The Wonders of Worker's Comp

Ah! Since falling last July and breaking both elbows resulting in me being placed on Worker's Comp life has taken some really interesting turns. By the end of this month we will be moving from our home to stay with friends generous enough to offer us a place to stay. See? Being on Worker's Comp is not a good thing to do financially.

Until my last visit to the doctor I was listed as 100% disabled. He listed me now at 50% based not on my ability to do anything but on the condition of the right elbow. The left is still going to require more surgery and treatment because it did not heal right and leaves me only partially able to use it. It also has caused damage to the shoulder. Typing is very painful with the left side and my fingers go where they want not where my mind tells them to go. The delete key has become my best friend. Mind you, the doctor also stated in the report that I am not able to work. They didn't read or care about that part. They only look at the percentage.

Part of the rules of WC is that I must search for a job and not to limit the search to my chosen field. It is stated in their rules that I will be turned down because I am disabled. To my small mind that is putting me out there to be a real pain in the ass to HR people all over the required 25 mile radius of my search. With 14 million people out there unemployed, not to mention the millions who are not listed among the unemployed anymore, a person who sends a cover with the resume and puts in the required notation that they are on WC is wasting that HR persons' valuable time. It isn't as if they aren't getting hundreds of good resumes and covers a day.

Don't get me wrong. I would much rather be out there working than this state I am in at the moment. I would also be much happier if the injuries hadn't ever happened. It isn't like I threw myself down those stairs on purpose. I also got offended at them using the term Voluntary Withdrawal from the Labor Market. Nothing about any of this was voluntary. I certainly would much rather be out there working bringing home more than $103 a week. When I got reduced to 50% they kicked down my pay to $123 and are taking away $20 a week for the "over payment" since my last doctor's visit. They make everything retroactive of course.

I am not happy with the lawyer I hired and his staff. I am setting out now to learn every thing I can about what to do with WC and how to do it so I can manage my own case. They saw the mistake the doctor made and did nothing about it. I was informed that they were doing what they are to do and nothing more. Get me a check and get my medical bills paid. Well, I am going to look out for myself from here on in.

I most strongly urge anyone who has a job, can afford health care and afford things like supplemental insurance such as Affleck to use them instead and stay away from WC. WC will pay your attorney and doctor and hospital bills, but they will not pay you one thin dime more than they absolutely have to. They will "starve you out". They will reduce your income and keep reducing it. Then they will make a settlement offer expecting you to be hungry enough and beaten down enough to take it. They depend on you becoming depressed and anxious. You are not in their best interest by any means. I should say the insurance carrier's best interest. We are a liability to them that they don't want.

Don't even try to go to Social Services for help. HA! I am 61 and was told I do not qualify for anything except Family Planning. Guess I need to have my uterus put back in so I can take hormone treatments and get pregnant! I can't afford a surrogate mother. WC has made sure I don't have any money. "Starve out"

Ok. Enough whining. I am alive and can smile and laugh at jokes and wipe my own butt. I guess that is considered good, right? Good night all. I am out of here. I have a lot of reading and educating to do.

GO PACKERS!!!