Depressed Woman "Appears Happy" on Facebook, Has Insurance Revoked
posted by: Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux 77 days ago
This article is just absurd. And although it doesn't pertain directly to the U.S. healthcare debate, it's definitely an example of the ridiculous lengths that insurance companies will go to in order to deny claims. A 29-year-old Canadian woman, Nathalie Blanchard, who said that she was too depressed to do her work (and was diagnosed with major depression) was told that she was not receiving her monthly insurance checks because some pictures on Facebook "proved" that she was not depressed.
The insurance company apparently found the pictures, which showed Ms. Blanchard to be enjoying a Chippendales show, her birthday party, and a beach vacation, to be evidence that she is able to work. Manulife, her insurance company, apparently uses social networking sites to investigate clients, but added that "We would not deny or terminate a valid claim solely based on information published on websites such as Facebook."
The fact that Manulife was able to access Ms. Blanchard's Facebook profile (which was locked), and that it revoked her benefits because of photos and not her doctor's orders, is pretty unbelievable. Ms. Blanchard said that she had informed Manulife of her 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," she said.
Her lawyer is using the argument that Ms. Blanchard was trying to "escape" from her problems, and added that he had requested another psychiatric evaluation for her. But the fact is that she has been diagnosed with depression - and the idea that an insurance company feels itself qualified to decide whether or not someone is depressed by looking at pictures on a social networking site is ridiculous. Ms. Blanchard claimed that her doctor had told her to take the vacation and go out with her friends, as a way to forget her problems.
Whether or not Ms. Blanchard "appeared happy" in these pictures, it's first of all unfair that she is being forced to "prove" that she is depressed, after being diagnosed with the condition. And the fact that the insurance company did not notify her of the end of payments is equally underhanded. Insurance companies should listen to doctors - period, end of story. If they don't trust the doctors, they should require a more rigorous screening process. And however suspicious Ms. Blanchard's claims may have seemed, the insurance company should not have used social networking to "investigate" their clients.
The insurance company apparently found the pictures, which showed Ms. Blanchard to be enjoying a Chippendales show, her birthday party, and a beach vacation, to be evidence that she is able to work. Manulife, her insurance company, apparently uses social networking sites to investigate clients, but added that "We would not deny or terminate a valid claim solely based on information published on websites such as Facebook."
The fact that Manulife was able to access Ms. Blanchard's Facebook profile (which was locked), and that it revoked her benefits because of photos and not her doctor's orders, is pretty unbelievable. Ms. Blanchard said that she had informed Manulife of her 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," she said.
Her lawyer is using the argument that Ms. Blanchard was trying to "escape" from her problems, and added that he had requested another psychiatric evaluation for her. But the fact is that she has been diagnosed with depression - and the idea that an insurance company feels itself qualified to decide whether or not someone is depressed by looking at pictures on a social networking site is ridiculous. Ms. Blanchard claimed that her doctor had told her to take the vacation and go out with her friends, as a way to forget her problems.
Whether or not Ms. Blanchard "appeared happy" in these pictures, it's first of all unfair that she is being forced to "prove" that she is depressed, after being diagnosed with the condition. And the fact that the insurance company did not notify her of the end of payments is equally underhanded. Insurance companies should listen to doctors - period, end of story. If they don't trust the doctors, they should require a more rigorous screening process. And however suspicious Ms. Blanchard's claims may have seemed, the insurance company should not have used social networking to "investigate" their clients.
Read more: health policy, insurance revoked, major depression
comments
OMG this is so stupid. A few years back I was diagnosed with depression. Many of friends and family didn't even know that I was being treated for it. It is possible to PRETEND to be happy. You can look at every photo from that time and you would think that I was just a normal happy teenager. They shouldn't be able to stop her payments just because she looked happy in a few pictures. When I would go out with friends, I would forget my problems for a little while. So yea some of my smiles were genuine. But the second I was alone everything would just come rushing back and my happiness was gone again.
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As someone who suffers from major depression, I know what this woman is going through and it is just plain CRIMINAL to take away someone's insurance based on pictures where they are smiling. Ever hear of a fake smile? Ever hear of people commiting suicide when they seemed "just fine" to everyone else?? Ever hear of other people trying to cheer people up to see a smile on their face???? We CAN be cheered up, though it is usually very briefly, sometimes longer depending on the importance of the situation. Who says this woman didn't have to drag herself out to these functions like Chippandale's like she would have to at work? Every social function I go to I personally need to be dragged out to when I am depressed, and YES I END UP SMILING SOMETIMES, though I am back where I was when I get back home! How can you judge how someone functions in their day to day life just by looking at pictures????
This is wrong and obviously these insurance companies do not know a thing about depression and choose to turn a blind eye to knowledge for their own greedy benefit.
It's easy to take advantage of someone who probably doesn't have the strength to function in a court room, isn't it????
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OMG!!! This is beyond WRONG! I am on disability in the US. My only medical ins. is medicare/medicaid. The thought that my Facebook or any other social networking sites could be used to deny my disability is beyond scary,sick and wrong! Whether My government could or would invade my privacy on these sites to use in disability claim is ...um insert expletives here...Can they? as am due for 5 yr. review soon,which is degrading & stressful enough already without worrying that my social network,facebook sites could be used against me too? OMG & WTF??
Yes, what Insurance Companies are doing is downright criminal, they are and worse than than organized crime
"The Mob" as at least they can be caught and prosecuted. Insurance companies seem to be able to be criminals & get away with it!
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it was not fair .... you can have good and bad days .... usually more bad than good ... this is a crime ... she should get it back ...
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My life is one long journey in depression. I have good days and bad days. It is not easy to function no matter who you visit or socialize with. On social networks I can pretend to be someone I am not. Doctors will tell you that 5 to 15 minutes is not long enough to judge a person's life. Insurance companies are not doctors, not medically trained, not trained in anything but writing policy, even then most of them do not know what is in the document or understand it.
How insane will this world become? When will we as a citizen be heard? For those of us in the mental health circle it is a daily struggle, medication and living skills are hopeful, but the stress life offers will out trump medication every time.
Blessings.
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Sad people that have little to do than go chasing this woman is that what people paying insurance for.
I suffered depression some years back and I would not wish this darkness on my worst enemy, You may smile on the outside but the darkness lies inside.
Tell these people to step into her shoes and look out through her eyes empathy.
I wish this lady the best off health and my prayer go with her as she is living this hell has she not got enough on her plate.
Bless Be
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I might just get rid of all the social networks I been on after the new year there is no privacy in it. I can't be myself on one of my facebooks i have because everytime I say something against the word of God or going to church I have 50 Bible thumpers telling me I am living in sin and was getting tired of that.
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I am so sorry for Ms. Blanchard. Depression is not that simple and her insurance company knows that, but acted against her anyway. As a person also diagnosed with depression, I am able to smile and interact quite well. Pictures would show me smiling and laughing too. Medication helps that chemical imbalance. When first diagnosed I was unhappy that I would be taking medication for quite some time, maybe forever; but medication has been invaluable to me. It should be available to Ms. Blanchard too.
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This is a Exsample of The ''Greedy'' Insurance Companys, usa Has. All People Should Boycott Insurance companys, AndStop them , like they Treated her. I'm Sure there lots of Smiles from the Greedy insurance Companys, when they try to steal everyones money, with there high cost. Shame on you usa insurance, Our towns Hostipital outlawed a Few of them ''Shame on you ''Greedy insurance Companys. They don't want you to Smile or be Happy in usa. Stand up for Womens Rights.
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Ridiculous.
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