The Faxman Cometh

April 29, 2002

Hello everyone . . . I am sending this just as a form of release, and to

request any prayers you might have to spare on my behalf. I have just

endured the lastest in a grueling and ridiculous process in some insance

dance with the insurance company my employer uses for short-term disability.

I have edited out any names below, but I sent this e-mail to the Human

Resources person at my company, and copied my manager, and the two Co-CEO's

of the company. I know many of you have been through this (or similar or

worse) experiences, and you know it will all be okay. Thanks for listening

(reading), for your prayers and friendship. I will be offline for some time

recovering from this lates obscene chapter of my life. Then, I'll be back

in Court Jester mode, hopefully. I'll respond to all posts I read later.

Hugs to all who read these words,

, Allan (including both my names since different folks know me by

each of these) ++ Bubba Swami

****************************************************************************

********************

Dear <Human Resources Peron's name edited out>:

As you know, I have been unable to work due to severe illness since December

10, 2001, and my condition is largely unchanged (or in some ways worsened)

since that time. During that time, I have been absent from Schwab and on

short-term disability, which is handled through a company called <name of

horrid insurance company>.

For almost five months, I have undergone the regular and (at times) grueling

process of satisfying requests and requirements that have been made by <name

of horrid insurance company>

for medical records and documentation. This process has been complicated by

my own debilitation (including cognitive difficulties), but everything

that <name of horrid insurance company> has requested has been provided with

no exception.

Most recently, my claim with <name of horrid insurance company> was

suspended pending completion of a

series of physical capacity tests arranged by <name of horrid insurance

company> (to verify the veracity of

my claims evidently). This state has existed since March 31. Several

times, I have attempted to fulfill the requirements of the tests they have

requested. Three times, the tests were cancelled or rescheduled by the

contracted provider. Today (Monday, April 29, 2002), I traveled an hour to

the facility (when I should not have even been out of bed) to begin these

tests once more, only to be told that my blood pressure was much too high to

be able to do the tests (I do not have a history of high blood pressure, and

believe that one reason for it was the stress and anxiety surrounding the

ordeal I was being subjected to in the first place). Now, I find, that for

a fourth time, these tests are being postponed another two weeks.

It is preposterous that I, as an excellent employee for seven years with

<name of my employer>, have been put in the situation of wrangling with an

insurance provider that is supposed to be *assisting* me instead of

*opposing* me. It is absurd that my financial security is being destroyed

because of some (to me) capricious action by the insurance company that my

own company contracted services with (unfortunately, in my opinion), and

absolutely no fault of my own.

I am asking for some type of intervention from a benefits ombudsman, or

someone else who can help me. I am writing this while in a state of

frustration, anger, and desperation, and I apologize if some parts are

unclear. It is clear to me that <name of horrid insurance company> should

either DENY my claim based upon

whatever grounds they believe valid, or stop suspending my claim

immediately. I understand that I will be required to submit to whatever

tests they require (however much I believe them unnecessary), but when that

is prevented through no action or inaction on my part, it's beyond

acceptable by any measure of what could be construed as right and ethical.

Thank you for your time, and I am surprised that I am such a situation,

especially after having been treated so generously by the company I have

enjoyed being a part of for a long time.

I am sending a copy of this e-mail to <name of CEO> and <name of co-CEO>

only for informational

purposes, and so that hopefully, other employees in similar circumstances

may hope to avoid the distressing experience I have endured.

Thanks for any assistance you may be able to provide. If nothing else,

thank you for " listening " to my words.

Sincerely,

April 29, 2002

Allan, swwtie, so sorry that you are being put thru this ordeal! Not fair and all that, but you already know this as well as I do!

I think this was a great letter you sent and that you are doing the right thing by fighting back! As a therapist, I firmly believe that it is extremely important that the more the rest of the world let's us down, the more we refuse to let ourselves down. Keep on Keeping on my friend!

In the meantine just do what you can, take care of yourself in other words!:-)

hugs & prayers, robin

"Treat the other man's faith gently; it is all he has to believe with. His mind was created for his own thoughts, not yours or mine."

