Posted by Michael Kaplan on 8/22/07

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I suffered both a back and neck injury at work more the
eight years ago. AIG was the Workers Comp Provider. from
this injery, I have endured five surgeries. Two discs
fused in my neck, two discs fused in my lower back and an
ulner nerve transposition. During all these years, AIG
has repeatedly either delayed approval or denied approval
of medical treatments. Before the last back surgery, they
left me in severe pain and bed ridden for a year and a
half while they denied the test that wound up showing a
torn disc. Because of this delay and lack of treatment
for so long, my SI joint which was also injured, but was
not treated and has turned sevearly arthritic. A pemanent
condition that could have been prevented had there not
been a year and a half delay in treatment. Currently, I
have been suffering additional pain in my neck which my
Doctor believes is another herniated disc due to the added
stress from the two fused discs. He requested an MRI to
determine if this was the case, and an epidural injection
fourteen weeks ago. After the first week, Utilization
review deemed the treetments "Medically Necessary". Since
that time, AIG has refused to respond to the request or
approve it. They are just sitting on their hands, not
approvong or disapproving the treatments. They have
delayed prescription refills for up to two weeks. I have
called my attorney three times regarding this, but there
seems little they can do. There are not penalties for
these insuance companies when they violate the law, so
they keep doing it. I started writing the attorney for
AIG and after eight letters, I started calling them. They
have refused to take my calls or respond to my letters,
even through my attorney. Lawyers think they have a free
pass when it comes to who and how they represent. They
think they are like swizterland. I think it is time we as
the injured parties, stop being the only one's that
follows the rules while the insurance companies and their
attorneys have a free ride to break the law at will. I
have started calling the attorney for AIG every 15 minutes
at his office, and am calling him at his home until either
they approve my medical treatment or explain why it is not
being approved. I urge all injured workers to do the same
if they are being trated like I am. I figure if they are
not going to follow the rules, why should we. I am
willing to be the martyr here just so I can have my day in
court. If we all start harrassing the insurance companies
attorneys and tie up their phones and staff, and overload
their voice mail, this will prevent them from being
productive, and costs them time and in the end money.
When the costs get high enough, the abuses will stop. I
want them to have me arrested for harrasment so I can go
to court and have them explain to the court and media why
I am being brought to justice for making phone calls to
get medical treatment that I am legally entited too. I
think that should make some interesting press and perhaps
will be the impetus to start getting these insurance
companies to follow the rules.

Re: AIG and other companies violate court orders, 9/16/07, by David.

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