Worker's Compensation Insurance

“You might want to check your company's insurance plan. I know if I lose an appendage, I get like $5,000. Look into your benefit package, your life insurance, and hopefully your company won't deny the worker's comp. claim.”

“If you decide to get one lopped off, I'm your man.”

“5k sounds cheap depending on the appendage.”

“btw, im talking about a settlement, not missed wages. im not getting those because it was less than 7 days.

what state?

indiana

there should be a site you can go to with a complaint.

ill google that. i dont have a complaint. yet. i was released just 19 days ago. im curious as to how long this will take. i really want to get it before i leave the country

eventually I got a settlement

define "eventually"

if I lose an appendage, I get like $5,000.

what about a half-inch of finger? hell, its my middle finger. my means of communication have been extremely curtailed!
last edited: 8/30/06 4:35:00 PM”

“CB, did you get an attorney involved on your behalf? Losing a fingertip seems pretty substantial. I know a couple good WC attorneys here in Indiana who might be able to help you out. Let me know if you want his name.”

“ruby, im not concerned yet, because its been less than 3 weeks. however, go ahead and shoot me the guys name, so i can be prepared if they start dragging their feet”

“Crash Bang - the "eventually" was probably 6-8 months AFTER the injury. I did have an attorney, though. My injury was a ruptured disc, and the WC company kept saying it was a "strained back." There's a big difference between a ruptured disc and a strained back, and I had to get an attorney to get it changed. Once I got the attorney, everything went smoothly.

Once you get a settlement, it is suppose to release the WC company from any further liability, so think carefully before you accept (if you are offered one). I did accept mine, and 9 years later I ended up having a lumbar fusion because of the back injury. Fortunately, my health insurance policy covered the surgery because the "statute of limitations" had passed.”

“ruby, give me that name NOW”

“Scott, you've got mail.”

“thanks, babe. ill look around in my area and see whos available, too”

“Crash....how much dinero do you need?”

“xl, thats awful nice of you to ask, but im fine. i just wont have any "mad money" for a couple of weeks”

“Hey nubbins, if you need to lose another digit or two I know a guy who can help. Maybe a matched pair.”

“Been there...done that...own the tshirt factory dude”

“what i didnt realize when i was first told that i start work tomorrow, is that ill be working 22 hours in the first two days. so after paying my student loan installment, paying for the drug screen and background check, and buying gas, ill still have a widdle bidda mad money. just a bit”

“btw, all medical expenses were covered by insurance, even tho i got the majority of my treatment in ontario. it was just a little bumpy getting the paperwork sorted”

“just got off the phone with a local lawyers office. said that i need a PPI (Percent Personal Injury or something like that) from the doctor that released me to get a settlement. i was never told that. i was told the insurance company would assign me a number.

fcking bureaucracy”

“if you ever get injured on the job, and you have a settlement coming to you, make sure you HOUND THE HELL OUTTA THEM TIL YOU GET YOUR MONEY

after being injured in june, i believe my final trip to the doctor was august 11th of this year. they cant start the paperwork until then, so as far as im concerned, the clock starts ticking then. 3 MONTHS LATER, november 16th, i finally get word of how much my settlement is going to be. am told it will take 4-6 weeks. i wait until about the middle of december to call to check on it. well, they submitted the paperwork incorrectly and have to submit it again, but my adjustor says shes going to push to have the papers to sign to me before christmas. i call a few days after christmas and leave a voice message because i still havent received it. i get a voice message on the 29th "im sending the papers for you to sign today". didnt arrive the 30th, no big deal, but then we get THREE DAYS WITH NO MAIL because first its sunday, then its new years day, then fords funeral (not the insurance companys fault, i know, but still frustrating). i figure theres no good reason for it not to be here by tomorrow at the latest. sh'right

after i sign it and send it back, she still has to send it to their lawyers for review, they have to ok it, cut the check, and send it to me. i foresee all that taking another month or two, when i should already have it.

i hate insurance companies
last edited: 1/03/07 8:05:21 AM”

“Ditto.”

“HATE HATE HATE”

“I'm with ya. Fuchers.”

“HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE”

“Our workman's comp is run by the state. What a dumb thing to do. It's so screwed up and corrupt as well.”

“And what is not corrupt?”

“Stay healthy!”

“good thing you're not waiting for that money to ... buy food, or something equally unimportant!”

“nothing in the mail today. maybe if i send them the remains of my crushed finger-tip, thatll light a fire under em”

“Yep, and the really tough thing is Workers Comp hurts me if I take off for an injury. There have been a number of times I have been hurt, forced myself to come back to the office so I could take off on Sick Leave.”

