If you’re thinking about posting your health or mental health concerns on Facebook or Twitter, you may want to think twice.
According to an article published last week in The LA Times, health insurers will often turn to social networks to check out someone’s story — especially when that person is receiving medical leave or disability payments from an insurer. If you’re filing (or intending to file) a health insurance claim, be careful.
This once-hypothetical scenario is now commonplace, as insurers look for ways to keep cutting costs and payments to what they perceive as people intending to commit fraud against them. In fact, insurance companies don’t just randomly check out a social networking website when a claim comes in — it is now standard practice, according to Peter Foley, vice president of claims administration at the American Insurance Association.
While many of us naively think, “Well, this doesn’t affect me… I would never commit insurance fraud,” this goes way beyond simply insurance fraud. Ordinary people — people suffering from depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety disorder — may find themselves being denied their benefits because of a photo uploaded to Facebook. In once case, the photo showed a woman apparently having fun on the beach when she was supposed to be depressed.
The LA Times’ Shan Li has the story…
Struggling with depression, the 30-year-old [Nathalie Blanchard] from Quebec, Canada, took a medical leave in early 2008 from her job as an IBM technician. Soon after, she began receiving monthly disability benefits from her insurer, Manulife Financial Corp.
A year later and without warning, the payments stopped.
A representative of the Toronto insurance company told Blanchard that Manulife used photos of her on Facebook — showing her frolicking at a beach and hanging out at a pub — to determine she was depression-free and able to work, said Tom Lavin, Blanchard’s attorney.
Can clinically depressed people not have fun? Not according to the DSM-IV definition of depression. Nowhere does it state that a person who suffers from major depression cannot experience times where their depression temporarily lifts. Nor does it suggest that a person who is depressed can’t go on vacation and attempt to lift their spirits. Which sometimes happens… but the lift is nearly always temporary. Once a person returns home, the depression sets in again.
In the case mentioned in the article, Ms. Blanchard is suing because apparently the insurance company cut off her benefits without warning and without first talking to her doctor.
Which is even more scary, if true. Imagine that your health or mental health benefits cut off not because of a careful and considered medical review of your health and mental health data… but because of photos you uploaded to Facebook!
The challenge we have today with social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter is that people tend not to always use the best judgment in choosing what to share with others. And even if they do, they may not realize that Facebook’s sometimes-complicated and ever-changing privacy settings may allow the public to view components of your life you thought you had sealed off from public view.
The easiest and safest thing to do is to ensure your Facebook profile is locked up tight — friends only for virtually all of the information you share — and that you pick and choose what to post on any social network. Once posted, something may live a lot longer online than you ever intended. So be mindful and intentional in what you post, thinking about the worst case scenario… “What if a future employer saw this? Or my mom? Or my insurance company?”
Is that being overly conservative, cynical even? Perhaps. But at least I’ll have my insurance.
Read the full article: Insurance fraud and social media: Insurers are scouring social media for evidence of fraud
16 comments
These days, you can make your FB profile completely invisible to web searches. Unless you have your FB profile completely public (which is not common these days) how do companies in general peek at status updates and posts?
The Natalie Blanchard case, in my opinion, shows not only that insurers regularly check on social networking sites, but also that they have a rather stereotyped conception of mental illness.
As for me personally, I blog under my full name, which might at some point get prejudiced insurers to believe I don’t need the long-term care I need. This is not based on my reality, but again stereotypes, in this case that a person who can write coherent blog posts must not be mentally ill.
This is exactly why so many fall through the cracks, and do not achieve recovery and self-sufficiency. They get to a point where they are ablt to function, and are cut-off way too early. I think it is horrid that our systems would rather maintain us in a state of dysfunction for life, rather than work toward resiliency. IT IS A PROCESS! one that takes time. It is also like a rollercoaster, at times. Some days one is able to do things that one may not be able to do the next. Besides, outdoor activities are VERY therapuetic!
I think many of us are pre-judged by those who have manipulated the systems. THAT IS UNFAIR AND DISCRIMITORIAL!
I know that communications on the internet can have huge consequences, however, I am not defrauding anyone; therefore, I would stand and fight if some company tried that with me. I too, use my full legal name, as I have nothing to hide, and am proud of where I have come from. I hope this does not effect all of those who truly need assistance, and are working just as hard to recover!!!
Yeah, I would like to take a year off of work while I get paid because I am depressed, too! How long did this woman think she would be able to milk the insurance company?! Why don’t we all take PAID medical leave for as long as we want to because we are ‘depressed!’ This article is laughable– as expected from anything that comes from LA(laland) Times.
