Smiling on Facebook costs Canadian her insurance

[THUNDERDUCK]

MONTREAL (AFP) – Facebook can be a double-edged sword, a Canadian woman learned when an insurance company cut her health benefits, claiming she was healthy after seeing pictures of her smiling in bikini at the beach.

Nathalie Blanchard, 29, took long-term sick leave from her job at IBM in Bromont, Quebec, more than a year ago for severe depression. She was receiving monthly benefits from her insurance company, Manulife.

When Blanchard called Manulife to inquire why the payments dried up, the insurance company said that "I'm available to work, because of Facebook," she told CBC television.

She said that Manulife cited several pictures Blanchard had posted on her social networking website page, including some showing her enjoying herself during a male strip-tease show at a Chippendales bar, celebrating her birthday and bathing in the sun.

Based on these postings, the firm claimed Blanchard was no longer depressed.

Manulife declined to comment on the incident but said in a statement that "we would not deny or terminate a valid claim solely based on information published on websites such as Facebook."

But the company did recognize that it uses such information to learn more about their clients.

[kuro808]

well the woman is to blame no matter what, it was like a hidden camera so she should have known that if she was able to work and not under a doctor's care (which i assume she wasn't).  But although i feel remorse, but unfortunately she should have not posted the pic(s)

[~Dan~]

Some interesting extra bits of information in this one...

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/16/20091121/ttc-insurers-using-facebook-to-investiga-6315470.html

The woman, Nathalie Blanchard, said she cannot understand how Manulife was able to access her account because she had adjusted her privacy settings so that only friends could see her posts, said CBC News.

She claims she was having fun on her doctors advice in order to forget her problems.

[Asmodai]

Well, if you're able to have fun on your doctor's advice, that is a sign that you're able to function well enough to work.

#2 - never trust your friends. People are vicious if they think someone is getting something for free.

[JFC]

The woman, Nathalie Blanchard, said she cannot understand how Manulife was able to access her account because she had adjusted her privacy settings so that only friends could see her posts, said CBC News.

#3 - NOTHING that is posted on the internet is "private".

[Asmodai]

The woman, Nathalie Blanchard, said she cannot understand how Manulife was able to access her account because she had adjusted her privacy settings so that only friends could see her posts, said CBC News.

#3 - NOTHING that is posted on the internet is "private".

Hello JFC! You have a friend request from "Manulife Insurance Corporation, Inc." Accept: Yes/No

[JFC]

^
My point exactly.  

* JFC clicks "No"