People love to talk….and share….and exchange selfies. In the last 25 years, social media exploded to where a cell phone is a more protected personal object than a wallet. BUT, since the inception of the Internet and the World Wide Web, we’ve also known that anything posted there is seen by everyone, and it’s likely to be permanent.
Still, during that same time period many insureds became addicted to their cell phones and continued to post on so-clled social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram etc, often to the demise of their claim. Unfortunately, some insureds refuse to give up their posts on social media and continue to risk future benefit payments. I guess people are going to do what they are going to do.
Even decades ago, insurance companies were able to gain access to Facebook pages and downloaded information, i.e. photos showing insureds’ work capacity. Why anyone would post photos of themselves, as insureds, coming across the finish line in a dirt bike mountain race I’ll never know, but one of my old clients did. It wasn’t even a day before his claim was denied.
LinkedIn is a particularly risky social media for insureds to be on. Its whole purpose is to keep “feet in the door” to employability, and yes, it can be said that anyone posting there is “looking for work.”
However, I still get calls from brokers, and other sales people dependent on leads and client lists, filing for disability, hoping to “not lose” their visibility in the industry when they go back to work. Unfortunately, it is likely these insureds’ claims will be denied before they ever get back to work. Insurance companies are very aware of LinkedIn and why someone would post there. I’ve personally seen claims denied with denial mentions of having a “LinkedIn account.”
Facebook is an old social media site now, and it has been used and abused by disability insurers for a very long time. Insurers were hacking in to FB pages even when FB was guaranteeing confidentiality. In fact, years ago, my investigator was able to get into a FB page of a Unum manager who was quoted as posting, “…Insureds are like slinky’s, they aren’t worth anything, but you just love to see one fall down the stairs now and then.” At one time, I had a full list of all of the claims handlers at Unum obtained from their FB pages only.
I’m told that Aetna, in particular, uses FB page posts to cost out auto and personal insurance premiums when hazards and perils are seen in photos, and comments are negative. For example, Aetna found a photo of an insured holding up a can of Bud while sitting behind the wheel of his car, and yes, it was the car the insured was asking Aetna to insure. A federal court ruled that this type of evidence can still be used by insurers even though insureds immediately delete the photos when they find out why the insurance coverage was refused, insurers can still deny insurance. So, deleting information from social media doesn’t undo the risk, or the harm.
Posting on social media in general when you have a disability claim is a wrong decision. Insureds are placing their disability benefits in jeopardy even when I’m told, “My posts are generic, they don’t say anything.” Remember what I keep saying about “creating the illusion” of propriety. Engaging in social media is opening the door to increased risk of denial.
Do you realize that cell phones can be discoverable in a court of law? Think about what you have on your cell phone right now. Would you like your insurance company to see it?” Would your photos, texts, and emails support, or help deny your claim? It’s worth thinking about isn’t it?
I do not support insureds’ use of social media at all when they have disability claims. But, I guess people are going to do what they’re going to do.
