DANG IT !! Disability Review Extended

[rendean]

Just received my mail for today and in it was a letter stating that they are extending their review of my records for an additional 30 days. Dang it is NOT the word that is floating around in my head nor coming out of mouth.

This review was supposed to be 90 days and end September 3rd. In the meantime, I am without any income, cannot find another job to produce income and am getting madder with each letter from the disability company.

I really do not know what is so hard to understand. My job description states I must be physcially in my office to accomplish my work. I cannot work from home. I have episodic vertigo therefore I cannot drive 35 miles one way to work. My neuro wants wait and see how the vertigo continues to resolve. NO rush hour driving allowed.
There is no public transportation available.   So, the simple  facts are I have to be at the office to work. I cannot drive to the office, therefore I cannot work. What is so difficult about this?????????????

And, this doesn't even address the balance issues, nor the generalized weakness, blurred vision and decline in executive function. Who do they hire to these reviews??The ones that lost at Tiddly Winks?? Arrrrrgh!

Thanks for letting me vent.

Riled up Ren

[rendean]

Thanks to one and all that responded. Good to know that my indignation wasn't misplaced.

Julie: Yes, there is retro pay IF I receive the disability. I am calling tomorrow to see if I still get the pay if I don't get the disability.

Ren

[Sarahsmom46]

My blood is boiling.  I have heard your story many times from friends and family who have to fight their battles with their disability payments from their companies.  It seems pretty standard procedure for these guys to keep extending, losing paperwork, needing additional information, overall trying to starve you, like somone else already said, out of this process.  

One of my friends had to quit working last year and had was paid up in her companies long-term disabiility insurance policy.  What a joke getting that policy. Quix said it straight,  they are saving money on every month the are not paying you your entitled benefits.  I hope the do give you retro pay, if not, fight for it.  Get an attorney if you don't already have one.  

Hang in there this has to come to an end sometime, hopefully soon!!!!!

Love and hugs,

Julie

[Fluffysmom]

Reminds me of when I fought for my car disability insurance.  I bought a car from one of those "we'll sell to anyone" places, and had to pay extra for disability insurance to pay of the car, in case I was to become disabled.

When I was waiting for my Social Security Disability to come through, and had statements from doctors and Voc Rehab that I was disabled, unable to work, this insurance company kept insisting they had to review more records, and if I didn't make weekly payments, they would repossess the car, and I would be sent to collections for the outstanding debt.  

I worked around the house of my landlord to pay the rent so I could pay car payments, read the fine print, hollered at the fools, and finally was sent a healthy rebate check from the company for all those payments that I'd scrabbled for.

A few months later, my SSD came through and I got a lot of $$ in retro disability payments.  I hope that's the way this disability of yours works, or they at least get off their you-know-whats and give you your bleeping disability payments!

On a happier note, I was sent papers for a re-review a few months ago, to see if I was still eligible for SSD.  A few days ago I received a letter stating that they had no reason to do a further review at this time, and my SSD payments would still be mine.

Kathy

[rendean]

Quix - Nope not UNUM. The company is from your neck of the woods, it's called The Standard in Portland, OR. I was going to post what I would like to rename this company but do not want to chance that they have someone lurking here already. Maybe that's what's taking so long...they're playing on the computer.

[Quixotic1]

Ren - OMG, for every month that they delay a decision they are "saving" possible expenses.  Are you by any chance being evaluated by UNUM?  I don't know how they are now after losing the huge class action law suit a decade ago.  They are a huge "insurer" for professional disability.

Lu - Does the phrase "Sweetheart Deal" ring a bell?

Quix

[Amyloo]

I'm wondering if there is any state disability that you can tap into whilst you wait?

[HVAC]

I am sorry. This and watching the House of Representatives debate Health Care Reform on CSPAN bums me out. I want to scream at these pompous people how would you like to not only worry about an incurable crippling illness but the cost on top of it! ARRRRRRRRRRG!  I  just found out my own Senator put an amendment in the Senate version helping the Drug companies to hang onto the patents on drugs like the interferons and copaxone longer while lessening the time other drugs can have generics.

[deborah0904]

Rendean, I'm so sorry.  I honestly know it is so frustrating to wait for the disability review.  It only adds to the stress of the MS and you definitely don't need that.  Can you call them Monday to see just what about your records they are requiring more time to review?  I wish I had an answer for you.  God can move mountains and I'm praying He'll move this mountain for you!

[saveone]

I think the disability ppl try to starve you out so you have to go back to work, even if it is flipping burgers

[rendean]

I do not think I have an recourse in the disability process but am gong ot contact someone I know who does this type of work to see if I have any options.

Regarding the Copaxone...wonder if we use the same company. I WAS getting my copax 90 days at a time and on Oct. 1st  they switched to another speciality pharmacy and now I must re-order my meds each month. What a pain in the neck!

Ren

[Lulu54]

It must be hate your mailman day, because mine also brought news ...


my insurance denied my appeal to order by Copaxone 90 days at a time, because it would save me $200 a year in my copay.  They say specialty drugs, according to my policy, can only be ordered 30 days at a time.  

I guess my only choice is to go back and appeal their mandate that I have to use their pharmacy for my specialty drug and see if I can use one of the SS pharmacies that rebate/cover  the copay back to the patient.  


Why do things that are so simple and obvious to us have to be so complicated to the bureacrats?

I am so, so sorry that your disability is still hanging out there - is there any way to light a fire under them through your hr department or a legal affairs office?

sorry you're still hanging,
Lulu