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Fall 2002

Readers’ Forum
Correspondence with the Chronicle editor

Fighting insurers: Thanks for the help
The summer issue was so personally significant and beneficial to me that I had to write to thank you. The legal information you included (“Navigating the Disability Insurance Maze,” by Mark D. DeBofsky) was invaluable, as I am undergoing my five-year “review” from SSDI in addition to a review from my private long term disability (LTD) insurance provider.

The insurance company sent a video team to follow and film me this summer (they filmed me hobbling about 50 feet walking my dogs, and also going to the pharmacy to pick up my medications). They also are trying to get access to my home. I find this offensive to say the least.

I am ready to fight back in order to retain my benefits. I will not be intimidated. I will cite legal cases mentioned in Mr. Debofsky’s article to my insurance company after they take their next step — which I am sure will be to try to cut off my monthly benefits.

I just wanted to let you know how much the information you publish in the Chronicle hits home. The information is timely, useful and has “legal legs.” It is so heartening to know that I am not alone in this fight. Thank you again for such a fine publication.

Name withheld by request

Warning: Insurers won’t play fair
Thanks to Mr. Debofsky for much-needed information on Long Term Disability (LTD) insurance and how to win an appeal. Unfortunately, the article leads one to believe that as long you have a good attorney and all the necessary information, you will win your appeal. Sadly, that is not the case.

Insurance companies do not play fair. They routinely deny LTD claims that they have been paying for years to obviously disabled people for no apparent reason. Most claimants are made to endure humiliating appointments with independent medical examiners hired by the insurance company. You can end up in litigation for years against a company with very deep pockets.

I am constantly looking over my shoulder and I breathe a sigh of relief every month when my check arrives. But people on LTD need to know that they could be in for a huge battle when it comes to appealing a denial of benefits.

Name withheld by request

The Chronicle Hot Topic: Your turn to speak out

One of the best ideas from this spring’s Chronicle Reader Survey came from an Association member in Lockhart, Texas. She suggested that we post a question on the Readers’ Forum page of each issue, covering a subject of interest to the CFIDS community. We will print the best of your responses to the “Hot Topic” question in the next issue.

This issue’s Hot Topic:
“If you could explain one thing about your condition to a doctor, what would it be?”

Send your responses to The CFIDS Association of America, P.O. Box 220398, Charlotte, NC 28222-0398, Attention: Chronicle Hot Topic. You also can send your thoughts to us online at chronicle@cfids.org. Letters may have to be edited to meet our space and style considerations.

If you have ideas for future Hot Topic questions, please send them to the same address.
— Mark Giuliucci, Editor