Hi guys - thanks again for good wishes - just waiting to hear anything...

Melody - social security disability pays a small amount monthly and gives you the right to get medicare (or in your case a Medicare HMO before the age where you would actually become eligible), which is really the most important element of it... otherwise one would be to buy high risk insurance.....

A long tern disablity company is a private or group policy that you buy - sometimes thru your employer and sometimes if you are self-employed or other situation - on your own... they pay a percentage of your former monthly income, less anything you receive from social security disabilty - and are supposed to help you survive.... (the chances of becoming disabled during your working years are much higher then dying - thus LTD is critical insurance to have)... of couse you have to have been working to qualify for it..... and lots of other stipulations....

They however may it very difficult to collect on....

Hope that helps...

Take care....

Think I got it now!!!!

I may have great eyes, but my brain ain't working so good today!!!!

lol

Thanks kmeb, you're a doll

Melody

I am so sorry Kmeb to find out that a so called doctor has put so much pressure on you, he must be a real piece of work, a scumbag comes to mind.
It seems its no different in your country as it is ours, 9 out of 10 insurance doctors are very willing to give false reports to get the extra money off the insurance companies.
I am so glad your own treating doctor is challenging his report, i am sure his word will help tremendously.
I have been through a battle with a very big insurance company over here, they know very well how much it could cost them to fight you, you have all the proof and all they have is lies and deception, i am sure you will be ok.
best wishes
Brian

I hope things are going better for you, Kmeb.

I remember the difficulty my friend had, especially in the beginning with the LTD insurance company. It is like "get it" but then they don't want you to use it. And it makes for a lot of stress fighting these people. I am so glad your other doctor is willing to be supportive.

I mentioned above that they came back to hassle her recently. There is no way she can work either. Her pain management doctor is ready to jump their case and I would expect yours will do the same...

Cathie

Hi. I'm not familiar with the insurance issue but am glad you reached out. Sometimes when we don't want to reach out and just want to hide is when we really need to. Your not alone and mental support can make fighting the daily battles easier. Good luck.

Kmeb--Do you have to go back to this neuro? If your GP uses someone else, couldn't you see whoever that is? Was it the miserable gastro who sent you to this miserable neuro?

Fanfaire: I know you have sjogren's and a lot of myofascial pain and are getting disability. If they're disputing your claim after having paid it, there are a few things that I know happen. First, if nothing has changed since they APPROVED you, then you still have the disability THEY said you had. Only if you got better, would they have a chance.

But depending on your policy, they will fight harder or less hard. I had a policy with a cost of living rider, and which, if you were 100% disabled at age 64, paid until death. The insurance company was losing money on that one. Everyone who bought the policy saw the policy as a retirement account. Many people bought that policy for large amounts. Those they want to get out of badly. They'll fight hard for those, including surveillance over the course of years, because that's 10s of millions of dollars they could be out.

But if you didn't get better, they have a weak case, and are likely testing how you will respond.

I myself accepted a settlement. I knew they'd make my life miserable, and I'd have to put mental energy into maintaining the appearance of disability. I mean what if I had a good day and bounced out my front door? On the whole, it was a reasonable thing to do, because I really didnt' anticipate getting worse, or having other things go wrong so badly.

With Sjogren's, unless it's a good settlement, it's probably not worth settling, and is worth fighting for. Have you had abnormal nerve conductions? Do you have abnormal antibodies, or biopsy?

Just catching up again - LJ - this has been my neruo for two years and is good clinically and we actually had a great NCS/emg once- laughed thru the whole thing for an hour - never felt any pain or shocks or anything cause too busy razzing each other - but when its busy in the office - look out... he was the only doc willing to risk IVIG on me cause of potentital side affects - but now doesnt want to deal with that issue since its become a hassel for medicare patients and the office staff - while seemingly sweet girls - are obviously dealing with some major managnent issues because you never see that kind of turnover unless theres an unbearable element to the work environment - and now I am hearing that the "office is a shambles" from the other docs - which is a shame - because a loyal staff I think is a real key!)

My GP wants me to see someone else - but I've got to get this guy to change this form first then my GP wants to send me to a more amicable guy to work with for all involved - my GP is in close contat with all my other docs (again, GP told me he rarely hears that people have positive experiences with this guy and in two years I've had some and he said that was amazing in itself - but after this mess is worked out - will go where my GP leads! I trust him!)

(I dont remember who recommended the neuro in the beginning actualy, I was trying to find a forward thinking doc locally as the docs at the tertiatary centers around here were content to just see me deteriorate and not try therapies like IVIG and if I remember based my search around that) - but as far as gastros go - I seem destined to have them really hate me - the damage done to my teeth during the encoscopy I'm finding the doc is ultimatey responsible for, and my dentist says I have to pursue this asap - and that it actually happens much more frequenty then one hears about (I've been speaking with prosthetic dental offices and they all tell me this) (for those of you who dont know - had an endoscopy few weeks ago - the procedure where they put a scope into your stomach (yes, you're unconsious) - but prop your mouth wide open with a mouthpiece that fits behind your teeth, and sometimes in the process of taking it out, break teeth (or in my case, a permanent bridge) - its causing lots of pain etc... emotonal (the eek factor) and physical - and my dentist has documented with pix, x rays, etc and instructed me to I have to pursue this because the work is goingi to be expensive - another battle... in the interim I'm thinking about a bag with eye holes at this point!

Oh, I know a ways back in this thread was posted ratings on docs - found my GP - he got rave reviews! Very helpful site!

Hope all having a good weekend

Kmeb - its good to know that things are looking brighter for you especially with the GP you trust. However I am concerned that you now have yet another problem due to carelessness with your endoscopy. I do hope you get compensated for the damage done to your teeth but I am sure you look just as great, so there is no need to cover up

Best wishes and keep us up to date with events please

Tony

it gets more challenging....

First, thanks Tony - I've been on the phone all morning about the teeth - and have appt tomorrow again about them...

However, just talked to the insurance company.. (waiting for GP to call me but...) my neuro will now be out all week - so I couldnt get statement if I wanted to - the ins. will not wait any longer and is turning in what they have, and can make a decision this week without any more input... nothing I can do except wait.

Crossing fingers and toes kmeb:

Praying that you get a favorable decision.

Melody