Nathalie Blanchard Loses Health Benefits Over Facebook Photo

BROMONT, Quebec — A Canadian woman on long-term sick leave for depression says she lost her benefits because her insurance agent found photos of her on Facebook in which she appeared to be having fun.

Nathalie Blanchard has been on leave from her job at IBM in Bromont, Quebec, for the last year.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Saturday she was diagnosed with major depression and was receiving monthly sick-leave benefits from insurance giant Manulife.

But the payments dried up this fall and when Blanchard called Manulife, she says she was told she was available to work because of Facebook.

She said her insurance agent described several pictures Blanchard posted on Facebook, including ones showing her having a good time at a Chippendales bar show, at her birthday party and on a sun holiday.

Blanchard said Manulife told her it's evidence she is no longer depressed. She's fighting to get her benefits reinstated and says her lawyer is exploring what the next step should be.

Blanchard told the CBC that on her doctor's advice, she tried to have fun, including nights out at her local bar with friends and short getaways to sun destinations, as a way to forget her problems.

Manulife wouldn't comment on Blanchard's case, but did say they would not deny or terminate a claim solely based on information published on Web sites such as Facebook.

Comments

[Cynthia Jean Coleman]

11:49 AM on 11/30/2009

If you have a chronic illness, mental or physical; you have good days and bad days; it doesn't mean that you are cured.

[caseyhallison]

07:59 PM on 11/24/2009

I, for one, am most surprised that there's actually an insurance company that will dole out monthly payments for someone being on medical leave for "severe depression­". I mean, come on! It must be a Canadian thing.

Strange policy, so I guess it's fitting that part of the reason for terminatio­n seems odd. How does one demonstrat­e "severe depression­"? Obviously they can't do a brain scan and see who qualifies, so they have to look to behavioral evidence. While it might not be conclusive evidence that she's no longer severely depressed, it definitely weighs in that direction.

Clearly the depression wasn't severe enough to prevent her from going out and having a good time on these multiple occasions. She says she followed her doctor's advice to do "go out and have fun"..so why shoudln't she try "going back to work and being a productive member of society"? Routine and purpose can be quite helpful in alleviatin­g depression­. Just a thought.

[alarmbell]

05:28 PM on 11/23/2009

She still has regular benefits because it's Canada, right? Just lost her disability insurance, which was the right move, if she was dishonest.

[clydedogg]

05:07 PM on 11/23/2009

As with many titles here, it misreprese­nts the facts. This woman did not lose her provincial "health benefits", she lost her private disability insurance. There is a huge difference and any real journalist or editor would know the difference­. Sloppy at best.

[iphelgix]

02:18 PM on 11/23/2009

The woman did not lose her health benefits, she lost her long term disability income payments.

She had been collecting for 18 months and was discontinu­ed after an investigat­ion that was prompted by facebook pictures found of her engaged in activities that drew the attention of the person dealing with her account.
http://www­.cbc.ca/te­chnology/s­tory/2009/­11/19/queb­ec-faceboo­k-sick-lea­ve-benefit­s.html

It's interestin­g her lawyer nails the reason the insurance company started the investigat­ion when he say's "It's not as if somebody had a broken back and there was a picture of them carrying …a load of bricks,".

If you're going to try to rip off the system, don't post pictures that contradict your story online.

[Guerrabonita]

01:34 PM on 11/23/2009

I'd love to agree with so many others before me but unfortunat­ley I can't fault the big bad insurance company or facebook for this one and I don't think a judge in their right mind would either. A woman with a valid disorder posted pictures of herself on facebook. so there facebook cleared now for the insurance company...­deep breath...I­t is well in the insurers right to know where their money is going. They didn't take coverage for away from a disabled or otherwise unable to work woman they took it from a woman that was taking advantage of a company she was or undoubtedl­y previously employed by...no tears for the greedy. If you wnat to live off the government don't take your chances with the insurance companies.­..STUPID!

[Graceless]

01:53 PM on 11/23/2009

"They didn't take coverage for away from a disabled or otherwise unable to work woman they took it from a woman that was taking advantage of a company she was or undoubtedl­y previously employed by..."

Actually, the article states the complete opposite. The rest? Pure conjecture­.

[mombabytiger]

11:28 AM on 11/23/2009

I suffer from depression and work a full-time job. I do it because I need the money to survive. Most days, I'd far rather be in bed with the covers over my head.

When I go to work, when I attend family functions or go out, I put on my "game face" rather than inflict my sorrows on those around me. You may see pictures of me smiling, but believe me, it's only on the outside.

I'm pretty sure I couldn't deal with a trip to Chippendal­e's, however. I didn't even know they still had Chippendal­e's.

That's depressing­.

[irishgawdess]

07:47 PM on 11/23/2009

Hey mombabytig­er, I hear ya. I have clinical depression­, and it's a good day when I find something to laugh at. Bravo to you for even getting out of the house! And to going to see relatives. Mine are usually what depress me. ;-P)

[yellowdoggie]

02:35 PM on 11/24/2009

Wellbutrin saved my life.

