We need your help.
Hey folks.
Those of you who know me, either online or in real life, know that I have a dear friend named Kevin who was hurt in an accident at work, through no fault of his own. He's been working very hard over the past two years to get stronger, to cope, and now, to survive.
You see, while you would think that someone who was paralyzed due to a work related injury would have their most basic needs taken care of by the insurance that we all pay into- because that's what it's for- Kevin has been routinely ignored, denied, lied to, accused and now abandoned by workman's comp.
He was in the hospital, and in rehabilitative therapy for well over a year, mostly because he did not have a place to go after the accident. You see, he was living in an upstairs apartment with roommates- a place he had to lose because, frankly, he will never be able to get upstairs again. So he asked the insurance company to help him with an accessible apartment, or some alternative. They refused. They refused and tried to stop paying for his hospital stay. Once they realized it was either leave him in the hospital and keep paying thousands a day, or find somewhere for him to go, they offered him a deal. Stay in a nice extended day accessible hotel room, for six months. By then they should have some sort of settlement.
So he went. And waited while they denied him transportation. While they switched doctors. While they turned down prescriptions. While they denied his physical therapy. While they delayed treatment. While they switched lawyers and court dates. While he changed doctors at their demand.
While they found a doctor, who has never even seen Kevin to say that his disability level is 92%, instead of the 98% his doctor, and every other doctor that has actually examined him had told them. Because even their doctors told them he needed more care than they were willing to pay for.
And the six months? Was over a while ago.
Kevin has been, with the help of family and friends, taking every penny of his disability, and what we could scrape together to stay in the hotel a little longer. Mostly because there are no available, affordable and accessible apartments in the area we have been able to find. He needs a place that has wide enough doorways, a roll-in shower and low sinks. Nothing has come up in the time he's been there, and it's clear that he needs an alternative. He just doesn't know what.
He's spent about $10,000 out of pocket, just to stay indoors. It's become impossible for him, and we've helped as much as we can. The insurance company doesn't care that he's effectively going to be homeless- just in time for Christmas. So we got together a couple of friends and made this video.
Please- spread this around. Tell people. Boost the signal, because I cannot say it loud enough, and he cannot say it loud enough for them to listen, but if enough people do? Maybe they'll stop ignoring him. And if you know of anything that he can do, anywhere he can go? His e-mail is at the end of the video. Mail him. He's a great guy, and would appreciate just knowing people care, not to mention would sincerely appreciate any suggestions or ideas on what to do next.
There is a shorter version of this I'm posting in Facebook and linking on Twitter It's here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4neHJYY6SA Which for the purposes of spreading the word, might be better. Feel free to link to either, or this entry.
I'm going to be working on getting the word out a lot in the next few weeks- thank you for your help.
Update: We're currently working on a Paypal account for those who have asked if they can help Kevin. Edit- got it!
We're also working on a new video, thanks to a friend who made some suggestions and offered to help, so I'll be updating with that as soon as it goes up.
Edit: The best way to help Kevin is to call that number on the video and shame them into doing what's right. Donations will of course help to keep him in the hotel, but to be honest, we had to fight him to get him to take those- what he wants is for them to reimburse his out of pocket expenses so he can pay people back, and settle so he can go on with his life.
Edit: Because lots of folks have been asking- He's actually on his second attorney- and this one seems much more on the ball than the last guy. It's just that the insurance company has done everything from canceling court dates to FIRING THEIR LAWYERS to cause delays- and Kevin's running out of time.
Feel free to phone the insurance company and shame them- that's what we want more than donations, really. (although what people give does keep him in the hotel a bit longer).
Edit: Kevin wanted me to pass on his thanks for all the info and suggestions. We're working on a lot of them as we can. For those of you for whatever reason are having trouble with the video the info for Workman's Comp- American All Risk Loss Administrators in Fresno. The adjusters name is Llouise Winburn 559-277-4960 x508 Kevin can be reached at guillorykevin at hotmail dot com.
Because some people have asked, Kevin doesn't want to name the employer, because they did nothing wrong- they'd paid their workman's comp premiums and are really blameless in this situation. If that info becomes needed to talk to the insurance company, we'll make it available.
And he also wants to thank everyone for the donations. It wasn't his intention to ask, we kind of pushed it on him. But it is helping him stay in the hotel and is very appreciated. But he wanted to let everyone know, that once this is setttled with your permission, he'd like to donate the amount received to charity- he said maybe the LA mission- and he's planning on doing in in the names of those who donated.