Never post personal details relating to your health or activities on any publicly accessible social sites. Your privacy is very important and any details which may put you at risk especially if you are experiencing health and/or mental issues should be guarded. Mental issues may affect your judgment. A facebook holiday is best during such times. Keep a journal if you feel you need to express your feelings. Also, seek confidential counselling from a mental health professional. There are many sites online which can give you assistance on coping during such times.
Wow, givemeabreak—nice way to hide behind a pseudonym, first of all. Secondly, it’s interesting that you apparently “side” with the insurance company (the only entity or condition that you don’t dismiss for any good reason, except that you dismiss it.) Sounds like you hate your job and your life, which could be an adjustment disorder under DSM IV. By posting your derisive note here, you probably just got yourself on the radar for the insurance companies you seem to want to protect. Hope you never need a year off work with pay for that adjustment disorder—you’re probably not insurable now on the open market. 😉
Social media is great, but it gives the public WAY too much access to affect your life. Things that you post may be interpeted differently by other people thereby allowing for judgement that is not necessary.
I had a very high powered job working at Executive level, being the right hand person to the CEO of a large health organisation. When I was diagnosed with bi-polar I confided in the CEO (we got on extremely well) to explain why initially I had so many appointments. I soon found out that was my biggest mistake ever as I was effectively managed out of my job within 2 months. I will never tell any potential employer of this again, nor would I ever speak of it on Facebook and I strongly recommend everyone heed my advice, no matter how well you think you know your boss!
This to ‘Give Me A Break’. Your comments show that you are speaking from a place of ignorance. I hope for your sake that you never suffer from depression so severe that you can no longer work. Actually, I hope for your sake that you never suffer from depression at all. This is not just feeling a little sad or down. Major depression is an extremely debilitating, horrible illness. It can often be very difficult to treat and also has a high mortality rate. I wonder if you would feel the same if this woman had cancer, or heart disease or anything besides a mental illness. You should thank god or whoever that you are not touched by this. A little compassion is called for not disdain.
I cannot get medical leave and I have a disabling heart disorder that makes it difficult for me to walk 5 feet somedays. I also have suffered from severe depression. I don’t ‘qualify’ because I don’t need help getting dressed or feeding myself on a regular basis!?!
I personally know a fellow who has been on disability for at lest 10 years due to a bad back. He does an awful lot of living considering how bad his back is, I would just be happy with a handicapped parking placard at this point. Insurance companies and gov’t programs take who they want regardless of their situation. Basically if you are a convincing liar, you can get anything you want. I hope this woman, if she truely has severe debilitating depression wins her lawsuit.
Ever stare at the same four walls day in and day out and have no energy and feel like you want to die? I don’t blame her for wanting a vacation/night out from the misery that is depression.
My goodness, I would think that vacations and evenings with friends would be considered treatment or therapy for the depressed.
Does anyone out there think that government controlled healthcare would not access any and every resource available to stop paying your salary indefinitely because you are feeling a little bummed? Does anyone actually think that government controlled – severely rationed in a way you can’t even fathom – healthcare would even pay anyone on ‘depression leave’ at all? Now that’s seriously humorous if you think so.
WITH ALL RESPECT TO THOSE COMMENTS… ALL OF US WHO NOW DAYS CAN STILL HOLD A JOB AND KEEP THEIR SANITY, CONGRATULATIONS… :))COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS AND FORGET
YOUR MISERIES…REMEMBER THERE MANY MORE IN WORSE SITUATIONS AND CAN´T EVEN AFFORD TO COMPLAIN… DEPRESSION ISN´T PART OF MY LIVING… ITS AROUND MANY TIMES… BUT, I LOOK AT THE FLOWERS, THE BIRDS, THE BEACH ALL THE BEAUTY AROUND ME AND I SMILE… ;D LIVING IT´S WORTH IT IF YOU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE… LOVE YOURSELF IN ORDER TO LOVE OTHERS!
Social media is a useful tool to keep in contact with friends and family, however certain things need to be left off to still maintain some privacy in a persons life. It may come back to haunt you in the future.
Just found this and had to LAUGH! I posted a picture of my “baby boy”- quite a few ‘out of touch’ friends didn’t bother to read the caption- I am still learning how to “do” photos- they thought I had a new baby- in fact he is 8 and a half- but you try to get him to sit still for a picture now!! As to insurance companies checking up on people- BiPolar people have up and down days- even depressed people can crack a smile- any “blip” taken out of context and used for a negative reason should be outlawed!
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