life ins. for the disabled: my experience

[Guest guest]

I wanted to share my " interesting " experience with attempting to obtain some

additional life ins. through an underwriter who specializes in matching disabled

people with ins. companies who will insure them (us) affordably. I have about

$10,000 worth of whole life ins. through Texas Retired Teachers, which is what

they give all teachers in TX, whether they retire from old age, medical

disability, or any other reason. That is enough to bury me decently if my body

dies in the next decade. I'm not afraid to die, but I'm not anxious to leave

just yet. I'm only 43. There is, to my knowledge (and according to my REAMS of

medical records) nothing wrong with me that will kill me....though I am most

definitely a medically disabled person with multiple disabling conditions. None

are technically fatal. I filled out a very detailed multi-paged questionnaire.

Then I got a phone call from a man who asked me for even more detailed medical

history information, as well as the names and phone #'s of every dr. I see/have

seen in the last 5 years (daunting in itself). Then the other day I received by

mail a written form for me to sign/date and return to this ins. co which would

not only allow them to have my blood drawn at a lab of their specification to

see if I am HIV positive (I'm not, and I know that. In fact, I REQUESTED that

test be done by my family dr. when my ex left me because I had no way of knowing

what he may have exposed me to without my knowledge...much less consent...my dr.

also tested me for other STD's as well to put my mind at ease though he said " I

don't believe you have anything to worry about in this regard. I see you often,

and you are a long term patient. I have never at any time seen anything which

remotely suggested to me that you might have contracted a STD. " ......Dr.

was correct. All tests were negative, much to my relief.) Not only did the

consent form for HIV testing I received from this life ins. co want me to give

them permission to test at the time and place of their choosing, I also, after

several careful readings and re-readings of their consent form, saw that by

signing my consent that I would NOT be notified of any results (unless positive,

which they must report to the Texas Health Dept.), any positive results would

adversely affect my application (or anyone's) EVEN IF IT WAS A " FALSE " POSITIVE

AND I LATER PROVED THAT!!!. There's more. In the fine print, it also said that

by signing consent to be tested, the results (regardless of positive/negative)

could and would be shared with " other medical and life ins. databases " at their

discretion! Now, I don't mind being tested for HIV. I do mind having that

information shared with basically anyone they see fit (without my knowledge) to

share it with. I also mind not being notified of the results (there is no

reason for them to be anything other than negative) and not being allowed to

have the blood drawn at a lab of my choosing at my convenience. I also mind

that what that consent form all boiled down to is that people who are

unfortunate enough to have positive HIV test results (even false ones) will be

penalized by medical and life ins. companies forever after. Hmmmm. Anyone else

with EDS or any other medical disabilities encounter this situation? Lennie

says that they are way, way too invasive of privacy, and that the wording of the

consent form basically allows them to do whatever they please with the

information. It would also mean that any HIV positive person is, well,

screwed....permanently. I'm not brilliant...but to me, something is just wrong

with that.