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I'm convinced it is a prerequisite to be a cold hearted, mean, evil person to work here!
I got injured at work the beginning of Jan. 2011. I submitted a claim through our workers comp, who UNFORTUNATELY happens to be Gallagher Bassett. The first person I dealt with was wonderful, extremely helpful (too bad I havent heard from her since!) After a couple of weeks my Dr. decided that I was not allowed to use my rt. arm at all because of my injury. My boss told me that they wouldn't really be able to accomodate this and my hours would be cut, so I called gallagher bassett to see what my options were. The woman I spoke to on the phone said I had two options. Call Aetna (who is my works disability provider) and place a short term disability claim with them, or I could speak to an indemnity claims person at gallagher bassett. I spoke to my boss, and she said to call Aetna to see what they said. After speak to them for a while Aetna placed a S-T Disability Claim and told me to go home. After a couple of days my boss got a call from an indemnity claim person from gallagher bassett who then went on to tell my boss I shouldn't be on disability, that I was wrongfully on disability and I needed to go back to work (needless to say my boss wasn't happy). I spoke to this woman myself to find out what her deal was and she said that it is a workers comp claim, not a disability claim and I had NO RIGHT to be on disability (um, excuse me...i'm in excrutiating pain, hopped up on pain meds, going to phys therapy multiple times a week, can't use my right arm and you are telling ME that I have no right!?) My doctor worked with Aetna and got my disability approved. In the meantime this extremely cold hearted snake from G.B. took it upon herself to call my doctor, physical therapist, and continued to call my boss and tell all of them I had to be at work. She then took to calling me approx. 6 times a day telling me I was going to lose my job, I was wrongfully on disability, and I wasn't going to get paid. After threatening me for days on end I went to my doctor and practically BEGGED for them to let me go back to work, even part time which they reluctantly did. I'm now working part time, still in pain unable to take meds to help because im working and possibly facing surgery because going back to work has made it worse! But it's ok...at least gallagher bassett are happy, right? Good thing I have a friend that is a workers comp attorney...it's safe to say they will be hearing from them!
![Insurance Corporation of British Columbia [ICBC]](/images/business/48-48/132260/insurance-corporation-of-british-columbia-icbc.xx%26oh%3D80e1946af5a5c9f8624ee238400bc788%26oe%3D5dfb2107){kind=small}
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia [ICBC]
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If you were injured during the job, which you apparently were as you submitted the claim to the Workers Comp carrier, then it should be a Workers Compensation claim and you should not be on STD. Gallagher Bassett is just following state guidelines as Workers Comp should be billed as primary for the injury, though they seem a bit aggressive with their follow-up. Finally, WC carriers don't care if you get an attorney because it means they don't have to deal with you directly anymore. And your settlement at the end of the day, will be based on the state calculations relative to your permanent impairment as given by the doctor, minus the 20% in attorney fees of course. For a WC claim like this, getting an attorney just costs you money and prolongs the settlement process. It is important to keep working based on your doctors orders, and for Gallagher to compensate you according to state guidelines for the difference if you do not work a full work-week @ a rate of 2/3 of your average weekly wage. Good luck with your claim.
Gawd I hope my claim for medical is not so painful with this insurance company. I have been filing for SSDI and SSD and my WCAB case was a lifetime medical that GB now holds the responsibility on. If GB decides to call my employer good luck, there is none. My doctors will also tell any rep from this company to go jump in the lake. One of the doctors that checked my injury also stated in writing that the WC insurance company is responsible for the medical the coverage to be repaired. I will not be getting any cash settlement because my claim is strictly just a medical remaining which is lifetime. My experience with WC injuries is...SAVE every bit of documentation you get from your injury and save it for life. My records had to be sent back to the WCAB just so they could rebuild the case and be on record. Well, I am going to jump into the boiling pot shortly and I am just imagining what run around BS I will be getting from this WC insurance company on why I am not being covered. If they do say no to me, my other route is to add it to my SSD & SSDI claim and have the government start telling them they have to pay for my medical to have my additional injuries corrected. It would be wise for them to just cooperate when I contact them because I don't think they will get much of a choice if the federal government starts wanting repayment for SSD that would not happen if GB did what they are responsible to do for me. I don't have my hopes up, but I also will not let them BS me with their " We know the laws and you don't attitude".
Anyways, good luck in your case and just never give up. File complaint s as you did here and don't forget BBB and Consumer affairs and [redacted]s. Give names and everything for your complaint in the public view. No one likes bad news documented on them and posted for the world to see. Be a thorn and stay sharp.
I have just experienced the same thing. I am trying to go to the doctor and need a case number and they are asking me questions that do not even apply to my injury. I think they need to start with trying to get people help first and then if they want to get caught up in something they have no idea about . The person I spoke to ask me if I returned keys to the office? What does that have to do with anything? and yes I did the very next day after I said enough. I had fallen a week prior and did not have probelms until now. This person was rude and I found myself defending myself! I have NOTHING to hide and have worked in an enviroment that no one should ever have to work in. My own boss agrees with me and before I quit told me thank you that I have put up with so much and they are sorry. The fall was the last straw. I have worked very hard for the company to have the nonsense Management talking about people to their employees.
These people need to get down to business and not the RUMOR business either. They have no idea what people go through but, most of all that is not about my injury! This just shows me that they really dont care about the injury. Well, maybe if the lawyers get called they will. You are SO right! VERY UNPROFESSIONAL!
I fell in 2000 and broke both my elbows. Gallagher Bassett has tried to stop me from receiving care so many times. I handle my own case and have been WCAB hearing twelve times last year ...Gallagher Bassett has had three attornies on the case. You can try labor code 5814 intentional delay . The WCAB has an information and assistance window that can help you. If you go to a hearing the judge will help you out with your case, that's if you are not already represented. This has helped me cope with the BS that Gallagher Bassett puts me through. They pay their high priced attorney to show up at these hearing at the rate of 300.oo an hour, and lose. Their attorney will call me up the week of the hearing and try to make a crappy deal. I always turn them down and make them sweat in front of the judge. brianjones196932@yahoo.com
Well; I have something to say about GB. Oh AT first they seemed so nice and eager to help until they found out that I had obtained legal advice. The checks started to come slower and slower. Its dance by their music or sit down in a chair. They treat you as if you set out to hurt yourself @ work so you can get paid 66/23 less than what you are accustomed to bringing home. They will return phone calls and treat you 'inhuman'. WHAT A PITIFUL COMPANY...