After researching the PTST/TBI subject the other day, one phrase just keeps coming back to bug me. That would be the one that went something along the lines of, "constant, relentless stress" will make PTSD symptoms worse.
Amazingly enough, that's exactly what your insurance company causes. I don't know about you but being forced to endure IME's ('independent' medical evaluations), when you know their doctors are going to say you're perfectly fine (in other words, lie), is extremely stressful.
Having to deal with all of their paperwork, which they usually 'don't receive,' or 'lose,' is also very stressful. Just a suggestion here, fax them in with a short cover letter that includes a 'cc' to your attorney. Surprisingly enough, they manage to hold on to them a little better when you do that. At least that's what I've found over the past couple of years.
Holding up approval on treatments, or items you might need for your recovery is also another way they work to cause you additional stress.
But so far the thing that sends me over the top are their interrogatories. If you haven't yet experienced that treat, prepare yourself for some serious anger. They are a collection of the most intrusive, obnoxious and rude questions I've ever had the misfortune to read. Basically, if your benefits are canceled-and you want them back-you're going to have to suck it up and answer every one of them.
My company demanded access to several years records of my bank statements and income tax returns, all of my medical records, and information that is absolutely none of their business. One of the most offensive ones wanted the make, model, year and VIN number of the vehicles belonging to anyone who might have stayed overnight at my house during the six month prior to the accident. Not only that, but they expected me to provide the insurance company address and policy number on the cars for each of those guests.
Excuse me???!!!
Just thinking about it is enough to make my temper flare. Of course I didn't provide the information. In the same way I didn't provide the names and contact information for the doctors who have treated me since the accident. Or the amounts of the bills either. Instead I referred them to their computer files, where they already have that information.
Why did I share this with you? Because if you, too, suffer from PTSD caused by an accident, your insurance company doctors will deny it exists, while the company employees go out of their way to make it worse. Their goal is to stress you out badly enough, make you so miserable, that you'll give up and walk away...from the benefits you paid for.
And all insurance companies do this. Some are worse than others. My case manager told me that she has worked with a lot of companies during her career and that mine was the second worst one she'd ever dealt with. Lucky me, huh?
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