Declined for Disability Insurance

[Buckeye]

I did not enroll in disability insurance when I became employed in Feb 2010. During open enrollment for 2011, I signed up but was declined because I had been to the chiropractor recently (declined due to "treatment for low back pain.") I don't have any disc issues or anything else specifically wrong. I have not missed any work, have taken no prescription medication and have basically gone about my business as usual with some back pain. I continue to see my chiro once a week or every other week.

The insurance company (MetLife) said I had 60 days to contest the declination. I wrote back stating I didn't have anything specifically wrong and didn't know how I could dispute "treatment for low back pain" because it was true. They wrote back I was still declined. I called and talked to a human and told her I didn't have any X-rays or MRI's to show that nothing was wrong with me and asked her how I dispute receiving treatment. The rep said I basically needed a letter from my doctor stating there was nothing "wrong" with me. My sixty days is up January 4th but she said they would accept/review the letter from my doctor if it arrived soon after the deadline.

I don't really care about having the disability insurance. The only reason I bother with this is because it creates a declination of insurance on my record. Should I care? Will this be reported to the MIB? I don't want to bug my doc to write a letter if being declined is no big deal.

[dgoldenz]

If you are going to the chiropractor 26-52 times a year, there must be some sort of issue? Most people don't go to a chiro once a week for fun. I would be surprised if your chiro would write a letter saying there was nothing wrong if you are getting treatment that often, but I'm not a doctor...

Should you care? Well, that depends if you care about the disability insurance, which is usually something people care about as it's one of the most important types of insurance you can have....will it effect your insurability in the future for other types of insurance? Probably not as you can always explain why you were declined. It's not like if you apply for other underwritten insurance based on health that they won't write to your doctor anyway.

Usually the disability insurance you can get through a group isn't very comprehensive and has more coverage holes than swiss cheese, and just because you were declined by one company doesn't mean they would all decline you. Would be helpful to know what your chiropractor has to say about the diagnosis though...

[Buckeye]

I hadn't gone to the chiro for over a year (mistake) when I made a wrong turn about 8 weeks ago and tweaked my back. Flare-ups happen intermittently, but coincidentally they are usually around a period of increased stress. Last time was selling our house, packing up and moving to FL. This time it was around my mom moving here from across the country (which has been wonderful).

Going to a sedentary job I hate doesn't help either. Knowing I have the next week off is already making my back feel better.

Having disability insurance doesn't concern me greatly because I'm very close to being able to quit working. DH could also go back to work if required.