Facebook, Depression and Insurance

November 25th, 2009 | Odd Ends, Social Networking, health

Canadian worker, Natalie Blanchard, was diagnosed with depression. She takes time off. Doctor recommends some fun vacation ideas. So she goes on vacation and has some fun. Natalie posted the good stuff online.

So far so good right? This is what you’d do I imagine. But the story doesn’t end there. Natalie suddenly finds her insurance payments stopped.

What happened? The insurance company spotted videos she’d posted on Facebook. Apparently she was happy. Of course happy people couldn’t be depressed right? Hence the insurer shut off the payments.

CNET writer, Chris Matyszczyk, tells us more details in his article – IBM staffer posts pics on Facebook, loses benefits.

Here’s the lessons learned:

If you’re sick, don’t let anyone know you feel better some days.
If you’re on sick leave, don’t post videos of yourself having a good time.
Submit your doctors notes to your insurer ahead of time if it seems fishy.

Having struggled with some issues this year involving a shrink, I can attest that folks not intimately involved don’t get it. That includes insurance companies. Luckily our firm covering that aspect of medical insurance seems a bit more understanding.

Disclaimer: hearing this second hand I can’t attest to the full truth of this story.

Chris Matyszczyk