I have been in the workers compensation system in NY for 4 years.since that time I have been humiliated,have had my credit ruined,have gone without economical means and worst of all have had my physical and mental well being jeopradized.
Why?because negligent insurance companies like Gallagher&Bassett are allowed to manipulate the laws and the workers compensation boards to support their last ditch efforts to save their bottom line with no concern for the well being of the injured individuals and the needed medical and financial support they rely on.
In july of 2003 I underwent a spinal fusion to repair a fractured vertabre and the damage done to the disk and nerves as a result.As ruled on by workers compensation, the carrier was to approve any and all medical treatment nessesary at sight of injury. What a joke!
In the first year after the surgery I was to follow up with the surgeon four times,as with a fusion it is a hit or miss procedure.After the third visit with the surgeon,with very little relief of my symptoms the surgeon had reguested a ct scan.
This scan would have enabled the surgeon to view the soft tissue around the fusion to help him determine what course of action could be taken to help allieviate my discomfort if any. As of april 23rd 2005 it will have been one year since this request was made with nothing approved.
To this date I have received five seperate bills pertaining to the april 23,2004 visit to the surgeon in the amount of forty dollars in which the bill states Gallagher/Bassett is refusing to pay this bill.
This kind of conduct has been transpiring since the onset of this injury in may of 2001. I went the first four months of this claim with no finacial support, rendering me financially ruined.Every medical test or proceedure that has been requested for needed medical care has either taken a minimum of three months or never approved.
I was given a perscription drug card to use for needed pain medications so I wouldn't have to pay out of pocket and wait for reimbursment from the carrier, but one month after surgery when trying to refill my perscriptions and waiting three days for the pharmacy to call.
I finally returned to the pharmacy to pick up my perscriptions only to find that the perscriptions were not approved yet, to this day the pharmacy has never contacted me to tell me my perscriptions were approved and ready to be picked up.
After four years of begging and pleading with the red tape bureaucracy of workers compensation,the numerous badfaith attorneys who are suppose to uphold our best interests and the negligent insurance companies in which the two foremost are suppose to defend us against. The physical,emotional and financial damage incurred. I'am still questioning myself as to which was worse, The initial injury? or the subsequent negligents that followed by all parties involved. You be the judge!
My last stand was to revolt. I refused any requests from the insurance carrier to participate in their biased IME exams, not to mention their a conflict of interest broker or not. If they want to jeopardize my wellbeing by not authorizing needed medical care and treatment and workers compensation is unwilling to stand behind their rulings I feel obligated to give them nothing. As for the second lawyer in four years, his bad faith approach to defending my rights and wellbeing has resulted in his firing.
My reward for standing up for myself, workers compensation ruling allowing the insurance carrier to discontinue my benifits. Surprise, NOT! I've received no benifits since january 2005.
This is negligents at its best. When it comes to insurance companies such as Gallagher&Bassett, it shows they'll commit any atrocity to protect their bottom line.
It's taken me almost three months to step back and collect myself but this fight is far from over. As for Gallagher&bassett and all parties involved, you reap what you sow. You will pay for your negligents.
Kevin
anywhere, New York
U.S.A.
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