#94695 04-30-2009 04:21 PM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | OP  "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | I am trying - not successfully - to find out what the exclusions are for my employer group life insurance. It is the only life insurance policy I have, so I want to make sure I don't do anything to jeopardize it. The insurance company will not tell me anything - they say the policy belongs to my employer (yes, but I pay the premiums!), and my employer says they don't give out such information - a "company decision".
We all have a "Bucket List" (thank God for that movie - people have a clear picture of what I am talking about). Maybe its Parasailing or Sky Diving or whatever - but I need to know whether this would invalidate my life insurance. The second concern I have is with suicide. We all know that the end of this disease can get very difficult for both the patient and the family. I want to know that if I should make that decision, that it would not invalidate my insurance.
Does anyone have any experience with these issues??? I realize most of you are in the U.S., but I suspect that these policies are fairly similar in North America. Your comments are welcome.
Donna
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Donna don't even consider suicide as an alternative. It's not your mind that's sick. it's your body. There is usually a 2 year grace period for the exclusions on policies. Whoever handles youer insurance shoud be able to give you a copy of the policy. Don't let them tell you they can't. You are paying for this policy as well as anyone. There could be an extension for somethings like suicide anyway, I HOPE, but tell them to give you a copy . THat is like holding a gun to your head to not let you understand your coverage.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | OP "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | Therein lies the frustration. They will not give me a copy of the policy and also will not answer my question about exclusions. The insurer says the policy is between my employer and them, and my employer - for whatever reason, isn't talking.
HELP!!
Donna
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I have no idea who your employer is, but he has to tell you. Oops, maybe you Canadians are different. I forgot we are in 2 seperate countrys. My mistake for today.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Most life insurance policies do NOT pay if you you die from suicide so that's one exclusion that I think you can count on invalidating the policy.
Take care,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 253 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 253 | Pandora:
I'm not an insurance savy person, but here is what I'd do.
Although you pay the premiums, technically your employer owns the policy. Are you listed specifically as the "insured" on the policy? If you are and you've been paying the premium, you have a legal right to the info. Personally, I believe your case is more with your employer, than with the insurance co. It really doesn't matter to the insurance company who pays, they take their orders from the owner of the policy
1. Get your employer to write a letter giving permission for you to obtain the info and/or stating he's unable to provide the info.
2. Put a little pressure on the insurance company, but only if your listed an "insured." Insurance companies hate it when you ask them for something in writing. Ask them to document and/or write a letter for refusing your request.
I don't know if any of this will work, but push comes to shove, it is worth a try. I'm surprised that your employer won't give you the info. How large is the company; number of employees.
Sorry, I forgot you're in a differnt country. But maybe some of this will apply.
Hope this helps a little.
Sandy
Sandy
Last edited by SandySt.; 05-08-2009 11:20 AM.
Sandy 56, BOT SCC Biopsy 1/21/09 Stage 3, T3NXM0.
Finished 3 cycle induction chemotherapy 4/7/09. (Chisplatin, 5-fu and Texotere). Re-staged 4/20/09,(very successful.) Will start Carboplatin/radiation 2 Gy/5 days/7 weeks (Tomotherapy) starting May 4th. Finished 6/22/09.
OCF member/supporter
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | OP "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | Sky Diving here I come!! Despite that 49th parallell, our countries operate similarly with respect to things like insurance. Yes, the policy is owned by my employer and no, I am not specifically listed as "the insured". I agree, the onus is on my employer to provide the information. They keep referring me back to the benefits website, and I have decided that seeing as they list exclusions, but list the exclusions as being applicable only to accident and business travel insurance, that by extrapolation, there are no exclusions for the life insurance policy. Having documented this, I am going to make my sky diving arrangements. Tandem of course  but I can hardly wait to do it. Donna
Last edited by Pandora99; 05-08-2009 11:00 PM.
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Donna, you are one brave soul!!!!
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 253 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 253 | Pandora: Glad you got your information. Have a great time. YOU ARE ONE BRAVE SOUL!!!
Looking forward to reading about the experience.
Sandyst
Sandy 56, BOT SCC Biopsy 1/21/09 Stage 3, T3NXM0.
Finished 3 cycle induction chemotherapy 4/7/09. (Chisplatin, 5-fu and Texotere). Re-staged 4/20/09,(very successful.) Will start Carboplatin/radiation 2 Gy/5 days/7 weeks (Tomotherapy) starting May 4th. Finished 6/22/09.
OCF member/supporter
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Donna, you gave me what I needed this morning. A good chuckle to start the day. Go for it gal but don't forget to open the chute. lol
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
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