How AT&T and Sedgwick CMS deal with employees on Disabil

[eamarquardt]

Due to chronic pain involving 10 of the 24 cranial nerves, I was forced to retire and seek disability benefits from AT&T. Google “suicide disease”. This is only a fraction of my presentation/problems.

Sedgwick CMS has made my live a living H#!!. Every interaction with them is extremely stressful and, unfortunately, stress worsens chronic pain. I repeatedly asked them, verbally and in writing, not to phone me, but in the last two weeks of our relationship (before they terminated my benefits) they called eight times, even though my voicemail message said to write or email me. They terminated my benefits, not because I wasn’t ill, but because my behavior was “construed” as uncooperative. I just wanted to have my doctor present and my atty present at the 2nd and 3rd “Independent Medical Exams” (IMEs) they required me participate in. I didn’t object to the additional exams and agreed even though California requires them to obtain a court order for more than one IME. In addition they refused to allow me to record the exam and to provide me with copies of any paperwork I filled out. All of these issues are rights that California law says I have. The first exam was a farce and the doctor’s: report” was filled with factual errors and distortions. After learning how these “Independent Medical Exams” work, I just wanted to ensure that there was an accurate and factual record of the exam (there are many court decisions that state this is important to protect my rights). I have made AT&T aware of how Sedgwick CMS has treated me (and others I have spoken with) but the executives at AT&T apparently believe this is how those of us that are sick should be treated as they have consistently declined to intervene and stop the abusive practices.

Here is a link to a website were my story is being told.

http://gesupplyrexeldiscrimination.blogspot.com/

Hopefully more of my story will be posted as time goes on.

I would encourage you to look into any disability plan your employer offers and see if Sedgwick CMS is the administrator. If so, you might want to make your HR people aware of how they treat those they are paid to serve.

Cheers,

Eric “Gus” Marquardt

[Lgboro]

I've been in the same boat as a former employee of the State Of North Carolina (a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor). I was on long term disability and had a doctor change at Duke Medical Center. The State terminated my disability and notified me two weeks after my last check that is through our retirement system was terminated. I'm almost 59 so I guess I can get by for 3 years (still haven't figured out how yet though) until I can draw my retirement. Hope things work out for you in the future.