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Has anyone done this? My fiance is a Marine veteran, aged 53. We were just declined for life insurance, got a letter from the company stating they are declining to insure him because his VA records have a diagnoses of alcohol dependence. This is not accurate. My fiance went through a very rough divorce and has alimony (divorce was way before me) and was depressed and angry for a long time back then. He told a VA psychologist at the time that he was drinking a lot, and that was true then. But he was never an alcoholic.
He doesn't drink a lot now, a couple beers on the weekend or social drinking with his buddies. That was just a time when he was going through a lot and having trouble coping (which is why he requested talking to a psychologist in the first place). We were shocked when we got the letter, and then printed out and read his records. We had no idea the psychologist had actually given him a diagnoses of alcohol dependence that is now going to follow him around forever.
Has anyone ever tried to dispute information on their VA records? We don't even know where to start.
1. Have your veteran contact the Patient Advocate at your local VA treatment facility. Explain the issue.
2. Discuss with his primary care provider.
It will be difficult to change a subjective clinical assessment--right or wrong, the psych provider is recording their observations and making a diagnosis based on their training based on the interaction with the patient at the time. The only thing that might work is to have a qualified medical opinion that refutes the "alcohol dependency" diagnosis by stating the use of alcohol was acute to the events in his life at the time and no longer an issue.
Insurance is unforgiving. I doubt it will change much. Sorry.
During that period in his life, did you and he know each other? If not, there may be more to the events and thinking the VA record is wrong may be the actual false assumption. However, as mentioned above, start with an independent review of all the medical records.
1. Have your veteran contact the Patient Advocate at your local VA treatment facility. Explain the issue.
2. Discuss with his primary care provider.
It will be difficult to change a subjective clinical assessment--right or wrong, the psych provider is recording their observations and making a diagnosis based on their training based on the interaction with the patient at the time. The only thing that might work is to have a qualified medical opinion that refutes the "alcohol dependency" diagnosis by stating the use of alcohol was acute to the events in his life at the time and no longer an issue.
Insurance is unforgiving. I doubt it will change much. Sorry.
This is a correct answer. Removing information from medical records is almost impossible, because doctors can use their opinions for diagnoses like this one.
1. Have your veteran contact the Patient Advocate at your local VA treatment facility. Explain the issue.
2. Discuss with his primary care provider.
It will be difficult to change a subjective clinical assessment--right or wrong, the psych provider is recording their observations and making a diagnosis based on their training based on the interaction with the patient at the time. The only thing that might work is to have a qualified medical opinion that refutes the "alcohol dependency" diagnosis by stating the use of alcohol was acute to the events in his life at the time and no longer an issue.
Insurance is unforgiving. I doubt it will change much. Sorry.
I know, I’m just hoping for the best. Another insurance company that our agent applied to for us actually came out and did the exam last week. So I’m assuming they read the records before that, so maybe they’re OK with it. I don’t know we’ll have to wait and see what happens when the exam results come back. I wasn’t aware of patient advocate, thanks for that information!
HEPA laws and everything. Release of information signed documents.
Go to the VA and obtain a copy of all medical records and start there.
Go visit the Patients Advocate office.
Then get a different life insurance company.
We do have his medical records. I was able to print them out from my health-e vet. It was 36 pages though, and we neglected to read them until we got that letter. He did sign a release of records form, but he was surprised that mental health records would be in there he thought that would be more confidential. It actually had conversations they had in them.
. I wasn’t aware of patient advocate, thanks for that information!
Every hospital that I have been in both civilian and VA have a Patients Advocate office. Maybe real small private hospitals don't have one.
But even with the small private hospitals - just visit or call the Directors office. All hospitals will have an administrative director and a medical director.
But the bottom line. Probably a good idea not to sign any release of information to anyone without some real serious thought to the implications.
Seems like all entities want your credit report and your medical records. Too much information going to people that don't need it.
I know a guy that got frostbite while serving in the Korean War. Honorably discharged. His widow has been trying to straighten out benefits for a dozen years (with a lawyer and sworn statement from his CO) and VA will not even acknowledge he ever served. Good luck sorting a medical record.
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