Thank you for writing about such an important topic that is often just glossed over. What’s the point of offering short-term disability if it’s so difficult to obtain? For the marketing and optics? If so, then we really are in the era of simulacrum.
An eloquent, perceptive and ever courageous columnist. Thank you Vivia Chen for shedding light on the disease of depression and the insurance industry’s abysmal modus operandi - just wear the claimant out and hope they will give up appealing. Well done Ms Chen!
It is very scary that institutions treat mental health issues in a manner to fit their oppositional objectives instead of respecting the treating professionals. I had an issue with a mental health issue with my son and had the very same experience of their total misinterpretation of the situation because it was easier/better for them. We needed to get the courts involved to prevail which was very time consuming and expensive. The delay in respecting the actual circumstances also made the situation significantly worse for my son and the whole family. There needs to be much more respect and understanding for these serious health challenges across society for things to improve. It's no different than cancer and can be just as deadly - it's no-one's fault and no-one is making it up. I'm glad you prevailed with disability, but, what about regular health insurance which also is far too limited in its coverage for these health issues! Thanks again for helping shine a light on these issues that impact so many folks.
Perfectly said Vivia. Infuriating and frightening. Mental illness has always been misunderstood -- and especially so for women. I encountered a similar issue with a life insurance company refusing to reinstate a policy that expired due to a missed payment. The insurer examined my medical records and tried to get out from under its obligation based upon my bipolar disorder--suggesting that it would affect my longterm survival. My doctor submitted a contrary opinion. During the struggle to get re-insured, which was traumatic, I learned that they had never in fact reviewed the records he sent them. Like you, I also prevailed, but the experience --far less damaging than yours--was sobering.
Glad to have you back, writing, sharing your experiences. I've missed you.
Thanks so much for writing this. Even in the nonprofit world, where I work, organizations offer “wellness” benefits like meditation apps and health challenges yet can fail to treat staff as human beings and drive people into mental illness. Most people don’t have the knowledge or stamina to even try to apply for benefits. Kudos to you for doing it and raising awareness of how insane the process is.
Thank you for writing about such an important topic that is often just glossed over. What’s the point of offering short-term disability if it’s so difficult to obtain? For the marketing and optics? If so, then we really are in the era of simulacrum.
An eloquent, perceptive and ever courageous columnist. Thank you Vivia Chen for shedding light on the disease of depression and the insurance industry’s abysmal modus operandi - just wear the claimant out and hope they will give up appealing. Well done Ms Chen!
It is very scary that institutions treat mental health issues in a manner to fit their oppositional objectives instead of respecting the treating professionals. I had an issue with a mental health issue with my son and had the very same experience of their total misinterpretation of the situation because it was easier/better for them. We needed to get the courts involved to prevail which was very time consuming and expensive. The delay in respecting the actual circumstances also made the situation significantly worse for my son and the whole family. There needs to be much more respect and understanding for these serious health challenges across society for things to improve. It's no different than cancer and can be just as deadly - it's no-one's fault and no-one is making it up. I'm glad you prevailed with disability, but, what about regular health insurance which also is far too limited in its coverage for these health issues! Thanks again for helping shine a light on these issues that impact so many folks.
Perfectly said Vivia. Infuriating and frightening. Mental illness has always been misunderstood -- and especially so for women. I encountered a similar issue with a life insurance company refusing to reinstate a policy that expired due to a missed payment. The insurer examined my medical records and tried to get out from under its obligation based upon my bipolar disorder--suggesting that it would affect my longterm survival. My doctor submitted a contrary opinion. During the struggle to get re-insured, which was traumatic, I learned that they had never in fact reviewed the records he sent them. Like you, I also prevailed, but the experience --far less damaging than yours--was sobering.
Glad to have you back, writing, sharing your experiences. I've missed you.
Thanks so much for writing this. Even in the nonprofit world, where I work, organizations offer “wellness” benefits like meditation apps and health challenges yet can fail to treat staff as human beings and drive people into mental illness. Most people don’t have the knowledge or stamina to even try to apply for benefits. Kudos to you for doing it and raising awareness of how insane the process is.