Insurance firm cuts benefits of depressed woman after Facebook pics show her happy

[Cat of Ulthar]

http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/news/2253708/insurers-found-facebook

Insurers using Facebook to investigate claimants

Depressed woman's benefits stopped after her insurers saw happy Facebook photos

Rosalie Marshall

V3.co.uk, 21 Nov 2009

Canadian insurance firm Manulife has reportedly cut a depressed woman’s benefits because photos showing her happy were posted on Facebook.

The woman, Nathalie Blanchard, said she cannot understand how Manulife was able to access her account because she had adjusted her privacy settings so that only friends could see her posts, said CBC News.
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Blanchard was on leave from her company IBM for over a year after she was diagnosed with depression. She claims she was having fun on her doctor’s advice in order to forget her problems.

Manulife has confirmed to CBC News that it uses Facebook to investigate clients.
But it said, "We would not deny or terminate a valid claim solely based on information published on websites such as Facebook."

Facebook has already proved its use to human resource departments wanting to investigate potential new staff. Senior managers have also been found to use Facebook to check up on employees.

According to Facebook's current privacy policy, the social networking site will share information to prevent fraud or other illegal activity.

"This may include sharing information with other companies, lawyers, courts or other government entities," says the policy.

Insane. So not only are your private settings not private, but also you are not allowed to smile when you are depressed.

[Name Lips]

And apparently if you're depressed you're not allowed to ever crack a smile or you must be faking it.

[Freedom Canadian]

You know, it's possible that this is a solid case of fraud and its extensive documentation just happens to include information pulled from Facebook (and more solid information than one picture where a woman smiles).

I hate one-sided news articles.

Regarding expectation of privacy on Facebook: :lol:

[Steampunk]

You know, it's possible that this is a solid case of fraud and its extensive documentation just happens to include information pulled from Facebook (and more solid information than one picture where a woman smiles).

I hate one-sided news articles.

Regarding expectation of privacy on Facebook: :lol:
Privacy only exists in the mind, anyway. No matter how private you try to be, there is someone who can find out that which you don't want found. What we have today is the illusion of privacy.

[Freedom Canadian]

Privacy only exists in the mind, anyway. No matter how private you try to be, there is someone who can find out that which you don't want found. What we have today is the illusion of privacy.

True. But Facebook's purpose is to spread personal information about its users.

[Lady_Acoma]

Facebook is like handing out passes for everyone to look through all your shit and then come up with smarmy replies or blackmail material. Sometimes both.

[Scarbonac]

This is why it's smart to routinely lie about who you are online and never post pictures.

[Ancalagon]

I certainly hope there is more evidence than that for pulling her insurance - depressed people can still have a good time occasionally...

[Northcott]

I read another article where the rep for the insurance company basically said: "Yes, we got the photos from Facebook. Yes, we use Facebook as an investigation tool all the time. No, that's not the only thing we have on her. In fact, it's far from. Those documents will be revealed in court."

Of course, insurance companies are pretty good at making their case, and they will try to hose people out of benefits at every chance they get. Anybody who expects an insurance company to genuinely care about them is in for a rude awakening.

Hopefully the truth will come out in this, whichever side it rests on.

[Freedom Canadian]

Of course, insurance companies are pretty good at making their case, and they will try to hose people out of benefits at every chance they get. Anybody who expects an insurance company to genuinely care about them is in for a rude awakening.

Hopefully the truth will come out in this, whichever side it rests on.

Indeed.

There are three sides to every story. :D

[Harry]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/11/22/california.redhead.attack.facebook/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn

Apparently Friday was "Kick a Ginger Day". Why didn't anyone tell me?

[Janos]

Of course, insurance companies are pretty good at making their case, and they will try to hose people out of benefits at every chance they get.

People try to rip off big bad insurance companies at every opportunity because of that perception as well though. A year off for depression, unable to work at all is pretty significant. This story sounds like the insurance company made have been more than justified.

[Lady_Acoma]

Uh... I have been on medical disability due to mental illness since 2003. Trying to get full time employment and remain stable now but that gets hairy at times because of the shifts in moods that I still experience quite heavily.

Not saying the woman was or wasn't lying, from my point of view if she was just ripping people off then burn her as a witch, if not though then don't make it out like any glimmer of happiness means you are not allowed to get help anymore.

Depression can not be time lined. Unfortunately that quandary gets used on both sides to get things that are not deserved and to take things that should be available.

[Cat of Ulthar]

The Lady speaks wisdom. Some people are completely debilitated for a long time by depression. It also depends on the kind of job she had, some jobs are easier to maintain than other ones. I do not advise barkeeping (my job when I was depressed) because it involves cheerful interaction with others, but at least it is in the evenings when the worst is usually behind you.
And it does not mean you cannot have a laugh with friends. I think I had my best sense of humour when I was depressed, oddly enough. The laughter never resonated deep within though.

[Northcott]

People try to rip off big bad insurance companies at every opportunity because of that perception as well though. A year off for depression, unable to work at all is pretty significant. This story sounds like the insurance company made have been more than justified.

Very true, man! Very true.

I suppose if this were the old Nutkinland, somebody would have suggested nailing her and seeing whether it put a smile on her face, or she tried to slit her wrists after. Horrible ribbing about bedroom skills would have followed.

All to have pics taken and be posted on the internets, of course.

[Brynja]

Well get on that Northcott.

[Enk]

Very true, man! Very true.

I suppose if this were the old Nutkinland, somebody would have suggested nailing her and seeing whether it put a smile on her face, or she tried to slit her wrists after. Horrible ribbing about bedroom skills would have followed.

All to have pics taken and be posted on the internets, of course.

Dammit, now I'm all nostalgic.

[Northcott]

Well get on that Northcott.

My wife would smother me with a pillow in my sleep. Plus? I don't know if depressive chick is hot.

But mostly it's 'cause my wife would smother me with a pillow. I respect her for this.

[Brynja]

Fear is the kernel of respect.

Your wife is a good lady :)

[Northcott]

She is, but you must admit -- it severely restricts our internet shenanigans! After all, think of the merry havoc I could have wrought here! Kaytastrophe's would probably have made the news! I can see the headlines now: "Man fucks woman senseless just to see if she's really depressed -- Video posted to the internet as part of message-board dare!"

On the other hand, this is probably a good thing. We're really a bunch of maladjusted bastards who'd probably start trying to one-up each other, until we'd eventually succeeded in destroying the social fabric of the world's societies.