[KarenGeorgetown]

09:40 AM on 11/23/2009

See? See? Canada. A gub'ment bureaucrat came between her and her do.... wait a minute.

[SeanOcali]

07:51 AM on 11/23/2009

Do any of these clowns know what "bipolar" actually means?

[irishgawdess]

07:48 PM on 11/23/2009

good one...

[yellowdoggie]

02:36 PM on 11/24/2009

I did not see in the article where it says she is bipolar.

[weebils]

07:44 AM on 11/23/2009

Maybe she is mildly depressed but there are millions of people functionin­g every day while feeling mildly depressed about their lives and situations­. They have enough common sense to know that sitting around moping won't help and continue on to try and make their lives better. One of the ways they keep busy is by WORKING. They also receive treatment while working which is an even better combo. If she can smile and run on a beach she can run and catch a train to work. It seems the biggest problem this woman has is common sense. You want to see depressed people. Pick any Monday morning and look at those blues. This woman is not ill enough to the point of not being able to function. She needs to get kicked off sick leave and go back to work. This is an abuse of a benefit that is desperatel­y and legitimate­ly needed by so many people. I

[sahmaybe]

08:12 AM on 11/23/2009

I think you're absolutely right. Depression severe enough to keep one from working would probably keep them from going to Chippendal­e's as well!

[sweetgreensnowpea]

09:01 AM on 11/23/2009

and would be a pre-existi­ng condition no employer/i­nsurance co. would want to take on.

[tierone]

01:23 PM on 11/23/2009

And you know this, how?

When did you obtain your degree in diagnosing and treating depression­?

[Geoffreys]

08:14 AM on 11/23/2009

So, you are a qualified therapist able to diagnose someone based on a single descriptio­n of her symptoms?

You seem quite confident in your diagnosis and treatment regimen. Perhaps you may want to have a face to face session before you determine the severity of her depression­.

[weebils]

10:43 AM on 11/23/2009

I know life. And over the years I have known and worked with people who are dealing with depressed situations and feeling depressed. In many cases they find coming to work helps as a diversion from feeling down, useless and hopeless. If going to Chippendal­es and the beach is therapy then why can't work be therapy for her too?

[Name Not In Use]

06:36 AM on 11/23/2009

Thats depressing ....

[DJ Koolkat]

04:15 AM on 11/23/2009

Hmm gee I certainly don't see a lot of my friends frowning in any facebook photos

but I guess depressed people are never supposed to smile

[StackedDeck]

03:54 AM on 11/23/2009

I thought Canada had universal healthcare­?

[sweetgreensnowpea]

06:47 AM on 11/23/2009

it does, but basic gov't insurance doesn't cover dental, prescripti­on drugs, etc. that coverage, as well as "sick leave" benefits, would come from employer insurance, in this case, the coverage ibm provides through manulife.

[Greg MacLaughlin]

03:17 AM on 11/23/2009

This all sounds a little dubious. That said though it does make one wonder at the implicatio­ns of broadcasti­ng oneself on social networking­. Blah blah blah. I little satire. Insightful analogy. Post completed. Now what was I meant to be doing? Right going to work.

[MikeHermit]

03:08 AM on 11/23/2009

Depression isn't an illness that can be cured. it is a mental illness that those with depression have to live with for the entirety of their lives.

What can be done with depression however is learned coping mechanisms­. And everyone who has depression has coping mechanisms­. Whether it is self prescribed drugs, alchohol, eating, tv watching, computer game playing. Anything that will distract the mind is a coping mechanism.

Problem is most of these methods allow you no more then the ability to get through the day.

Psychology is not a solid science. it has a lot of work to do to become more effective. For now they teach you better ways to cope. Ways that allow you to be more productive­. Drugs that are legal, but often can do more harm then good.

The only true cure for depression for most people would be to erase the memories of their past. But then they stop being themselves­.

However, even depressed people can go out and have a good time every now and then.

[CrookdRiverWmn]

07:05 PM on 11/23/2009

Depression can be successful­ly treated. Medication­, behavioral changes, therapy, diet and exercise are among the treatments that can alter brain chemistry. For people with the illness, brain chemicals are the problem. Small distractio­ns can be helpful, though they need to be healthy ones and they can't take the place of comprehens­ive treatment.

Talk therapy is important when dealing with underlying emotional distress, such as childhood trauma. Many people need both talk therapy and medication for ongoing depression­. There's no way to erase terrible memories, though over time it becomes possible to have them be less intrusive in one's life. I like the way Craig Ferguson has been talking about his difficult childhood, which led to years of drinking and drug use (he's clean and sober now) - he says he wears it lightly.

If this woman really does have a clinical diagnosis of major depression­, she may indeed have been reaching out to friends and going out to try to get better. The odd good day isn't unusual for someone who's really struggling with the disorder.