Woman loses benefits because of Facebook picture

[24KT]

Woman loses benefits because of Facebook picture

Thu Nov 19, 12:37 PM

MONTREAL (CBC) - A Quebec woman on long-term sick leave is fighting to have her benefits reinstated after her employer's insurance company cut them, she says, because of photos posted on Facebook.

Nathalie Blanchard, 29, has been on leave from her job at IBM in Bromont, Que., for the last year and a half after she was diagnosed with major depression.

The Eastern Townships woman was receiving monthly sick-leave benefits from Manulife, her insurance company, but the payments dried up this fall.

When Blanchard called Manulife, the company said that "I'm available to work, because of Facebook," she told CBC News this week.

She said her insurance agent described several pictures Blanchard posted on the popular social networking site, including ones showing her having a good time at a Chippendales bar show, at her birthday party and on a sun holiday evidence that she is no longer depressed, Manulife said.

Blanchard said she notified Manulife that she was taking a trip, and she's shocked the company would investigate her in such a manner and interpret her photos that way.

"In the moment I'm happy, but before and after I have the same problems" as before, she said.

Blanchard said that on her doctor's advice, she tried to have fun, including nights out at her local bar with friends and short getaways to sun destinations, as a way to forget her problems.

She also doesnt understand how Manulife accessed her photos because her Facebook profile is locked and only people she approves can look at what she posts.

Her lawyer Tom Lavin said Manulife's investigation was inappropriate.

"I don't think for judging a mental state that Facebook is a very good tool," he said, adding that he has requested another psychiatric evaluation for Blanchard.

"It's not as if somebody had a broken back and there was a picture of them carrying with a load of bricks," Lavin said. "My client was diagnosed with a major depression. And there were pictures of her on Facebook, in a party or having a good time. It could be that she was just trying to escape."

Manulife wouldn't comment on Blanchard's case, but in a written statement sent to CBC News, the insurer said: "We would not deny or terminate a valid claim solely based on information published on websites such as Facebook." It confirmed that it uses the popular social networking site to investigate clients.

Insurance companies must weigh information found on such sites, said Claude Distasio, a spokeswoman for the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association.

"We can't ignore it, wherever the source of the information is," she said. "We can't ignore it."

Blanchard estimated shes lost thousands of dollars in benefits since Manulife changed her claim.


God Forbid she should crack a smile every once in a while. Wasn't there a European soccer player who just recently lost his battle with depression when he threw himself in front of a train? He'd been battling depression for years, ...however, I'm sure he had moments of happiness when he or one of his team mates scored a goal, or jumped up and down if and when they won a game. Such temporary moments of happiness, don't exactly mean one is cured and no longer depressed, as clearly evidenced by his subsequent suicide. Good Grief! She had male exotic entertainers dancing around nude and flashing their fleshy bits in front of her face. Of course she's gonna have a big grin on her face! 

[Soul Crusher]

Jag:  come on now.   Everyone with any sense knows that people are watching all over and she shouldnt have posted this stuff.  Its almost like : "Come get me".

 

[shootfighter1]

I don't think they will be able to defend withdrawing benefits just from facebook pictures, that's probably not going to stand up without other evidence (and it shouldn't).  However, we should not be granting long-term (months) sick leave, with pay, for people diagnosed with depression.  1 out of every 7-8 people will have an episode of major depression.  I have no problem with temporary paid leave to address a medical condition but not extended leave.  Too much of a burden on the tax payer and/or company.

[24KT]

Jag:  come on now.   Everyone with any sense knows that people are watching all over and she shouldnt have posted this stuff.  Its almost like : "Come get me".
 

33386 you come on now. You cannot make a medical diagnosis based on a picture posted on Facebook.

So because she had been diagnosed with a medical condition she shouldn't have posted her pic on Facebook?  

I completely disagree with that position. That's the problem with private health insurance. Bureaucratic bean counters start presuming far too much while they care not for patients, ...but for the bottom lines of the insurance company. A bean counter is not a physician. I know very few physicians who can make an accurate medical diagnosis from a mere picture. I think it's safe to assume if physicians can't do it, ...there's even less of a chance a bean counter can. I'd wager she really is depressed, ...and now thanks to this intrusive invasion of privacy and the disruption it has brought to her life, ...I'd also wager she's probably now both depressed AND paranoid.  

