Tuesday, February 16, 2010

~Un-Insurable~

I am livid. ~~

I applies for life insurance awhile ago and went through all the steps in getting it underwritten. My insurance agent just called to tell my application has been denied specifically due to what was written in the report from my psychiatrist.

My life insurance agent didn't know the specifics due to privacy issues, but said he's only seen this a handful of times in his career, usually due to something serious, like someone being suicidal. Um, last time I looked, I wasn't suicidal. What in the world could she have said? I was diagnosed with "generalized depression" which is NOT a reason to be denied life insurance (per him).

Something has gotten to be wrong. She must have gotten me confused with someone or just made up some crazy shit. Heh. No pun intended, but it made me laugh. I've left a message with her office to call me back, so hopefully I'll get a call back today or early tomorrow.

At least this is able to be argued. He said he'll call me back with the number to the underwriting department so I can request the exact reason for my denial. I'll get to the bottom of this, but until then, I'm simply stuck with being pissed off.

If everything is on the up and up and I was denied for depression, I think something is really screwed up with the world. I thought depression was one of those things someone shouldn't be embarrassed of and now I'm feeling like it's something I should have tried to hide. I thought it was one of those things that are being more publicly accepted. I know I shouldn't be ashamed, but a situation like this has made me feel like it.

Grrrr. I was so open with the application process and now this. Next thing I'm going to be told is infertility is another reason for denial. Lame.

26 comments:

Steph said...

Am I actually first? Woah!

No, depression should not be a reason for denial. I know lots of people w/dep & life ins.

If anything, there would be a rider that your family gets nothing if you commit suicide. (which i think is a disclaimer on most life ins)

Julie said...

I would be pissed too. Insurance companies drive me nuts.

MrsSpock said...

I echo what Steph said. A simple suicide rider should cover things.

My sister was hospitalized on a psych unit at age 18 for one night. She has since been uninsurable, never mind the fact that she has held the same job for a decade, is married, a homeowner, and takes her psych meds without fail. Thank God for Planned Parenthood ( that have her well woman care on sliding scale, thereby able to find pre-cancerous cells and treat them before it killed her), and for the county mental health levy, so she can see a psych dr and get her expensive psych meds on a sliding scale. She would otherwise have been unable to be treated, would have decompensated, and ended up back in the hospital frequently, instead of the one time 10 years ago.

Robin said...

There has got to be some sort of mixup. I hope your therapist gets it sorted out for you soon! I'd be flamin pissed.

Mermaid said...

Lie your ass off if the government or insurance companies are involved! Sorry this is happening. Reminds me of being "judged" by health insurance for being infertile and being denied that coverage. Sucks.

Lisa said...

That blows! Hopefully you will get to the bottom of it soon.

Kristin said...

I would be seriously pissed off too. Good luck getting it straightened out.

areyoukiddingme said...

I would be pissed off too. Give that underwriter a piece of your mind!

Strawberry said...

You should NOT be denied for depression. I know ;-). And your psychiatrist should not be sharing information with the life insurance company to which you aren't privy.

Jamie said...

Hubby & I started trying to each get life insurance after I found out I was pregnant. I was also deemed 'uninsurable' because I was taken to the ER five years ago for passing out and the cause was never determined.

We started the life insurance process in June and I jumped through hoops until November when they finally relented.

Keep after them. I have a theory that there was really no good reason but they kept denying me because they wanted to see how far I would push them.

Ella said...

That's RIDICULOUS. Can you try applying to a few different companies? I can't imagine they would all deny you for that reason - it just can't be a valid reason! Bah, I hate insurance companies.

Becca said...

Insurance companies = best organized crime in America

Flying Monkeys said...

Good luck fighting it or working around it. I'm pretty sure that's the reason one of my friends was recently denied too. Depression is something a lot of us face at one time or another. Realizing we need to have someone help us sort through it shouldn't be something that is punished but something that is encouraged.

Anonymous said...

I agree with the previous posters...all a depression background should do would be to exclude payout for suicide. I had PPD after my first child was born in 2004, and got approved for a 200K life insurance policy in 2007. Due to my history, it will not pay out for suicide, which is fine because I have no plans to off myself. Good luck...I hope you get to the bottom of it. You can always try applying with another company too.

Kate said...

thats nuts!!! you ought to ber able to get a copy of your medical records & see what was said, right? maybe the psych. just used some wonky language that the ins. co. used as an excuse to deny... i've seen it happen, back when i worked for the bad guys. good luck!!!!

mommybird said...

So stupid! I hate insurance companies. Depression is definitely not a reason to be denied insurance coverage.

Jen said...

All I have to say is that I HATE insurance compaines. All last year I paid a crazy high rate because they considered my miscarriage a pre-existing condition! Last time I checked it was not. Apparently, I don't know what I'm talking about.

Insurance companies are just a big scam out to suck the money out of us!

Hope you get it all figured out.

kimbosue said...

Well that's just CRAZY! No pun intended. How does anyone ever expect to get coverage when they are open and honest?

Misty Dawn said...

I sure hope that its some sort of error on there part. Ins co's stink!

Mareike said...

I'm interested to know the reason you were denied because it makes no sense. They have to tell you don't they?
Maybe anyone involved in roller derby is considered too big a risk.
I'd think they'd be happy to take the money of a young mom with three children but what do I know?

I HATE insurance companies.

Mark said...

what i can say about this it is just outstanding here is a blog about women heath pregnancy fertility issues and tubal reversal
http://www.mybabydoc.com/blog/

Birdee said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Birdee said...

I got denied for my past addiction, do they know about your past? While I agree that we shouldnt be ashamed (especially after so many years of being clean) I'm sure wishing I hadn't been honest about that.

Kaci said...

That's crazy! I would be pissed. Would they rather you NOT seek treatment for depression? Seems to me that would make you more un-insurable. I'm pretty sure ALL life insurance policies exclude payouts if it's suicide, so that shouldn't even be an issue. Good luck getting it straightened out.

sara said...

That is complete and utter CRAP!!!! Sorry for the caps and exclamation. That just really pissed me off so I can't even begin to imagine how ticked off you are. I hope it gets straightened out ((hugs))

Anonymous said...

If you were ever on certain medicines, you could be denied due to this. My father in law was denied because he was on a med that is usually used for MS even though he wasn't taking it for MS. So hopefully this is all it is about. You can usually appeal if this is the case.