“i was at my auto insurance agent today. they gave me a number to call to complain. theyll be hearing from me monday if i dont have the papers to sign by this weekend”

“check came today for HALF what they owe me. and i cant call to find out whats up because its a saturday. and i cant cash the check cuz then they might refuse to pay the other half, claiming that by endorsing the check,i accepted the deal. i have to wait another 2 days to find out what to do. really fcking annoyed here”

“Those bassdurds!

Go gett'em CRASH!BANG! style bro.”

“That does sVck!”

“That really blows.

Hang in there; sounds like you're almost done with them.
last edited: 1/27/07 11:38:44 AM”

“Insurance company insiders like to call what you are getting the "hassle factor". Insurance companies save a lot of money by making claimants jump through lots of hoops, then by improperly denying big parts of the claim. They realize that a big percentage of people will just give up. They "lose" receipts that were submitted, misread properly coded medical submissions, and lie about what is covered. The money that they save goes directly to their bottom line, or more likely to bigger bonuses to their growing legion of overpaid executives (many make more that a million a year base pay already).

Unfortunately, it is up to you to hound them. The moment you quit hounding them, you lose. I keep multiple copies of anything I submit with my claim and don't take their, "that's not covered" without checking. A good paperwork trail is essential in getting what is due to you in the insurance contract. They lie.

Sometimes State insurance regulators will help. I have had good success with the Insurance Commission in my state, but in many states, the insurance commissions are just lackeys for the insurance companies. If there is over $1000 involved, consider hiring a lawyer.

Good luck!”

“good point, bass. this is the second hassle that ive had over this. the first time, they submitted my paperwork thru the wrong state, delaying the process by over a month. now this

ive also repeatedly submitted my medical bills, and they keep going unpaid. im getting really fed up

trust me, ive been hounding them

good lookin out”

“I agree with Bass from my experience. I think they figure even if they do end up forking over the money, the longer they can hold on to it and have it work for them, the better.”

“its kinda backfired on them so far, because they had to bump up my settlement from 9,300 to 10 large, due to interest”

“im gonna be really pissed if my adjustor tells me i gotta send the check back and wait for them to re-send the full amount”

“You have to be careful about the fine print on the back of the check too. They often have print above the check endorsement line saying that you agree that this is payment in full for your claim.

You also have to be skeptical about their so-called "innocent" mistakes like sending your paperwork through the wrong state. I would bet that it was intentional.

Another popular "innocent" mistake is denying big amounts of your claim because their records show that "you are diabetic", and their policy does not cover complications from diabetes -even if it is an on-the-job injury to your finger. Of course you aren't diabetic, but now, after you have finally figured out that is what they are using to justify not paying, you have to prove it to them. That is just another big hoop for you to jump through, and they hope that you will just accept the partial payment and go away. If you continue to pursue what is due to you, they have lost nothing with the ruse, and will claim that it was just an innocent mistake.

I have noticed that all of the "innocent mistakes" in my experience have the result of keeping the insurance company from paying legitimate claims.

I have had a lot of experiences with the scum, from having claims denied - even once because they claimed that they couldn't read the doctor's signature. I am continuously amazed at the ruses they come with to reduce the amounts they pay.

Good luck!”

“I wonder how much they 'earn' from interest due to delays of just ONE day? It must be huge considering how many claims there are.

And how many 'innocent mistakes' do they make where it benefits the insured? (ha)”

“Wasn't there someone in history who spent time looking for an honest man?”

“I know from personal experience that if a customer service rep is actually honest with customers, a way will be found to show him the door. When you hear that bit about the call being recorded 'for quality and training'... the folks in "Quality" are definitely listening.

And they have some strange ideas about the definition of the word 'quality'.”

“Have you people not seen the first part of The Incredibles? ;-)

Insurance companies rank right up there with child molesters. (No winking smiley here)”

“I foulnd my answer. It was Diogenes, who wandered around ancient Greece carrying a lantern and searching for an honest man.”

“ They often have print above the check endorsement line saying that you agree that this is payment in full for your claim.

thats almost exactly what i was thinking, except i didnt think to look for it on the check itself. im going to take another look, now
last edited: 1/28/07 11:34:30 AM”

“"by endorsement of this check, the payee, under penalty of fine and/or imprisonment, certifies entitlement to this payment for benefits or services, circumstances affecting such entitlement have not changed and no false statements or representations have been made in support of the claim for payment. false representations could result in civil and criminal penalties”

“to my un-trained ear, it doesnt sound like i would be screwing myself out of the other half if i signed the check, but im not taking any chances

if there are any more screw-ups, i will be going to the state regulators. i dont doubt what bass said about "innocent mistakes" one bit”

“Yep, sounds like fraud language.

And no, I wouldn't chance it either --”

“to me, the gist of it is, im not making up a story to get money, which i believe is what tilt just said”

“i just spoke with the adjustor. as i had hoped, the settlement is being sent in two disbursements. wouldve been nice to know that in advance! i expect the second check today, and then im buying dinner for everyone on trailtalk!”