Living with a brain injury is an ongoing struggle every moment of every day. Coping with insurance companies can take this struggle over the edge.
When I was mugged in October of 2018, I was assaulted and thrown down on the sidewalk. The back of my head smashed on the concrete. As a result, I have a permanent brain injury and my jaw, neck and shoulders were also damaged during the assault. Despite attempts to return to work, my deficits were so significant that this proved to be an impossible feat.
I jumped through a lot of hoops to be approved for long-term disability benefits through my employer's insurance company. I parted with thousands of dollars in wages during the transition between medical employment insurance and long-term disability benefits.
When I was approved for Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits, I had a lump sum payment deposited into my bank account. This amount was for the time period when I started receiving long-term disability benefits from the insurance company to when I was approved for CPP Disability benefits.
The insurance company demanded I hand over the entire amount to them and if I didn't, they would cut me off. This money would have made up for my lost wages. The big kicker is I will have to pay income tax on this. I felt this was criminal, considering I had paid into CPP for over 40 years.
I have had numerous testing and assessments done since my injury. This generated many reports, which were distributed to the numerous organizations involved in my case. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I feel like I'm under a microscope.
The results of my psychological testing were so low in my cognitive abilities that I couldn't hold down a job at Walmart. My 33-year career in social work came to an abrupt end after my injury, a loss that I continue to grieve deeply.
Last week I received a call from the insurance company requesting an update on my progress. I reported there has been very minimal progress and provided examples. I was aghast when I was asked when I would be returning to work. I stated I had received notification that my employment has been terminated and I no longer had a job to return to.
Then I was asked if I had given thought to work I would be suitable for and what attributes I would bring to a new employer. I was also asked what topics I covered with my therapist. If this isn't harassment, I don't know what is. At some point, my brain shut off and I don't recall the bulk of the conversation. I do have a vague recollection that I was crying.
This is how private insurance companies treat vulnerable disabled people. I have had many conversations with brain injured folks who have received the same treatment as me. It seems to me that after grabbing CPP Disability lump sum payments, insurance companies work hard to kick people off of their long-term disability benefits.
It wasn't always like this. Something happened 20 plus years ago that resulted in a partnership between the federal government and private insurance companies. Why pay recipients lump sum payments when it is not for them to keep? Why is the federal government giving insurance companies this money and taxing disabled people like me for money we didn't receive?
Sniff, sniff.
I smell a rat's nest.
