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JenG
Love my little boy!
Member since 6/05 2489 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Women loses health benefits due to her insurance co. finding pics of her on facebook
thoughts?
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BROMONT, Quebec – A Canadian woman on long-term sick leave for depression says she lost her benefits because her insurance agent found photos of her on Facebook in which she appeared to be having fun.
Nathalie Blanchard has been on leave from her job at IBM in Bromont, Quebec, for the last year.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Saturday she was diagnosed with major depression and was receiving monthly sick-leave benefits from insurance giant Manulife.
But the payments dried up this fall and when Blanchard called Manulife, she says she was told she was available to work because of Facebook.
She said her insurance agent described several pictures Blanchard posted on Facebook, including ones showing her having a good time at a Chippendales bar show, at her birthday party and on a sun holiday.
Blanchard said Manulife told her it's evidence she is no longer depressed. She's fighting to get her benefits reinstated and says her lawyer is exploring what the next step should be.
Blanchard told the CBC that on her doctor's advice, she tried to have fun, including nights out at her local bar with friends and short getaways to sun destinations, as a way to forget her problems.
Manulife wouldn't comment on Blanchard's case, but did say they would not deny or terminate a claim solely based on information published on Web sites such as Facebook.
LINK TO STORY
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Posted 11/22/09 11:18 PM  |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19458 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Women loses health benefits due to her insurance co. finding pics of her on facebook
My first question is how did they get access to her facebook photos. After that, were her excursions under Dr's orders and what were the terms of her disability benefits. I saw the photos on TV and she did not look like she was having fun even though she was out at the bar. I think who ever gave her photos to the insurance carrier was jealous that she was being paid and not going to work.
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| Posted 11/22/09 11:24 PM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
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Re: Women loses health benefits due to her insurance co. finding pics of her on facebook
My thoughts are it's not the first time an insurance company has discontinued benefits for actions of someone who is disabled.
I had a friend that used to work for a well-known insurance company. She was an adjuster & taped a disabled guy, with severe back problems that rendered him unable to work. He was riding her bike & when he saw her with a video camera, started doing tricks for the camera.
However, that is a physical disability. I don't have enough experience with depression, but I'd think partying on vacation is indicative of depression.
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| Posted 11/22/09 11:33 PM |
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Re: Women loses health benefits due to her insurance co. finding pics of her on facebook
I think that the thread title is a bit misleading. What they denied her is the equivalant of disability pay, not health benefits. Also, this did not happen under US laws. I'm not trying to be a jerk but I want to play devil's advocate for a minute. A facebook page alone should not lead to a denial of disability benefits. However, people who are disabled do have to be very careful of what they put out there. Even as a lawyer who handles disability cases, I have to say that people who have claims and then knowingly or unknowingly flaunt their abilities give the system a bad name.
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| Posted 11/22/09 11:44 PM |
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Christine
2nd verse same as the 1st
Member since 5/05 15287 total posts
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Re: Women loses health benefits due to her insurance co. finding pics of her on facebook
Posted by LSP2005
My first question is how did they get access to her facebook photos. After that, were her excursions under Dr's orders and what were the terms of her disability benefits. I saw the photos on TV and she did not look like she was having fun even though she was out at the bar. I think who ever gave her photos to the insurance carrier was jealous that she was being paid and not going to work.
In this day & age, I think everyone should know that google/facebook/myspace searches are common. Just like it is common for insurance companies to keep tabs on claimants receiving benefits. If there is anything you don't want people to know about - do not put it on the internet. That's privacy 101.
I can't comment on whether or not her benefits should be pulled based on the pictures - disability benefits for mental health issues are different then benefits received for a physical disabilty.
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| Posted 11/22/09 11:47 PM |
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MeNBobs
*****
Member since 4/07 3765 total posts
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Re: Women loses health benefits due to her insurance co. finding pics of her on facebook
If she wasn't really depressed before she will be now.
As for people taking advantage of their insurance. Our old neighbor was out of work for having a bad back. One day he was up on his roof ripping shingles up wearing a woman's blonde wig and a pink bandana. My brothers thought (s)he was hot for about 20 minutes until they saw the mustache.
