I’m confident my Doctor will support my decision…I see others have struggled with this here, clearly the insurance companies thrive on their ability to manipulate and intimidate their clients. I know from what I’ve read that it shouldn’t matter how we communicate.
I often wonder why some have such amazing luck with their insurers while others are constantly bothered, I swear they have a hat they draw names from in their offices.
Also, I read that the ombudsman organization can help. So if all else fails, I’ll go to them.
That sounds like a lot of BS your LTD company is playing. You answered your own question “I just don’t get why they are so persistent about this” by saying “Also they have lied to me before regarding conversations with my Doctor, every time they mention something he’s supposedly said, it turns out to be totally false.”. This is the game they play.
Want me to share a very neat trick with you? It took me years to learn. You sound like an intelligent, well written, articulate person. I am/was the same way. In this industry, that works against you. The case managers have hundreds of cases in front of them and they need to bug someone. You asked how they choose? No… they don’t pull a name out of a hat. Instead, they pick whoever will has the best communication. It doesn’t matter if you are nice to them or mean to them, they just want someone they can actually communicate with. In other words, NOT crazy.
So basically, I started acting crazy with my LTD company. Actually, I just call it “letting the crazy out”. I don’t hold back. I don’t spell check my emails. I ramble on for pages about useless stuff. I ignore their questions. I ask them hard questions. I tell them how horrible my life is. Sometimes I’ll ramble on for a page or two about my dog and how he was sick etc. Sometimes my emails are 5 or 6 pages long. Eventually I realized that they stopped contacting me. Turns out, the case managers don’t like dealing with me anymore because I don’t play their game. And it probably helps that I am a little messed up in the head too. It’s kind of nice being crazy.
I usually keep things pretty brief with them, simple and to the point…I was told by a Social worker to never get personal with them because they can just hold whatever you say against you…but yeah…I’ve been tempted to drop the mask of politeness and simply let it all hang out…I have some very heartbreaking experiences I’m attempting to work through… I don’t see myself recovering from the traumas I’ve had occur anytime soon…period.
I have rambled on in phone conversations before…and cried… honestly they just seemed to go even harder on me. My one counselor said she once had a client that just said nothing to them when they called him and did nothing to try to get better and they seemed to leave him alone…so you may have a point there. We’ll see what happens with my Doctor.
Thanks for sharing your experience l, it sounds like you also had a hard time with them and did what was neccessary to survive…did they ever accuse you of being non compliant? I worry if I behave in such a way they would say that I am not cooperating and just cut me off?
I would not recommend Adam’s approach for everyone! Although it did make my day to read his post It is certainly a high risk approach that appears to have worked for him, but note that he says his behaviour did fit with his medical condition. I recommend against using this as a “tactic”. It would have to be natural and part of your medical condition. It has to be real and not a put-on or faking it. Adam was not faking it as he was letting it out! And I applaud him for it. The key thing in every case is maintaining your credibility with the eventual decision-maker who could be a judge or a CPP tribunal member. If they ever get the sense you are manipulating things, or faking anything, its game over.
David Brannen
Disability Lawyer with Resolute Legal
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It turned out that my Doctor hadn’t said those things, and since I responded politely to my worker reiterating my conversation with my Doctor, she has backed off…also being accepted for CPPD helped I feel. It’s amazing what a person has to go through for so little support financially speaking.
I definitely would be very careful with any interactions I have with my caseworker…we only use email now thankfully and I (for the moment) am feeling much better about everything. I just pray future interactions stay respectful!
David, yes, you are correct. My approach is not for everyone. Yeah it helps I’m a little messed up in the head. Why not have some fun with it. I am a very hyper-vigilant and non-trusting person. I openly admit that. I wouldn’t call it paranoia, but definitely I always think the worst of people. The reality is, LTD companies are profit driven, publicly held companies with shareholders and they don’t make money by being nice. Your business exists for a reason. Every one of your clients has been SHAFTED big time by someone along the way. It’s unfortunate, because there are some good people out there, but can’t afford to take chances when your whole life depends on it. If my LTD benefits got cut off I’d probably kill myself (sorry if that’s too real for the forum). It’s literally life or death. I wouldn’t be able to handle (mentally) a tribunal or a lengthy legal battle. So I don’t take any chances or let them twist my words. But yeah, definitely I do not suggest anyone acts crazy or fakes anything. Anyways glad you enjoyed my post!
So much rides on the income I receive from disability too, I really struggle with the constant fear of being cut off and having to go through a lengthy legal battle (it isn’t easy being poor!)…being on disability leaves people so financially vulnerable, and having to wait a year and a half for a case to be resolved (hopefully with a positive outcome) while you do what exactly for an income is terribly frightening to me.
That’s the part that frustrates me the most! Maybe some people are lucky enough to have a partner to help pay for things or family to lean on, but for those of us who don’t have those options, and in fact have others relying on us, well what a scary thought to have no income for an indefinite amount of time!
I wish there were more options for people like us, but sadly it’s either burn through whatever money you have saved if you’re fortunate enough to have any savings making below the Country’s poverty level, or maybe go on Welfare?
I wish things were different, and that people with disabilities weren’t subjected to lives of poverty through no fault of their own…but unfortunately this is a tough world! I try to stay positive and hopeful but man it can be a daunting task at times!
It is certainly a high risk approach that appears to have worked for him, but note that he says his behaviour did fit with his medical condition. I recommend against using this as a “tactic”. It would have to be natural and part of your medical condition. It has to be real and not a put-on or faking it. Adam was not faking it as he was letting it out! And I applaud him for it. The key thing in every case is maintaining your credibility with the eventual decision-maker who could be a judge or a CPP tribunal member. If they ever get the sense you are manipulating things, or faking anything, its game over.