Up to early 1996 - with the exception of occasional mild bouts, I was doing well.
In early 1996 I had a fairly serious flare up and I had to take sick leave.The problem continued and once my sick days ran out, I went on disability.
The GI specialist and two GPs have written letters to Manulife advising them that I should not return to work. However, Manulife decided (in January 1999) - even though there was no change in my health condition, to terminate my disability payments. For some unfathomable reason Manulife Financial considered me one day to be disabled and the next day they decided that I was no longer disabled. (Did someone decide that I had a miracle???)
It is strange though ..,Pratt & Whitney still considered me disabled. How come, if I was no longer disabled, Pratt & Whitney didn't fire me for failure to return to work? Strange too, Manulife continued to pay for all the medications I was prescribed for the illness causing my disability.
Countless letters have been sent to Manulife Financial by me - appealing the termination of disability payments. Letters from my doctors have been sent to Manulife. All to no avail. (It appears Manulife doesn't mind collecting money - they just don't like paying it out!)
In the fall of 2000, I was advised that all of the staff in my department at Pratt & Whitney were being fired and replaced with "contract" personnel. As a result I lost my life and health insurance coverage with Manulife.
Fortunately, my wife has coverage (with Manulife) and I am also covered through her. Unfortunately, my medication is no longer covered for 100% but is now down to 80%. When monthly costs for insulin, diabetes supplies, bowel related medications, hypertension medications, etc. adds up to $700+ per month - with only my wife's pay coming in 20% ...$140 or more having to be paid out on medications causing an increasingly deeper financial hole. Already, I have started to cut back on buying some of the prescription medications I require - simply can't afford them any longer.
The stress that this ongoing problem with Manulife has put me through may actually be prolonging the problem. The stress has affected my overall health (I also am an insulin dependent diabetic with high blood pressure)and I was recently referred to a psychiatrist because of it.
Once again let me suggest ...Manulife doesn't mind collecting premiums - they just don't want to pay out anything.
Making payments to those who are ill, injured, etc would leave them less money to buy up other insurance companies around the world.
As they buy up the insurance companies around the world they get to collect more money from people so they can continue to buy up eve more insurance companies. (It becomes self-perpetuating)
I believe that to call Manulife Financial heartless and unfeeling or an organization without a conscience would only be considered a badge of honor by those representing that organization.
The fight continues - but, I'm not finished yet! Manulife probably wishes I - and those like me, would just die or - at least give up because of discouragement and leave them alone to rake in the money.
Am I discouraged - yes! But... I'm more pissed off than discouraged.
And so my message to Manulife Financial and its ice-water for blood minions ... I WON'T GO AWAY EASILY - OR QUIETLY!!! It is my intense hope that all of those who make a living at Manulife denying people benefits would have a very close encounter with the very same problems that they are so insensitive to. And a pox on all your houses.
MANULIFE FINANCIAL S U C K S !!!
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