LTD Stuff! AAARRRGH!

[brooksea]

On top of trying to find a NEW Medicare Advantage plan for my husband (once again, his was discontinued in our area) we receive the "Questionnaire" from the LTD company that is even more detailed than last year! Give me a break! He's got A L S! What part of that do they not understand? You would think they would flag an insured that had such a diagnosed, but I get that if you don't fill out the paperwork you won't get your check! Nice! This has to be returned in 21 days from the date the letter was sent, physician's documentation and signature, too!

Stupid, invasive questions:

What kind of hobbies or social/community activities did you engage in prior to your disability? Have you continued to engage in any of these activities since you became disabled...if yes please list the hobbies...and how often you participate... List all types of activities that you do during the...day...Specifically from the time you arise...til you retire. Do you own a personal computer? What kinds of programs are you proficient in? Do you have an email address? Do you have your own website? Are you paying for Medicare part D? They ask you to rate what you are capable of doing, then to describe the exact impairment or restriction! Duh! Plus questions asking detailed info about SSDI amount, spouse, dependant, etc... Like they don't already know! :-?

Very frustrated at the moment! Why does this all happen at holiday season? Seems the joy is sucked right out of everything!

OK! I'm done!

 

[LizT]

why does this happen during the holidays, CJ? Because they are all A-holes!
im sorry this is going on. like the entire situation isnt crappy enough without these guys jumping down your back about hobbies and websites. hope it gets better for you real soon!

 

[alex scared]

hi guys . . Am i missing something here or is that the stupidest thing i have ever heard . . I mean honestly what sort of people are they ? . . Do they realise what als is ? Asking questions like what sort of activity you partake in . . What do they expect you to say . . Joining the marines ? ! Running a marathon! ? Surly the nature of an illness like als should exempt you from this kind of bs. .

 

[rose]

CJ, I feel your pain.

My LTD company just sent me a letter stating that they have determined I am not only too disabled to work at my occupation of flight attendant, but for any other job as well. So, I'm hoping this means there will be an END to the stupid asinine forms to be filled out... but then, my company still needs an update from my neurologist every six months assuring them I still am terminal. Hah!

 

[Miss]

Don't count on it Rose! We still get the stupid questions even though they determined that my husband cannot work anywhere ever again . . . go figure.

 

[rose]

Missy, I know. Its ludicrous. If you think about it, people who have LTD policies have some sort of regular job, its not like they have a history of not working. With my seniority I'd be making close to $50 per hour, and every time I get one of those survey forms to fill out, I think, right, some bureaucrat out there thinks I'd rather stay home, and have the measly pittance from LTD and SSDI, instead of working in an occupation I loved. Go figure.

 

[Katie C]

Rose, I'm afraid the paperwork doesn't end. We got the stupid forms every three months like clockwork. Made our neuro crazy too.

 

[shelleynshaggy]

If it were me I'd answer stupid questions with great answers:

What kind of hobbies or social/community activities did you engage in prior to your disability? CUTTING THE GRASS

List all types of activities that you do during the...day WATCH GRASS GROW AND PAINT DRY

Do you own a personal computer? NO IT OWNS ME

What kinds of programs are you proficient in? PORN AND FILLING OUT THESE STUPID FORMS

They ask you to rate what you are capable of doing RATE = DISTANCE X TIME

then to describe the exact impairment or restriction! D & T ARE UNKNOWN VARIABLES, CAN YOU SOLVE FOR THEM PLEASE?

Amt of SSDI



Jim got a questionare asking date he will return to work - I SO wanted to answer: Do YOU believe in reincarnation? Somewhere around then.

Some how I don't think they would find me funny - I literally once reponded to one of these brillant minds re Jim's recovery "Let's not go there" - must have repeated that phrase 5x

 

[brooksea]

HA! Shelley!

I neatly wrote the answers to their last idiotic, invasive questionnaire! This time I wrote in tiny cursive, without my glasses! LOL

It is sad we even need to do this, but I understand there are people that will take advantage of "disability." But, come on! ALS is ALS! "Oh! miracle, honey! I actually pushed the button on the remote! I managed to lose it in the recliner and leaned just right! Woohoo! Don't tell the LTD INS company or I might have to get a job as a butt model!"

 

[heymom05]

Becaue I am generally a smart-ass, I would answer sex to all the questions.....now that would make me laugh just imagining the facial expressions of the person who has to read it.....

 

[majikgypsy]

I am not sure what this paper work is, they haven't made us do it yet. But, when I applied to the VA for more compensaion, they sent a book to fill out. I called them and was told it was computer generated and that it did not apply to ALS. Have you called them? Or maybe you could make copies of the paperwork and send in the same report over and over. I don't think anyone who is not affected by ALS realizes how stressful this is.

 

[stephie]

I religiously filled out all of the paper work several times for my husband's long term disability. After receiving disability payments for 2 1/2 years, we received a letter stating that they have been overpaying him by about $350 a month and we owe them a whopping $10,000. (They wanted it paid in full within 30 days). I offered to mail them a check that had no chance of clearing, but they declined. The agreement that has been worked out is this: They have stopped all payment, we repay them $500 a month, and we must repay the remaining $6,000 by the end of the year. The doctor has predicted that my husband has between 3-9 months to live, so I may still owe them money when he is gone. Why do we work so hard to do all of this ridiculous paper work when they can just screw it all up with no consequence?

I agree wholeheartedly with your title LTD Stuff! AAAARRGH!

 

[joni51]

Sorry for all of the extra stress CJ. Shelly and Gina your posts cracked me up!

 

[TedH5]

What a shame. Your whole life they want your money but God forbid you need to get back from what you have put in and they act like you are trying to screw them over. Zero compassion, bureaucrats living down to my expectations!

 

[abbas child]

Phil had to mail in a doctor's "excuse" for my diaper cost (complicated, naturally. We pay with untaxed money set aside by Phil). Well, the excuse wasn't acceptable. A time frame for this need had to be filled into a form...with the necessary length of time being say, six months. Phil filled out the form, faxed it to the Doctor to sign, and this is to be repeated every six months? They know my prognosis, and while I would love to grow out of the diaper stage, I'm afraid it's for life. When Phil told them it would be needed for the rest of my life, they said to re-do the form. Surely there are some nice answers these folks need to hear. The doc suggested mailing them a used diaper...