Yep, we are pissed. Us, the trying to survive people with pain. We didn't ask for this situation! But thought wow I am lucky to have my company support me with this coverage now that I am disabled. My hard work and accomplishments I gave to my company have been acknowledeged with help. I gave 150% winning sales goals making my company alot of money even with the pain! I kept going, because I love my job! I hurt but got up to go to work. Now I pay the price. I have a back that is deteriating. Yep, 2 surgeries and arthritis and I am only 47. But did I call in sick nope went to work feeling lousy and even covered it up never complaining. I always smiled and gave it my best. Now I can not give any more. The disability co my co paid so dearly for wants me to keep going, so they don't have to pay! They don't care if it kills me or my last yrs of live are lived in pain. Just let them meet "their" goals....well ins co you met the wrong girl! if you are reading this, as I think you are, bring it on, I am not dead yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU GO GIRL~

I'm right behind you!! This whole health care system is going to *** in a handbasket. They make me sick!!! We PAY AND PAY AND PAY, Then when we need help they turn a deaf ear.

If there's anyone reading this associated with those evil companies...I pity you!! Put your head under THESE chopping blocks(these are for all the people that get screwed) http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/hammer.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/hammer.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/hammer.gif

Renee http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/mad.gif

Thanks Renee! Just needed to "vent", but I'm not done yet!God, you read all these horror stories of people being abused by the "system"! Health "Care" hmm its totally political. Enron and Worldcom got caught! but there is too many insideres that have control on the health system that its gonna take a hell of fight to get it corrected. I think it has to start in each county and go on up the scale...You would think the money hungry lawyers out there would be all over this?they are too afraid of the giants, well I'm not! It is not just disability ins it is all insurances! My dad had a stroke, his blood sugar level was 540! He ran out of "test strips" to ck his level! The ins from VA wouldn't give him any til his next appt!! This is ludicrous!!!! I need physical therapy but can't afford it on the decrease in salary with short term dis, only getting .60 of my reg pay! no other income, alone.cj

So sorry about your dad http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif I hope he wasn't permanently disabled. 60% of your income.. the whole story stinks.

Every year my husband's insurance company raises the premium and we end up getting less and less coverage. What the BLANK is this!!!

Can you imagine your insurance premium being the same as your housepayment!! My gosh people will be going without insurance all over the place. When the hospitals have to admit all these people who's going to pay their bills?? I even might be one of these people someday.

Geez, I'm sure fighting a disability company is like taking a bone from an old dog. They just won't give it up. Even though you've fed and watered the darn dog all these years.

I live about 30 minutes from the Enron building. I have to laugh everytime I drive by. What happened to them serves em right. They deserved everything that's happened to them.

An old(meaning age wise) friend of mine contracted pneumonia. Mind you this lady is widowed, is a little over 60, has no health insurance(she can't afford it) she makes minimum wage, and the small co. she works for can't provide it. Well to make a long story short, she tried to admit herself to the hospital. The hospital told her it would be a 2 week wait, because they had no more beds for the uninsured.

She had to take care of herself at home, having no money coming in. Well, the co. she works for took up a collection to help her pay for her medicines.

So, so sad. Don't those big beaurocrats realize working, tax paying citizens need some help!!

Like you said, lawyers are afraid of them. When is this going to stop!!

Isn't there anyone around (in the big corporate world) that has any guts and can do anything to help in these type situations? Yours, your dads, my friend, and me, or anybody else that can fall through these cracks.

Not giving your dad the test strips he needed was insane! Now look what happened. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/mad.gif

I bet the group that controls the insurance industries wouldn't let their dogs be treated like "we" the lowly working people are.

This needs to stop!!

Good luck on your quest!

renee http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

HELLO

Response to "crazyguy" no message?

I'm so in need of a doctor right now but I am self employed and all the insurance I've checked on is so high (not to mention the deductable)that I can't afford it.I make too much for medicade and can't afford health insurance.What does a person do in my position?
Brandi

Originally posted by brandywine7:
I'm so in need of a doctor right now but I am self employed and all the insurance I've checked on is so high (not to mention the deductable)that I can't afford it.I make too much for medicade and can't afford health insurance.What does a person do in my position?
Brandi
Here is what I did when I needed to see a doctor and I didn't have insurance. I walked into a hostpital and told them I had chest pains like a charlie horse in my chest. They signed me up for something (if remember correctly) called MIS or Ims) or something to this effect, where the county actually gave 6 months of covered medical expenses for Hospital or doctor. I knew nothing about this until I felt necessary to fake it. I never really had chest pains, but for other reasons I wanted to be checked. I also own a home and I am self employed, which had no effect on this temp insurance. I believe they must treat you if it can mean your life. Just complain of something that sounds serious and you will find some avenue for them to reveal avenues available. They never tell you about such programs unless they're cornered and want to be paid for treating you. I know this sounds pitiful, but our medical coverage for our country is pitiful. Take advantage of the screwed up rules. Healthy people make a healthy strong country. Don't they get it?

