Action Alert: May 6, 2011
Thanks for taking action! HB 3017 successfully passed the House on May 9th. Keep your eye out for more Action Alerts!
Ask your Representative to Support HB 3017!
Dear fellow MS activists,
My name is David Rankin and, like you, my wife and I are Texas MS Activists.
I’m writing today to ask you to contact your legislator and request their support for HB 3017, legislation that will guarantee that your insurance policy will be there when you need it.
HB 3017 will prohibit insurance companies from using discretionary clauses. These clauses give insurers the power to decide who gets benefits and who doesn’t. They have been called “deceptive, inequitable, and misleading.”
You can help us stop this harmful practice.
Deborah and I know first hand how damaging discretionary clauses can be. In 2006, I had to take long-term disability due to my MS. I was forced to leave my job and now I can no longer work. After 6 months, my long-term disability was cut off. Although my neurologist specified that I was not able to work, my insurance company rejected my claim because of a discretionary clause. They based this decision on the evaluation of a Rhode Island physician whom I’d never met!
This unexpected development turned our life upside-down. My wife and I had to spend all of our savings and retirement accounts to hire a lawyer. It took months of legal action before the long-term disability was allowed again. We don't want this to happen to any other Texas family living with MS or any other chronic illness.
Please ask your Representative to support HB 3017! Help ensure that discretionary clauses can never hurt another family.
CLICK HERE TO SEND AN EMAIL NOW.
Sincerely,
David and Deborah Rankin