Discovery Life
Discrimination against Bipolar Disorde

I applied for Discovery Life Severe Illness and accident benefits last year. Unfortunately it has been declined on the basis that I have Bipolar Disorder with multiple admissions. I had 3 admissions between 2006-2007. One admission for 8 days in 2011 mostly due to burnout and 3 admissions for the same episode in May/June 2012 that was the result of a Discovery Health reducing my Geodon benefits by almost half and not paying for both Epitec and Topamax. Since the hospitalization Topamax was stopped. I have been stable since. I have no other co-morbidities except back problems. I hurt my back working as a student nurse in 1992. It is managed with physiotherapy. I don't have Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cholesterol, asthma etc. no other serious PMB conditions. At no point did discovery request a physical exam. A decision about my exclusion was made on the basis of my questionaire where I was very honest. I function on a very high level. I've been on stable dose Geodon for 6 years. The fact that insurance was declined is purely discrimination against mental illness. I wasn't even given accident benefits. Why not? I will take this as far as possible. Mental illness is stigmatized

Company: Discovery Life
Country: South Africa
City: Johannesburg

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