Henry S. Haskins

-------Original Message-------

Hello everyone . . . I am sending this just as a form of release, and torequest any prayers you might have to spare on my behalf. I have justendured the lastest in a grueling and ridiculous process in some insancedance with the insurance company my employer uses for short-term disability.I have edited out any names below, but I sent this e-mail to the HumanResources person at my company, and copied my manager, and the two Co-CEO'sof the company. I know many of you have been through this (or similar orworse) experiences, and you know it will all be okay. Thanks for listening(reading), for your prayers and friendship. I will be offline for some timerecovering from this lates obscene chapter of my life. Then, I'll be backin Court Jester mode, hopefully. I'll respond to all posts I read later.Hugs to all who read these words,, Allan (including both my names since different folks know me byeach of these) ++ Bubba Swami************************************************************************************************Dear <Human Resources Peron's name edited out>:As you know, I have been unable to work due to severe illness since December10, 2001, and my condition is largely unchanged (or in some ways worsened)since that time. During that time, I have been absent from Schwab and onshort-term disability, which is handled through a company called <name ofhorrid insurance company>.For almost five months, I have undergone the regular and (at times) gruelingprocess of satisfying requests and requirements that have been made by <nameof horrid insurance company>for medical records and documentation. This process has been complicated bymy own debilitation (including cognitive difficulties), but everythingthat <name of horrid insurance company> has requested has been provided withno exception.Most recently, my claim with <name of horrid insurance company> wassuspended pending completion of aseries of physical capacity tests arranged by <name of horrid insurancecompany> (to verify the veracity ofmy claims evidently). This state has existed since March 31. Severaltimes, I have attempted to fulfill the requirements of the tests they haverequested. Three times, the tests were cancelled or rescheduled by thecontracted provider. Today (Monday, April 29, 2002), I traveled an hour tothe facility (when I should not have even been out of bed) to begin thesetests once more, only to be told that my blood pressure was much too high tobe able to do the tests (I do not have a history of high blood pressure, andbelieve that one reason for it was the stress and anxiety surrounding theordeal I was being subjected to in the first place). Now, I find, that fora fourth time, these tests are being postponed another two weeks.It is preposterous that I, as an excellent employee for seven years with<name of my employer>, have been put in the situation of wrangling with aninsurance provider that is supposed to be *assisting* me instead of*opposing* me. It is absurd that my financial security is being destroyedbecause of some (to me) capricious action by the insurance company that myown company contracted services with (unfortunately, in my opinion), andabsolutely no fault of my own.I am asking for some type of intervention from a benefits ombudsman, orsomeone else who can help me. I am writing this while in a state offrustration, anger, and desperation, and I apologize if some parts areunclear. It is clear to me that <name of horrid insurance company> shouldeither DENY my claim based uponwhatever grounds they believe valid, or stop suspending my claimimmediately. I understand that I will be required to submit to whatevertests they require (however much I believe them unnecessary), but when thatis prevented through no action or inaction on my part, it's beyondacceptable by any measure of what could be construed as right and ethical.Thank you for your time, and I am surprised that I am such a situation,especially after having been treated so generously by the company I haveenjoyed being a part of for a long time.I am sending a copy of this e-mail to <name of CEO> and <name of co-CEO>only for informationalpurposes, and so that hopefully, other employees in similar circumstancesmay hope to avoid the distressing experience I have endured.Thanks for any assistance you may be able to provide. If nothing else,thank you for "listening" to my words.Sincerely,<my name>

April 29, 2002

OH BUBBA, I AM SO SORRY THAT YOU HAD A HORRIBLE DAY AND EXPERIENCE.

JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL THINKING OF YOU. TRY TO GET SOME REST.

CINDY

> Hello everyone . . . I am sending this just as a form of release, and to

> request any prayers you might have to spare on my behalf. I have just

> endured the lastest in a grueling and ridiculous process in some insance

> dance with the insurance company my employer uses for short-term disability.

> I have edited out any names below, but I sent this e-mail to the Human

> Resources person at my company, and copied my manager, and the two Co-CEO's

> of the company. I know many of you have been through this (or similar or

> worse) experiences, and you know it will all be okay. Thanks for listening

> (reading), for your prayers and friendship. I will be offline for some time

> recovering from this lates obscene chapter of my life. Then, I'll be back

> in Court Jester mode, hopefully. I'll respond to all posts I read later.

>

> Hugs to all who read these words,

> , Allan (including both my names since different folks know me by

> each of these) ++ Bubba Swami

>

> ****************************************************************************

> ********************

>

> Dear <Human Resources Peron's name edited out>:

>

> As you know, I have been unable to work due to severe illness since December

> 10, 2001, and my condition is largely unchanged (or in some ways worsened)

> since that time. During that time, I have been absent from Schwab and on

> short-term disability, which is handled through a company called <name of

> horrid insurance company>.

>

> For almost five months, I have undergone the regular and (at times) grueling

> process of satisfying requests and requirements that have been made by <name

> of horrid insurance company>

> for medical records and documentation. This process has been complicated by

> my own debilitation (including cognitive difficulties), but everything

> that <name of horrid insurance company> has requested has been provided with

> no exception.

>

> Most recently, my claim with <name of horrid insurance company> was

> suspended pending completion of a

> series of physical capacity tests arranged by <name of horrid insurance

> company> (to verify the veracity of

> my claims evidently). This state has existed since March 31. Several

> times, I have attempted to fulfill the requirements of the tests they have

> requested. Three times, the tests were cancelled or rescheduled by the

> contracted provider. Today (Monday, April 29, 2002), I traveled an hour to

> the facility (when I should not have even been out of bed) to begin these

> tests once more, only to be told that my blood pressure was much too high to

> be able to do the tests (I do not have a history of high blood pressure, and

> believe that one reason for it was the stress and anxiety surrounding the

> ordeal I was being subjected to in the first place). Now, I find, that for

> a fourth time, these tests are being postponed another two weeks.

>

> It is preposterous that I, as an excellent employee for seven years with

> <name of my employer>, have been put in the situation of wrangling with an

> insurance provider that is supposed to be *assisting* me instead of

> *opposing* me. It is absurd that my financial security is being destroyed

> because of some (to me) capricious action by the insurance company that my

> own company contracted services with (unfortunately, in my opinion), and

> absolutely no fault of my own.

>

> I am asking for some type of intervention from a benefits ombudsman, or

> someone else who can help me. I am writing this while in a state of

> frustration, anger, and desperation, and I apologize if some parts are

> unclear. It is clear to me that <name of horrid insurance company> should

> either DENY my claim based upon

> whatever grounds they believe valid, or stop suspending my claim

> immediately. I understand that I will be required to submit to whatever

> tests they require (however much I believe them unnecessary), but when that

> is prevented through no action or inaction on my part, it's beyond

> acceptable by any measure of what could be construed as right and ethical.

>

> Thank you for your time, and I am surprised that I am such a situation,

> especially after having been treated so generously by the company I have

> enjoyed being a part of for a long time.

>

> I am sending a copy of this e-mail to <name of CEO> and <name of co-CEO>

> only for informational

> purposes, and so that hopefully, other employees in similar circumstances

> may hope to avoid the distressing experience I have endured.

>

> Thanks for any assistance you may be able to provide. If nothing else,

> thank you for " listening " to my words.

>

> Sincerely,

>

> <my name>

April 29, 2002