the kind note in my blog. Your notes are always so uplifting and helpful.It's odd you mention getting a psychological evaluation, when I was first checking on whether or not I should be pursuing a disability status due to my Parkinson's I was sent on a few "evaluations". I assumed that the evaluations were to various neurologists because, as you know, PD is primarily a neurological condition. So we were given a few addresses to go to, the first being the other office of the neurologist I was seeing at the time, he spent the whole time grumbling (in his East Indian accent no less, picture Gandhi in a labcoat muttering to himself) about how "they" shouldn't be referring his own patients to him for evaluation. Ummm... okay.. work this out among yourselves, folks..Well, from this a few days later I go to the next address and only after pulling into their driveway did I notice this was for a "Psychological Services" provider. (Surprise, surprise, surprise, as Gomer Pyle might have chimed in just then... well, he would have had we brought him along... and seriously, what chance would I have had if I would have told the psychological examiner "Oh, by the way, could we hurry things up, it's hot out and Gomer Pyle's sitting in my back seat just a-burnin' up"? I'd have two chances, alim and none. But I digress...).The psych-evals are easy really, they just ask you questions about how you are feeling and how you spend your time. They might give you something like they gave me where they name 5 various objects and ask you to remember them, then they ask you a few more questions and then they ask you to name the objects they had you remember.It's all important to somebody, but I do not know.Good luck on your testing, I look forward to reading how it went, ok?
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TITLE: Disability field agent 'visit'....
AUTHOR: Judy in AZ
DATE: 10/5/2004 03:51:06 AM
Posted by: Lalo at October 26, 2004 7:15 PM
Dear Fairy Poet,It just came to me as today is one of those days, as much as I've tried to hide it from my family. In the worst depressions, I just stay in bed and won't even get out to care for my daughter or husband. tell them to fend for themselves, whatever they need (she's 18 & he's 43 for goodness sake)My husband just came by and said sex is the answer! He said he's just kidding,...but that brings on another point, am I the only person for whom depression includes having absolutely NO sex drive???????? Not to mention late eve's are for sex for married folk with kids, and by then I'm beat and in pain, probably the worst of the day.Thanks for the well wishes, I'll check in on your blog tomorrow.Hugs and Blessings, judy
Posted by: Judy in AZ at November 2, 2004 11:15 PM
i understandme,nobody.
Posted by: Pilgrim at November 3, 2004 4:44 PM
Please visit my site and see what Xango is doing for people with Fibromyalgia. It has helped countless people and I hope that you might give it a try and change your life.Thank you www.myxango.com/lifechangeMay God bless youTodd M. Orr315 536 6833
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TITLE: Stress, Stress, Stress
AUTHOR: Judy in AZ
DATE: 10/17/2004 05:54:44 PM
Thanks Judy!! Would love to know that someone out there is reading what I have written.*hugs and smiles*Hope your day has been a good one.Evie (aka fairypoet)
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TITLE: Back to Normal (but what's normal for me, not you)
AUTHOR: Judy in AZ
DATE: 11/2/2004 09:02:28 AM
Posted by: fairypoet at November 4, 2004 10:48 PM
Hey Judy!I don't know what I would do without my chiropractor. I go in and see him at least once every two weeks and even though I still have some pain, it is always better. I am also lucky that, if I am having a really bad day, I can usually get in to see him within a few hours.I am happy that you have found a doctor that thinks that he can help you. It is wonderful to have a doctor that believes that.Hope your day is going well...*smiles and hugs*Evie
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TITLE: Assumptions are Made if we don't Explain
AUTHOR: Judy in AZ
DATE: 11/15/2004 10:22:02 PM
Posted by: fairypoet at November 30, 2004 9:06 AM
You explain things good.
Posted by: Pilgrim at December 3, 2004 10:15 PM
Thank you for your note dear Pilgrim,Big hugs and Blessins, Judy
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TITLE: Depression - defined for me anyway
AUTHOR: Judy in AZ
DATE: 11/2/2004 09:58:10 AM
Posted by: Judy in AZ at December 3, 2004 11:18 PM
*gentle huggles*i hope that the chiropractor helps you feel better. it is funny how our bodies react and know things...*giggling softly* i am seeing my doctor later this morning as well. i am hoping that being adjusted will, once again, get rid of the headache that i have had for a few days.take care of you!!Evie
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TITLE: Retracing therapy by Chiro is working, I think
AUTHOR: Judy in AZ
DATE: 12/8/2004 06:07:56 AM
Posted by: fairypoet at December 14, 2004 7:56 AM
I think this is really interesting. I've never heard of it before. I hope it helps!p.
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TITLE: The road through pain to .... health??
AUTHOR: Judy in AZ
DATE: 11/30/2004 08:35:16 AM
Posted by: Pilgrim at December 19, 2004 11:28 PM
DATE: 11/23/2004 03:24:26 AM
Hi Judy,I haven't been on in ages. Had a problem with my computer but have it sorted now. I have browsed a couple of your notes. Sounds like you and Garret are getting on well. Glad to hear it!I liked your post on depression. It made a lot of sense for me as I have also been treated for depression. Not being a religious person though my only place for help was inside me.I got to the point of actually having the vaccuum hose taped to the exhaust with tthe car running and then I saw my Mum walk past the window and I thought God I would miss her. I booked myself into hospital for a while after that and now I am just so glad that I was able to stop the cycle.I find that sleep disturbances really play up with my depression. If this is the case for most people you have a real fight on your hands but You can do it. From reading your posts you are one tough lady!!!!Anyway all the best and I will keep reading now that I can get in again((((hugs))))Kylie is Australia
Posted by: Possum at December 31, 2004 1:06 AM
DATE: 11/2/2004 01:11:30 PM
It helped me, for I have been feeling the same way recently. You put it perfectly into words about the depression. I, too, have days when I get out and it seems that the funk is gone....only to have it decend on me again.Hope you have more good days.Evie (aka fairypoet)
Posted by: fairypoet at December 31, 2004 1:06 AM
DATE: 11/4/2004 11:14:55 AM
thank you nobody,it's good to be understoodand if you understand methen maybe I can understand you a littleplease write me anytimethanks again,I think of you every day with love & prayers,Judy
Posted by: Judy in AZ at December 31, 2004 1:06 AM
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Posted by: Todd Orr at August 13, 2005 12:58 PM