Those of you who know me, either online or in real life, know that I have a dear friend named Kevin who was hurt in an accident at work, through no fault of his own. He's been working very hard over the past two years to get stronger, to cope, and now, to survive.
You see, while you would think that someone who was paralyzed due to a work related injury would have their most basic needs taken care of by the insurance that we all pay into- because that's what it's for- Kevin has been routinely ignored, denied, lied to, accused and now abandoned by workman's comp.
He was in the hospital, and in rehabilitative therapy for well over a year, mostly because he did not have a place to go after the accident. You see, he was living in an upstairs apartment with roommates- a place he had to lose because, frankly, he will never be able to get upstairs again. So he asked the insurance company to help him with an accessible apartment, or some alternative. They refused. They refused and tried to stop paying for his hospital stay. Once they realized it was either leave him in the hospital and keep paying thousands a day, or find somewhere for him to go, they offered him a deal. Stay in a nice extended day accessible hotel room, for six months. By then they should have some sort of settlement.
So he went. And waited while they denied him transportation. While they switched doctors. While they turned down prescriptions. While they denied his physical therapy. While they delayed treatment. While they switched lawyers and court dates. While he changed doctors at their demand.
While they found a doctor, who has never even seen Kevin to say that his disability level is 92%, instead of the 98% his doctor, and every other doctor that has actually examined him had told them. Because even their doctors told them he needed more care than they were willing to pay for.
And the six months? Was over a while ago.
Kevin has been, with the help of family and friends, taking every penny of his disability, and what we could scrape together to stay in the hotel a little longer. Mostly because there are no available, affordable and accessible apartments in the area we have been able to find. He needs a place that has wide enough doorways, a roll-in shower and low sinks. Nothing has come up in the time he's been there, and it's clear that he needs an alternative. He just doesn't know what.
He's spent about $10,000 out of pocket, just to stay indoors. It's become impossible for him, and we've helped as much as we can. The insurance company doesn't care that he's effectively going to be homeless- just in time for Christmas. So we got together a couple of friends and made this video.
Please- spread this around. Tell people. Boost the signal, because I cannot say it loud enough, and he cannot say it loud enough for them to listen, but if enough people do? Maybe they'll stop ignoring him. And if you know of anything that he can do, anywhere he can go? His e-mail is at the end of the video. Mail him. He's a great guy, and would appreciate just knowing people care, not to mention would sincerely appreciate any suggestions or ideas on what to do next.
Click to viewThere is a shorter version of this I'm posting in Facebook and linking on Twitter It's here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4neHJYY6SA Which for the purposes of spreading the word, might be better. Feel free to link to either, or this entry.
I'm going to be working on getting the word out a lot in the next few weeks- thank you for your help.
Update: We're currently working on a Paypal account for those who have asked if they can help Kevin. Edit- got it!
We're also working on a new video, thanks to a friend who made some suggestions and offered to help, so I'll be updating with that as soon as it goes up.
Edit: The best way to help Kevin is to call that number on the video and shame them into doing what's right. Donations will of course help to keep him in the hotel, but to be honest, we had to fight him to get him to take those- what he wants is for them to reimburse his out of pocket expenses so he can pay people back, and settle so he can go on with his life.
Edit: Because lots of folks have been asking- He's actually on his second attorney- and this one seems much more on the ball than the last guy. It's just that the insurance company has done everything from canceling court dates to FIRING THEIR LAWYERS to cause delays- and Kevin's running out of time.
Feel free to phone the insurance company and shame them- that's what we want more than donations, really. (although what people give does keep him in the hotel a bit longer).
Edit: Kevin wanted me to pass on his thanks for all the info and suggestions. We're working on a lot of them as we can. For those of you for whatever reason are having trouble with the video the info for Workman's Comp- American All Risk Loss Administrators in Fresno. The adjusters name is Llouise Winburn 559-277-4960 x508 Kevin can be reached at guillorykevin at hotmail dot com.
Because some people have asked, Kevin doesn't want to name the employer, because they did nothing wrong- they'd paid their workman's comp premiums and are really blameless in this situation. If that info becomes needed to talk to the insurance company, we'll make it available.
And he also wants to thank everyone for the donations. It wasn't his intention to ask, we kind of pushed it on him. But it is helping him stay in the hotel and is very appreciated. But he wanted to let everyone know, that once this is setttled with your permission, he'd like to donate the amount received to charity- he said maybe the LA mission- and he's planning on doing in in the names of those who donated.