Disney is totally heartless!!!

[disneydance]

 

[Planogirl]

I'm so sorry.

Disney is really just a company like any other. They have rules and guidelines and those take over. I know it's tough to deal with though.

By the way, you might want to edit your post about where your DH works. I understand that the company is a little strange about people posting things like this.

Again, I'm very, very sorry.

 

[terri01p]

I'm also sorry for the loss of a dearly loved child, I am truely sorry. I know it's hard and the pain feels unbearable but sometimes you just get kicked and there's nothing you can do about it. Your not the only one , I too have a story but this is your time . Godspeed to you and your dh, your not alone.

 

[golfgal]

Actually, it is Disney that puts the restriction on the amt not our life insurance provider. We've spoken to them they were willing to pay the entire amt but Disney only authorized them to pay $500.00. We were never told this when we purchased the policy. They also tried not to give my husband fmla coverage, We had to go to the labor board and file a grievance just to get them to follow the law!

I know this is hard but there has to be some misunderstanding about this life insurance policy. Disney can't tell them what they can and cannot pay you for the policy. Get out your copy of the policy and read it. It will clearly spell out what the benefit is. If there is a provision for payouts for babies under a certain age then it isn't Disney that is holding up your payment and it is either the insurance law in your state or just the way the policy is written.

 

[goofyernmost]

Thank you,

I've spoken to hr and their response was that I should be grateful they paid anything at all because Ethan was less than 8 weeks. They also said it was like when you buy homeowner's insurance and don't get paid for a hurricane.

I've contacted a lawyer and also the local news media and cnn. I can't believe they can say my son deserves less of a proper burial or a marker. They pretend to be such a family oriented company, but when you are going through the worst thing you can go through as a parent, they kick you when you are down.

First off, let me say how sorry I am about your loss...it must be awful to have that happen and then have to deal with the rest.

That said, I must remark that you have made that statement more than once about how you can't understand why Disney doesn't think that your baby deserves "less of a proper burial or a marker". I am hopeful that it is your grief that is causing this lack of judgment on your part. Surely, you must know that Disney is not responsible for paying for the costs of a family members funeral or grave marker. No company that I have ever heard of provides that type of benefit.

FMLA is another misunderstood thing. All FMLA allows one to do is take the time off, without pay or retribution most of the time. A lot of people think that it is time off with pay. It is if you have that much accumulated sick time available, if not, payment is not part of the law. It isn't automatic either it must be applied for properly and with reason.

Insurance policies are insurance policies. It is standard procedure. The most critical time in a newborns life is the first six months. They don't fully insure until the risk becomes more in their favor. That's how insurance companies make their money, they cannot just give it out to those that seem needy.

I feel that you are very angry about the loss of your child and are also emotionally upset. Please get some grief counseling. It may help you through this difficult time. In the meantime, ask questions, but, please be careful to not be putting blame on others, Disney in this case, they may be just doing what is normal procedure that you were unaware of. Again, I am sorry for your loss and I hope that you will start to recover soon.

 

[mom2twinz3]

I am also sorry for your loss and that you are having this to deal with. I hope things work out somehow that you are able to get the marker. I would look into local support groups too. You will need much love and support in the coming days and months.

 

[AnnaS]

I am very sorry for your loss. I can't even imagine what you are going through.

 

[Mom2Nick]

I am very sorry for your loss but I am another one that is confused by the story. How can Disney "cancel" FMLA on you? This is an unpaid leave - did they tell your DH he had to come back to work midway through?

Also as many others have pointed out - Disney is not saying that you cannot properly bury and honor your child. That is not their responsibility, that is your responsibility and how you find a way to pay for that is not any company's responsibility.

I think you need to read the terms of your insurance policy, see what is in there about newborn babies and then go from there.

I think you have a lot of grief and anger in you which is expected under the circumstances and you're looking to direct that somwehere - which is also expected. I would look in your phonebook and call some places today that may be able to help you manage your grief and pain. Best of luck.

 

[HamTown]

I am sorry for your loss.

You are getting good information here. I don't think any insurance company insures children under 14 days without a very expensive rider, and many companies do not insure under 6 months or even a year. As coldhearted as it sounds, it is a way to keep premiums down for everyone, in the same way that some company sponsored health insurance plans don't cover maternity or prescription drugs.

There are some funeral homes that will provide no or low cost services for families who have lost infants because they know there is little insurance coverage available (and for the enormous amount of unexpected grief involved). Your pastor or social service agency may be able to give you information on if this service is available in your area.

Unless Disney is self-insured (which is a possibility), they would not have been involved at all in issuing a insurance check. That check would have come from the insuring company itself (Hewitt?) after Disney provided them with the documentation about your loss.

 

[mickeysgal]

I am so very sorry about your tragic loss.

