Add Comment Question: On LTD with Canada Life since 2022 from major depression/anxiety/suicidality etc. My long-time psychiatrist had to leave the province - so my file was assigned to a new specialist. Last appointment with my original Dr was end of May, was called a couple of weeks later, and given the name of the new Dr I had been transferred over to, and told that the 1st appointment available that I could have with them was at the end of July. Unfortunately, I fell physically ill and missed the appointment (I did call and leave a voicemail saying that I was ill and needed to miss the appointment). 1 week later I received a call from the new specialists office, saying that the Dr said they would no longer be willing to see me due to my missing that 1st appointment (DUE TO ILLNESS), and that I needed to go get a brand new referral from my Family Doctor (I don't have one) before "my" new specialist (who was ASSIGNED ME as a patent, NOT given a choice about it... would see me. I was incredibly shocked and upset, and asked the office administrator who phoned me to double check to see if this was not a mistake, and to make sure the new Dr had seen my file, stating that I was on LTD as supported by my previous (just having left) Dr, and I could not imagine how this new Dr who had NEVER met me or assessed me in any way (other than reading my previous Drs notes) could 'dump' me for NO medical reason (as stated by his assistant - you missed the appointment, so he decided you are out). Next day assistant called back and said - new Dr confirmed he wont see me without new referral ("he said he absolutely went through your file") - and, when I pressed the assistant, she admitted that they have approximately a 7month waitlist for new referrals (if I could even GET one). I immediately reached out to the patient care coordinator of the institution, who said they would follow up with clinical director of program and managerial head to see if this (I maintain, verging on if not blatant malpractice) 'error' could be rectified... Exactly 1 week later, I just received a phone call from a 'new' case manager (the 4th one I believe) of mine from Canada Life, asking how the my appointment had gone with the 'new' Dr (I had informed the insurer that my original Dr was leaving, and also told them when I had been given the appointment with the replacement Dr, so they knew it ought to have happened recently...). I explained briefly what had happened, and said I was trying to correct it as soon as possible. ***[Brief additional background - when I told insurer that my Dr would be leaving and I would be assigned to new one so there was to be no interruption of care - they randomly said it was a 'good opportunity' to have me do an 'independent medical assessment' with one of THEIR psychiatrists, and that happened in July.] The new case manager then said that they had just received the Report from said Indep. Medical Assessment, but would not tell me what is in it because 'we don't do that - we do not disclose the results to the patient - we forward the report on to [MY] Dr and then [my] Dr will discuss it with [me]'. But then the case manager suddenly started grilling me with random questions about things like: how many hours I could type per day, could I read something on the computer and understand it and have thoughts about it, etc...". And then twice asked/ mentioned if/would I feel that I would be able to slowly return to work in September or October (to which I said NO, I do not feel ready at ALL, as I am currently in a period of increased symptom severity and lower functioning). Then the case manager ended the call somewhat suddenly, saying she would email me with her contact info, and to let her know as soon as the issue with the new Dr was resolved, and if she didn't hear from me, she would 'check in' with me in a couple of weeks. Early the next morning, I received an email from her, stating that 'in accordance with the call' we had, to please contact Canada Life ASAP with info on my new psychiatrist as soon as I have it... and then adding the line: "[a]ccording to your contract you have to be under appropriate care of a treating physician for disability benefits consideration". She absolutely did NOT make mention of that part at ALL during our phone call, and it feels very much like a threat or at least a huge flag that they want to cut off my benefits... So now I feel incredibly panicked, and believe that they plan to use this as an 'opportunity' to cut me off from my LTD benefits, because any idiot in our health system KNOWS that even if I were to go to a walk-in clinic tomorrow (my only current option) to ask for a referral to a psychiatrist, and was lucky enough tot actually GET said specialist referral, there is NO way in hell I would get in to SEE the psych within the next 1.5 weeks... And that is not even mentioning the fact that when I DID see the psych, I would essentially be walking in without ANY of my previous file/health records (which I am aware that the institution must give me a copy of my records were I to make a written formal request, however I believe they can take up to 30 days at least to do so... perhaps 60?) and asking this specialist who has NEVER assessed me and cannot confirm anything I say - "Can you sign off as being my treating physician for my LTD benefits" - it seems beyond ludicrous and the task that I have been set can only be described as Sisyphean. It appears as though the insurance company is using the fact that this new Dr is committing malpractice, and that it may take time for me to try and address this by going above his head to his bosses (or to the CPSO as the case may be), as a "perfect storm of luck" allowing Canada Life to take advantage of this unforeseeable (and wholly uncontrollable by me) circumstance, and the massive gaps/holes in the collapsing Canadian Health Care System, in order remove my LTD payments. This is causing me such severe distress, that the issues which caused me to NEED to go on LTD in the first place are being increased at least 10-fold in severity (**the anxiety portion, may be at least somewhat evidenced by the 2.5-page single spaced novel I have written in sleepless desperation at 1:15am in the morning, as seen above). Do I have any recourse when I receive the expected call/message from Canada Life saying - “We are removing your benefits because you don't have a Doctor, and/or because you said you could read a case and understand it”? Is there any way I can PREVENT the cut off before it happens (as I am living payment to payment as it is, and do not know how I will survive if I am without my benefits and need to fight it for some period…) Answer: Thanks for your message. Absolutely, if you're told that your benefits are cut off for any reason, we will do our best to help. Unfortunately, the insurer is generally correct that you have an obligation to receive medical care while on benefits, but there are always situations outside of your control that they should consider. The best way to prevent the benefits from being cut off is to ensure your insurer is aware that you are still doing all that you can to receive treatment. You can do this by documenting the attempts your making to find a new doctor and keeping the insurer informed of this, reminding them that you remain disabled and are doing all you can to find a doctor. If they give you a hard time, or you have further questions, please contact our Disability Specialist, Rebecca, at rebecca.stap@stlawyers.ca Your Comment * Your Email * Your Name * Your City Note, your name, city and email is not displayed on the website. It is used to notify you that we have approved your comment.