life insurance follow-up

[Guest guest]

Hi Friends,

I wrote last week about not being able to get life insurance for my,

midly autistic, son. I didn't receive much advice on it so I went back

to the doctor that diaganosed him (University of Chicago).

FYI:

Dear Dr. Cook:

>

>We had the privilege of having you evaluate our son, , in May

>of 1996. He has progressed quite well although he still has

>communication problems. Despite this problem, he has been a pleasure >to raise

and the rewards have been wonderful.

>

>I have 2 reasons for writing today. First, we had decided to buy life

>insurance for him and our other children. AJ was completely denied

>coverage by 5 companies and the 6th said they would insure him at a

>higher premium than our other children. They are basing their decision

>on " mortality rates " of autistic people. Are you aware of such a thing?

No, unless he had seizures or severe hyperactivity.

>I know you haven't seen him in almost 3 years but is there anything you

>can send us that would help our case? Not only is he the picture of

>health, but has never been placed on any mind or behavioral altering

>drugs.

Actually, that wouldn't increase his risk of premature death. I'll send

a letter, but it's easiest to send it directly to you and for you to

forward it to the insurance co..

>The other reason I am writing is that in the report, which the school

>system lives by, it is stated in the diagnosis pertaining to Axis III

>that the link with vaccine injury is a coincidence. I would like that

>opinion stricken from his record and the amended report mailed to our

>school system and to us. We have chosen not to continue vaccinations

>with our family for many reasons, but primarily because we feel our

>initial contention of the vaccine and communication disorder are >linked.

Recent research in several disciplines is pointing to a >probable link to the

rise in autism and the DPT/MMR.

There is no credible research pointing to an increase in autism, much

less it being related to DPT/MMR, but I'll support your impression this

is the case for him and support you being able to make this decision by

you as his parents.

I'll see if I can send an amended report. At the least, I will write

that I can not be sure that the onset of his autism was not related to

the vaccine and that is a medical opinion, rather than fact, pending

further research to see if there is or is not a connection. I will add

to the letter that it is reasonable while research is proceeding for you

to decline further vaccinations for him and your other children, given

your full awareness that this may place them at risk for other

disorders. I'll send this to you so you can see if it helps before

sending it on to the school.

If you don't receive the letters by next Tue, please remind me by e-mail

because I'm more swamped than usual.

>We do not wish to place our other children in that type of danger, >especially

since vaccine reactions are immunologically mediateded, and >our children all

share common genetic potential for immune response. >We know of too many

children who have had the same reaction as AJ. We >would not be able to live

with our conscience if it happened again.

I think he was just covering his you know what...but if the school

accepts the letter, I should have my children safe from more injuries!!

Hurray!

For those of you who may want to buy life insurance for your children,

injured or not, do it as young soon as possible. We are trying to

purchase an amount that they consider to be " large " (whatever that

means...what will this be worth in 20yrs?), which can be given as

wedding/big day presents later.

Once the child is insured they cannot be deleted if they get ill later

(diabetes, leukemia, etc)...but if they have a diagnosis then you are

lucked out.

We are still fighting the insurance companies. 5 denied him completely

and the sixth gave him a B rating...an extra $400 a year! I don't think

so. My son's condition is a learning disability not a life threatening

condition. Unless they are denying every child with a learning

disability then they don't get our money.

Good luck everybody.

KimP