Go get them Kiddo!? I was In an Auto accident three years ago [Not my fault,Semi truck=1 Me=0] Right away the Insurance Co. was 'Fighting' Issue by Issue On what I was or was not covered for? I was covered, BUT they Just try and Convice you your not covered! [Sadly,This is a common practice]!? We.i.e., Avg. Consumer in essence pay their wages and they act as if the $ is coming out of their pockets. Atty's told Me that they usually 'pick up' your existing health care and everyone's "happy" Mine did not, and they took months getting the checks to me for lost wages,as time passed waiting for checks My Credit rating passed before me also! ALL of this stuff I had payed for In my premium payments, A 'Stuper'visor told Me "well yes you are covered,BUT do you really expect us to pay continuously"?!?!? I replied,Only as the law states Ma'am,. I was then told "You will be crying like the rest when your wage loss checks stop, won't you? Eeek! I got off the subject [sorry] Please watch your Back with all facet's of these 'Individuals' Trust nothing you hear and about half of what you read <<[An Old saying I just made up]!! Best of luck to you,If your able to, Get an Atty, Check the Attny out first also Many out there don't want to 'tangle' in court with the Ins. Co's!! [see how many cases the atty has settled before going to trial] Believe me it makes a difference If they will go to court if need be. I hope I have not rambled to terribly much, and gave you some semblance that there IS a Light at the end of the tunnel and it IS NOT neccesarily a Train! Best of Luck to you and yours., Ken.

Thanks Ken! Sorry to hear about the ordeal you went thru, I will not give up! Unum is still pulling the crapola. My n/s sent all my records over 1 week ago, they claim never received. They tried to give me the po box again and resend... I sd no I want the physical address so I get proof they rec it! He put me on hold, delayed me and sd he spoke to someone but forgot her name, didn't want to give me an address. Got it finally and I resent all records, to the supervisor this time. They are trying to delay til my benefits run out on the 28th. Well I have an atty now, sent all records and just waiting to see what happens on the 28th. I know I am in for a fight, but fight I will!!!!These are services that were paid for and we give these companies a job! Auto ins is the same way if you ever need them they raise your rate, they too just collect the premiums. They think treating people like this is help? customer care specialists? nope just fuled my fire and now I will go after them!!! not just for me but for all of us in need!!!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/blob_fire.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/hammer.gif

Hi Cardinal,
There are a LOT of people going through the same thing as you are with Unum.

Yep I know, but they are messing with the wrong person! I have documentation. Let them try to fight that! Plus I have people in high places...that would love to take this on! I want to work, I was one of the best sales people at my company! I just can't do it anymore. Do they think I enjoy this pain? boredom? I always worked, it gave me a purpose. I don't wish this on anyone but now , hmm yep UNUM, hope they get a taste someday...Hopefully, someday, I will make an impact to a change of this horrific system!!!! Well goodness may come out of this, Unum and others may have to face the outcome of the crime they have inflicted on so many!!! Unum may lose all those heafty wages they have been collecting from our employers once this all goes more public!! 60 min I guess wasn't enough, more to come!!!!

Good,then you know what I'm talking about. They also were on NBC's Dateline. My husband has delt with them for the last 2 years. If this wasn't a public forum I would be more specific. All I will say is you go girl!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Cardinal:
I am so glad there are people like you out there, willing to put of a fight to support us all. You should run for office. I fully agree with what you are doing. Most doctors can't even give the kind of care they want because of medical insurance. If you have an HMO or are low income they are more likely to lie to you about your diagnoses and treatment. Because you won't be able to pay for it. Or they won't tell you the entire story and send you to some other doctor. Good luck and God be with you. I am pursuing a career in the medical feild and hope to God that things change before I get there, or I may start some ****!

OOPS! double posted. sorry

[This message has been edited by slaughter17 (edited 08-19-2003).]

Originally posted by brandywine7:
I'm so in need of a doctor right now but I am self employed and all the insurance I've checked on is so high (not to mention the deductable)that I can't afford it.I make too much for medicade and can't afford health insurance.What does a person do in my position?
Brandi

I don't know what state you are in but I think you should check to see if there is a 'state risk pool' in your home state. You can call any insurance agent and ask (they usually get paid a small referral fee by the state) or you can call your state department of insurance and ask.

I live in Texas and several people I know were unable to get health insurance due to financial or health issues. I was talking to my own agent about everything I had tried to help and she recommended the pool which in Texas is managed by Blue Cross.

Not everyone qualifies. Specific health condition will automatically qualify you, if you are denied coverage by 1 or 2 other companies you can qualify or if you get quotes for insurance at a rate higher than what the risk pool offers.

Insurance is never cheap but the risk pool premiums are stricltly based on age and tobacco/non-tobacco usage. For example...woman about 40-45, non smoker could get full coverage with $500 deductible and $25.00 RX copay for about $350 a month I believe. I don't think pre-existings are allowed to apply either.

Financial status has nothing to do with it. One friend is worth about $5,000,000 but due to her high BP and weight couldn't get coverage anywhere. The TX risk pool accepted her immediately because of the two letters of denial we provided. Despite her health issues her premiums have only gone up slightly as she passed an age barrier this last year.

Good luck and let me know if I can help in any way.