There is one thing which is important to understand when it comes to insurance companies: money is what the point is. It doesn’t matter if it’s CPS or any of the other myriad of health insurance companies out there. They are there to make money.

So for them, disability is a very bad thing. (For the sick, it is a very good thing.)

What this means in English is that in all likelihood they will push you to get off of disability sooner than you are ready, just like they will try and force you to get off of non-generic drugs. Those are more expensive. So what they will do is come up with most any reason they can to take you off of disability. A slightly positive comment from your therapist or doctor. You saying in a phone interview “I really think I could work some”. They will glom on to anything possible.

I write this not to denigrate our healthcare system. The LCMS has one of the best healthcare programs in the country. I shudder to think of the hoops one might have to jump through with some of these others.

So in understanding these things, you need to know your rights. Here are at least some of them as I have come to understand it:

1. You have the right to be sick. They can’t make you better on a piece of paper. Mental illness is real, painful, and debilitating. They cannot pretend this isn’t an illness.
2. Your doctors and you determine when you need to go on disability, not them. Certainly there are requirements, etc, etc, etc. But the bottom line is that if your doctors say you are not ready to go back to work, then you’re not ready, and no “peer review” can trump an actual doctor’s professional opinion.
3. Your goal is to get better, not to freeload off of “the system”. This may be obvious to you, but part of the reason why health care companies are so skittish about disability is it’s abuse. If you make it clear to them that you want to get back to work, that will be one of the things they want to hear.
4. Disability is intended for healing, not heartache. Every time they make it more difficult for you to stay on disability, they are probably prolonging your sickness. This needs to be repeated to them over and over again. It is costing them money, they will be legally liable with any problems, and the like.
5. God is merciful, and he will take care of you. Ok, that’s not a “right”, but it is a gift given to you in the waters of Holy Baptism. You may confidently trust that our Lord will take care of you through thick and thin, as he best sees fit.

So what am I missing, friends?

-DMR

There is one thing which is important to understand when it comes to insurance companies: money is what the point is. It doesn’t matter if it’s CPS or any of the other myriad of health insurance companies out there. They are there to make money.

So for them, disability is a very bad thing. (For the sick, it is a very good thing.)

What this means in English is that in all likelihood they will push you to get off of disability sooner than you are ready, just like they will try and force you to get off of non-generic drugs. Those are more expensive. So what they will do is come up with most any reason they can to take you off of disability. A slightly positive comment from your therapist or doctor. You saying in a phone interview “I really think I could work some”. They will glom on to anything possible.

I write this not to denigrate our healthcare system. The LCMS has one of the best healthcare programs in the country. I shudder to think of the hoops one might have to jump through with some of these others.

So in understanding these things, you need to know your rights. Here are at least some of them as I have come to understand it:

1. You have the right to be sick. They can’t make you better on a piece of paper. Mental illness is real, painful, and debilitating. They cannot pretend this isn’t an illness.
2. Your doctors and you determine when you need to go on disability, not them. Certainly there are requirements, etc, etc, etc. But the bottom line is that if your doctors say you are not ready to go back to work, then you’re not ready, and no “peer review” can trump an actual doctor’s professional opinion.
3. Your goal is to get better, not to freeload off of “the system”. This may be obvious to you, but part of the reason why health care companies are so skittish about disability is it’s abuse. If you make it clear to them that you want to get back to work, that will be one of the things they want to hear.
4. Disability is intended for healing, not heartache. Every time they make it more difficult for you to stay on disability, they are probably prolonging your sickness. This needs to be repeated to them over and over again. It is costing them money, they will be legally liable with any problems, and the like.
5. God is merciful, and he will take care of you. Ok, that’s not a “right”, but it is a gift given to you in the waters of Holy Baptism. You may confidently trust that our Lord will take care of you through thick and thin, as he best sees fit.

So what am I missing, friends?

-DMR