Disability Insurance

[arabrablynn]

I really need some guidance here. I'm 30 and I have sjogren's antibodies (high) but not an official "diagnosis" of sjogren's by my rheumy.

I want disability insurance but I don't want to mention "high ANA" or sjogren's but I've told my doctors I have sjogren's so it's on my other charts.

I also had a really high cholesterol this summer that i brought down to normal via diet but I'm afraid if I mention that it's another thing for them to add to the list against me.

I do have a history of anxiety that I already told them about and I suppose I'll tell them depression as I've had that in the past.

So here are my questions:
what all does the disability insurance company do to research your history? If I omit this stuff could they find it out? I mean, if they look at my insurance bills I'm screwed. I'm sure they would find out I've seen a rheumy, I'm on restasis, seen a cardiologist, etc. All I want to tell them is about my old primary care doctor who has anxiety and depression on file only (and endometreosis).

This is all so very frustrating.

And come time that I may need this insurance based on sjogren's how far back will they research and what all will they try to pull to turn my claims down.

I just really need help here!

[Scottietottie]

Hi - I'm afraid I'm in a different country so we have different systems but I'm sure someone will be along with advice soon.

Take care - Scottie 

[Mark54]

Arab,
     It's best to tell the truth about everything. Fraud is fraud! The reason it is so hard to get disability insurance is because of people not being honest and committing fraud.

God's blessings,

Mark....

[genko_b]

Mark is right that you should be as forthcoming as possible in answering all the questions that they ask you. If they ask you about the high ANA or high cholesterol, tell them the truth. Even if you were to get the disability insurance, if you got it by not being honest, they can cancel it on you at any time.

Genko   

[arabrablynn]

Thanks you guys.

[Patze]

Hi arabrablynn,

I also agree with the others, don't fib, it'll just back fire on you when you need it the most.

Take care -

Patze

[salsen]

One thing to keep in mind is that you have to sign a form for your medical records to be released for review.  Once you do that disability has access to all your records from the doctors listed.  If anything in these records would reference a condition or another doctor that you did not mention, this would probably automatically raise a red flag.  It is not worth omitting information for whatever reason when applying for disability.  If they feel it is not related to your case they will not look into it further.   You maybe surprised as to what is considered qualifying problems and what is not.

[Billydude]

But I wonder if you even need to purchase disability insurance when you might quality for SSDI.
Steve

[arabrablynn]

Thanks you guys. When they do the pre-medical review I'm telling them EVERYTHING. As far as SSDI, this would be in addition to that or cover me for partial disability. Plus, I'm not having many symptoms right now and am essentially "healthy". Found HIGH sjogren's antibodies on accident... GRRRRRR. Good to know but wish I'd got disability insurance first.

[Lowell]

In March I went on disibility through my work. I was entitled to 6 months of disibility and my regular benefits from my job. After the 6 months was up, I still wasn't better and couldn't work so I quit my job.  It was either quit or get fired. Luckily, my husband has good benefits so I went on his.

Are you just looking for health insurance? Or disibility insurance? Or both? As I understand it, unless you're unemployed (like me), you can't get disibility from the gov. If you aren't working I think you can get that through SSDI. (I'm assuming you're in the US, like me). 

While I was on disibility I had to submit a form every month (signed by my dr) updating the insurance company on my condition. Once I accepted the disibility and signed the forms they could look at all of my medical records. So I would suggest not lying/omitting facts because they could find out and then you will be liable for all of the medical costs. Also, all I had to do to get disibility was fill out a form and have my doctor sign it- granted this was through my private employer.

All my best,
Lowell

[Lowell]

Also, I can't spell. So I meant to write disability not disibility.

[Billydude]

Lowell,  with this bunch of brain foggers noone is noticing your mis-spelling!

[arabrablynn]

Yeah. I didn't notice the misspelling until you pointed it out. LOL. I appreciate your advice and plan to disclose everything! I bet I won't get covered for anything Sjogren's because of it.

[Lowell]

I hope everything works out!