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| Posted 11/23/09 12:52 AM |
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Re: Women loses health benefits due to her insurance co. finding pics of her on facebook
Posted by MeNBobs
If she wasn't really depressed before she will be now.
As for people taking advantage of their insurance. Our old neighbor was out of work for having a bad back. One day he was up on his roof ripping shingles up wearing a woman's blonde wig and a pink bandana. My brothers thought (s)he was hot for about 20 minutes until they saw the mustache.
OMG, like a a disguise in case anyone caught him or did he just like to dress in drag?
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| Posted 11/23/09 2:09 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Women loses health benefits due to her insurance co. finding pics of her on facebook
I wasn't even aware that this
Posted by JenG
long-term sick leave for depression
was available. 
I'm a little surprised that they made such a definitive action over some pictures. They're just snapshots, they don't tell the whole story.
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| Posted 11/23/09 8:04 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Women loses health benefits due to her insurance co. finding pics of her on facebook
At my last job there was a guy who fell in the parking lot and broke his leg. He was out on leave for months and months until someone at work found pictures of him in on a fishing website - on a boat, standing of his free will, no cane or crutch, holding multiple fish he caught that day.
I don't remember what came of it, if he came back to work or went elsewhere, but I thought it was pretty stupid of him to work the system and then let himself be photographed like that.
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| Posted 11/23/09 8:08 AM |
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leighdvm
My golden boys!
Member since 3/06 4419 total posts
Name:
Michele
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Re: Women loses health benefits due to her insurance co. finding pics of her on facebook
You can be clinically depressed, but also smile and have fun once in awhile.....you know?
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| Posted 11/23/09 8:14 AM |
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baghag
:P
Member since 5/05 10278 total posts
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Re: Women loses health benefits due to her insurance co. finding pics of her on facebook
Posted by greenfreak
I'm a little surprised that they made such a definitive action over some pictures. They're just snapshots, they don't tell the whole story.
I agree with this. Remember when Britney Spears was out partying all the time? And Lindsay Lohan? I'd consider both of them depressed and in need of help.
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| Posted 11/23/09 8:23 AM |
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Ambersmom
Straight up nasty
Member since 5/05 7740 total posts
Name:
Sharon
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Re: Women loses health benefits due to her insurance co. finding pics of her on facebook
I have a neighbor who is milking the system with his "bad back". Yet he swims, mows the lawn, jumps on his kids trampoline...all things I would think would be detrimental to a bad back, no???
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| Posted 11/23/09 8:26 AM |
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Christine
2nd verse same as the 1st
Member since 5/05 15287 total posts
Name:
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Re: Women loses health benefits due to her insurance co. finding pics of her on facebook
Posted by baghag
Posted by greenfreak
I'm a little surprised that they made such a definitive action over some pictures. They're just snapshots, they don't tell the whole story.
I agree with this. Remember when Britney Spears was out partying all the time? And Lindsay Lohan? I'd consider both of them depressed and in need of help.
There must be more to the story. Also, this happened in Canada, they might have different criteria for LTD benefits for depression.
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| Posted 11/23/09 8:27 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Women loses health benefits due to her insurance co. finding pics of her on facebook
Posted by Christine
Posted by baghag
Posted by greenfreak
I'm a little surprised that they made such a definitive action over some pictures. They're just snapshots, they don't tell the whole story.
I agree with this. Remember when Britney Spears was out partying all the time? And Lindsay Lohan? I'd consider both of them depressed and in need of help.
There must be more to the story. Also, this happened in Canada, they might have different criteria for LTD benefits for depression.
I hope there is more to it than that. Anyone can fake a smile for some pictures.
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| Posted 11/23/09 9:47 AM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
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Re: Women loses health benefits due to her insurance co. finding pics of her on facebook
If anything I believe Canada would be much more lenient about that kind of thing.
It is one of the countries that protect employee's rights most. We've had Canadian employees out on LTD & I am confident that no employer - given the lawsuits there - would terminate disability benefits without some serious consideration & evidence.
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| Posted 11/23/09 10:34 AM |
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