HISTORY of ME and CFS and insurance have been intertwined for quite some time. In 1934 an epidemic of an ME like illness broke out in the Los Angeles hospital in the US. Some 200 Doctors and Nursing staff received a settlement under their workman's compensation when they contracted the condition: (Editorial (1937) Results of Poliomyelitis among Nurses: A Study of Nurses Who Contracted Poliomyelitis in the Epidemics of 1934-1935-1936 in Los Angeles The American Journal of Nursing, 37, 620-622)
In the 1980's when the outbreaks throughout the US (and the world) began to occur, the doorway to insurance came from the need for a code for insurance companies: (DUMIT, J. (2006) Illnesses You Have to Fight to Get: Facts as Forces in Uncertain, Emergent Illnesses. Social Science and Medicine, 62, 577-90; JOHNSON, H. (2006) Osler's Web: Inside the Labyrinth of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Epidemic, Lincoln, NE, iUniverse Inc.; BEAULIEU, M. (1997) Stigma and Legitimation in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Role of Social Location. Department of Sociology. Montreal, Canada, McGill University.) Insurers have historically been sceptical of the condition becuase of its vagueness and the fact that it was hitting their most highly valued target market, causing them massive claims costs: (BEAULIEU, M. (1997) Stigma and Legitimation in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Role of Social Location. Department of Sociology. Montreal, Canada, McGill University).
TYPES OF INSURANCEThere are a variety of insurances that are at issue in ME/CFS. The relevant case law is linked below:
- Income Protection
- Loan Protection
- Total and Permanent Disability (TPD)
- Workers Compensation
- Superannuation (TPD and Total but Temporary Disability)
- Health Insurance