[Soul Crusher]

33386 you come on now. You cannot make a medical diagnosis based on a picture posted on Facebook.

So because she had been diagnosed with a medical condition she shouldn't have posted her pic on Facebook?  

I completely disagree with that position. That's the problem with private health insurance. Bureaucratic bean counters start presuming far too much while they care not for patients, ...but for the bottom lines of the insurance company. A bean counter is not a physician. I know very few physicians who can make an accurate medical diagnosis from a mere picture. I think it's safe to assume if physicians can't do it, ...there's even less of a chance a bean counter can. I'd wager she really is depressed, ...and now thanks to this intrusive invasion of privacy and the disruption it has brought to her life, ...I'd also wager she's probably now both depressed AND paranoid.  

There has to be some control and measure to protect against fraud.  I have a friend who moonlights as a fraud investigator for workers comp.  you cant believe the drap he gets on tape, etc. 

[24KT]

I don't think they will be able to defend withdrawing benefits just from facebook pictures, that's probably not going to stand up without other evidence (and it shouldn't).  However, we should not be granting long-term (months) sick leave, with pay, for people diagnosed with depression.  1 out of every 7-8 people will have an episode of major depression.  I have no problem with temporary paid leave to address a medical condition but not extended leave.  Too much of a burden on the tax payer and/or company.

Shoot,
This occurred up here in Canada, ...covered with private supplemental insurance through Manulife Financial.
If a private insurrer find paying extended benefits too costly, ...they should not be selling these policies and collecting the premiums, only to cancel coverage when the individual needs them.

[24KT]

There has to be some control and measure to protect against fraud.  I have a friend who moonlights as a fraud investigator for workers comp.  you cant believe the drap he gets on tape, etc. 

Absolutely there needs to be some measures to protect against fraud, ...but making a snap diagnosis by a bean counter hardly qualifies. First they should establish she is committing fraud, not make snap judgements like that.

Have her undergo an examination by a licensed physician competennt in this area, not some bean counter viewing a pic on a website. Good Grief!

And yes, I can only imagine the types of things fraud investigators get on tape, ...especially workers comp cases involving bad backs. I've seen some of them... guys carrying sofas, playing takle football, ...only to hobble into court on crutches and wearing neckbraces.

[shootfighter1]

Agreed, can not make that determination from a group of pictures alone.

I work part time contracting medical services for US Gov.  Management & I have been involved with multiple cases of people trying to abuse extended medical leave.  It's far too common.  In this case, the taxpayors foot the bill.  The rules & regs make it difficult for managers to deny FMLA and medical leave, even in very questionable cases.
Too often primary care docs write long work excuses for their own patients because the patient makes the request and their duty is only to their patient without considering work & financial consequence.  There should be an evaluation by an independant medical examiner if paid leave is granted longer than a week (and the worker has no sick time left).

[Soul Crusher]

Absolutely there needs to be some measures to protect against fraud, ...but making a snap diagnosis by a bean counter hardly qualifies. First they should establish she is committing fraud, not make snap judgements like that.

Have her undergo an examination by a licensed physician competennt in this area, not some bean counter viewing a pic on a website. Good Grief!

And yes, I can only imagine the types of things fraud investigators get on tape, ...especially workers comp cases involving bad backs. I've seen some of them... guys carrying sofas, playing takle football, ...only to hobble into court on crutches and wearing neckbraces.

I agree, do another test first. 

[chadstallion]

serves her right.
its the same as taking people seriously in a politics thread on a bodybuilding/roid site.

[Skip8282]

Agreed, can not make that determination from a group of pictures alone.

I work part time contracting medical services for US Gov.  Management & I have been involved with multiple cases of people trying to abuse extended medical leave.  It's far too common.  In this case, the taxpayors foot the bill.  The rules & regs make it difficult for managers to deny FMLA and medical leave, even in very questionable cases.
Too often primary care docs write long work excuses for their own patients because the patient makes the request and their duty is only to their patient without considering work & financial consequence.  There should be an evaluation by an independant medical examiner if paid leave is granted longer than a week (and the worker has no sick time left).

Why are you saying taxpayers are footing the bill?

[24KT]

Why are you saying taxpayers are footing the bill?

His was a pavlovian response... GOP talking points ...