Please have your husband check to see if Disney has any employee to employee based services (voluntEars, perhaps?). This may help bridge the gap between what the insurance company is paying and what your true costs are. Also, you may want to check with your church and the funeral home. There may be some options for you there.

 

[MosMom]

I'm VERY sorry for your loss and I totally understand your anger and frustration. If I put myself in your shoes, I would be angry too.

Unfortunately, it isn't just Disney. These policies are used across the board in big corporations. It is important to completely read the fine print which I know can make your eyes glaze over but it is a must do. The insurance company IS the one making the payment and their representative may be trying to pass the buck onto Disney by saying they only wanted to pay $500.

I think posts #69 and #70 were helpful and kind and you should focus on the advice given in them.

Again, I'm VERY VERY sorry for the loss of your sweet baby.

I wanted to add that you will get through this. This is a bump on the long road of life and you will never forget this but you will get through it. Be sad, be mad, scream, punch (preferably not your husband ), and let it out.

 

[manning]

Newflash, Disney is a business, and are in the business of making money....PERIOD!

As onslow would say:

"nice"

 

[rie'smom]

I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[C.Ann]

I am very, very sorry for your loss..

When people are grief stricken it's very common to become angry over everything and anything.. I understand your need to vent - hopefully others will as well..

 

[connorlevismom]

First I want to say that I am sorry for you loss.

That being said, some things are just not adding up. You said that you had a $5000.00 policy and paid "every" premium on it. Well, if your son passed before he was only 8 weeks old, you would have only paid one premium, correct? Not trying to be rude but your acting like you have been paying for years on something and that is simply not the truth. It is hard to get to the bottom of things and help you when things are being over-exaggerated.

As for being denied FMLA, I would like to know exactly what they said to you and the process you went through to get FMLA. You cannot be denied FMLA, it is the law. Here is the only exception from the website:

Q: Are there other circumstances in which my employer can deny me FMLA leave or reinstatement to my job?

In addition to denying reinstatement in certain circumstances to "key" employees, employers are not required to continue FMLA benefits or reinstate employees who would have been laid off or otherwise had their employment terminated had they continued to work during the FMLA leave period as, for example, due to a general layoff.

Employees who give unequivocal notice that they do not intend to return to work lose their entitlement to FMLA leave.

Employees who are unable to return to work and have exhausted their 12 weeks of FMLA leave in the designated "12 month period" no longer have FMLA protections of leave or job restoration

Under certain circumstances, employers who advise employees experiencing a serious health condition that they will require a medical certificate of fitness for duty to return to work may deny reinstatement to an employee who fails to provide the certification, or may delay reinstatement until the certification is submitted.

Do any of these apply to you? Because if not, you cannot be denied and as big a company that Disney is, I think they would know the rules on that.

Also, you have been asked several times if you have read the insurance policy and I have not seen you answer that. You have to read your policy and find out the terms. Like a lot of people have said, that seems to be the standard thing for children less than 6 months.

Again, I am really sorry for you loss and I know this probably sounds really heart-less. But something is just not adding up here and sounds kind of strange.

Kristine

 

[connorlevismom]

Thank you,

I've spoken to hr and their response was that I should be grateful they paid anything at all because Ethan was less than 8 weeks. They also said it was like when you buy homeowner's insurance and don't get paid for a hurricane.

I've contacted a lawyer and also the local news media and cnn. I can't believe they can say my son deserves less of a proper burial or a marker. They pretend to be such a family oriented company, but when you are going through the worst thing you can go through as a parent, they kick you when you are down.

I am trying really hard not to be harsh because of the subject matter. But I have a really hard time believing that someone who works in HR would say something like that. They may have explained to you what the policy was for a child less than 8 weeks old, but I just cannot believe they told you that you should be grateful that they paid anything.

Kristine

 

[lulu71]

I am trying really hard not to be harsh because of the subject matter.

Maybe you could try a little bit harder. The woman just lost her child. Not cool.

OP, I'm very sorry about your loss. Vent away.

 

[teacups]

I am very, very sorry for your loss..

When people are grief stricken it's very common to become angry over everything and anything.. I understand your need to vent - hopefully others will as well..

 

[Praying Colonel]

I know this is hard but there has to be some misunderstanding about this life insurance policy. Disney can't tell them what they can and cannot pay you for the policy. Get out your copy of the policy and read it. It will clearly spell out what the benefit is. If there is a provision for payouts for babies under a certain age then it isn't Disney that is holding up your payment and it is either the insurance law in your state or just the way the policy is written.

My guess is that when the insurer rep said "Disney puts the limit on the amount," they meant something like "Disney contracted with our company to provide this type and amount of coverage, so that's what the policy provides." No one wants to give bad news in this type of situation.

OP, I'm so sorry for your loss. I'll pray for you and your family.

 

[MELSMICE]