finley

Hi! I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for insurance. I have had a policy since 2008. When I started that policy they didn't ask a whole lot of questions. I am also in recovery and, although, I am no longer monitored as I was successfully discharged I do have marks on my license. I was suspended in 2006. Anyway, I forgot to renew my policy and when I realized what I had done I called right away. Because it was over thirty days they said I had to reapply. Now the application says "has your license ever been revoked, suspended, placed on probation..." Of course I had to say yes and was denied. I went to another company, denied. Now I not only am being denied but have to answer yes to "have you ever been denied insurance!" I have never had any other legal actions, complaints, or discipline besides what I did in my disease but that doesn't seem to matter. Now I am completely terrified. I don't know what to do. Does anyone have any ideas or know of any other insurance providers who will cover somebody who has had disciplinary action such as this against them? Thanks so much. Fin

Hi! So, I'm an RN who was discharged from the diversion program or IPN (As it's also known it seems) about a year and a half ago. I entered in originally in 2002. During that time I relapsed, was placed on probation, and then suspension. FINALLY I got it together. Worked a program, both feet it, stayed sober and got out. I went back to school two years ago and now I'm 2 semesters away from graduating from the FNP program. Part of the reason I went back is so I'd never have to touch, count, or be responsible for narcotics again. Anyway, I'm busy and I forgot to renew my nursing liability insurance. When I got it in 2008-my job requires it- they never asked me about diversion, or disciplinary action. Now they're a lot more savvy. Because I let it lapse I had to reapply. Now they ask things like "has your license ever been suspended, revoked, placed on probation, blah, blah, blah." OK maybe it doesn't say the blah parts. Anyway I had to answer and guess what? DENIED! Now on applications not only do I have to say yes to that question but I also have to say yes to "have you ever been denied for liability insurance?" Ive never had a claim, a lawsuit, an allegation except for what I did with diversion. But that wasn't stealing from patients. NO WAY! (ok, well at least they don't know that) No, I was taking control of my addiction. I was calling in my own scripts. Ugh. By the Grace of God. Really and truly Thank God I don't get what I deserve. Because if I got what I deserved I'd be...ok I've regressed. Anyway, I am grateful to my sobriety and this life I've been given. But I'm stressed and scared. What If nobody insures me and I can't practice? I feel like I've turned my life around and it just never goes away. Im so bummed and all because I was late. Please!! Does anyone know where I can get insured? Where people with a past *gasp* will still be allowed to be accepted as the professionals we are. Thanks so much!! Fin

Oh my gosh Elkpark! What state are you in? Do you have a diversion program now?

Hey Snoah! Congrats on going back to work. May I ask what state you're in? I want to know all the states that have diversion programs. I'm not sure all of them do, maybe I can post a new thread on that. Anyway, onto you. Yes, I had to enter back in after suspension and had to work with restrictions for a while. I did not tell people in interviews. I know there is the honesty in all of our affairs principle but we also didn't get sober to be doormats. Taking care of us is also important. So, I don't feel it's a lie by omission and I did not disclose my history during interviews. I would say any other reason you left your last job thats closer to the truth. Family illness. That would be you, the one with the illness. I don't know. Personal time off. Whatever. Because we are covered by the ADA. They cannot revoke an offer based on an addiction. So I always disclosed it after I got the job offer. If you have a narcotic restriction they could turn around and say we cannot honor the terms of the contract. They can tell you that and thats legal but they can't say no job because you're an addict. You telling them up front allows them to do just that and you don't know why they're not calling back. That's just my opinion. Hope it helps.

hi kasey, where are you? do they have a diversion program? 3 years seems pretty harsh for a first offense, don't they have like a treatment option? i am so sorry you are having to go through all of this! my heart really, really goes out to you. when i had my first baby i had postpartum depression, or at least that's what i thought. in hindsight it may have just been untreated alcoholism. anyway, i went back to work, told everyone i was depressed, told my midwife whom i worked with, my nurse manager, everyone. nobody cared. they really kind of shamed me for it to be honest. anyway, there came a day where i started diverting. little by little. after about 6 months i knew there was something really wrong with me. i couldn't quit and i couldn't not quit i was a mess. i didn't really know what an addict was so this hadn't crossed my mind. in my head it was like it's an action. just don't stick a damn needle in your arm. how hard can that be not to do?! yet i couldn't stop. so i quit my job thinking that would help. right before my last day they busted me in a very public manner. it was awful. despite that i didn't get sober. i went through a diversion program through the bon but wasn't serious. got caught again. then again. then again. until i finally lost my license. i felt horrible. less then horrible. i started my only cleaning business. do you know people in aa are very particular about their toilets? kidding. but i did what i had to to stay alive. support my family. i went to tons of meetings. people were great. i worked really hard. i got my license back. i got out of the diversion program. i got my dream job, then another dream job i didn't know i wanted. then i got into grad school and now i'm a semester away from graduating from an fnp program. what i'm saying is what everybody else has already said. it will get better if you want it and you work for it. for the first 4 years of sobriety i went to meetings about 5-7 times a week. years 5-6 more like 2 to 3 but still worked with my sponsor and in sponsorship groups with my sober sisters. now i'm almost 7 years sober. would i do it differently if i could? maybe. it can be a pain having a marked record but it took what it took. my husband stayed with me, poor sorry codependent he is, my kids have a sober happy and loving mom and i don't have to fight. is life all pink clouds and unicorns? absolutely not. i'm going through a really stressful time myself right now but i have the tools to deal with it without getting loaded. no matter what, sobriety has to come first. anything you put before it you will loose. i only know one way to do this and it's the 12 steps. others may have other methods they have used successfully but i haven't. there is a reason aa is the largest, fastest growing club that nobody wants to belong to. whatever it is for you, and it can't be kids, husband, or yourself it has to be first. i hope you don't mind me saying that when reading your initial post you talked a lot about "why" you drank. that the depression caused it. there is no cause. there is no why. it's the disease of addiction that's why you used. why were you depressed? maybe postpartum. maybe untreated addiction. who knows. what matters is that you fully surrender to the idea that you are an addict. it's not a bad thing. i know i'm not a bad person. nor was i. like others have said it's not a bad person trying to get good its a sick person trying to get well. it's simple but not easy. we can complicate and confuse things like crazy. use this time to get better. when the three years are up, and you are healthy believe me it will be an entirely new game, if you're sober. my old sponsor used to tell me if you're sober god or higher power will take care of you. you'll be ok. but if you're not sober all bets are off. please try not to dwell on the future. when was the last time you accurately predicted the future anyway? live today. one day at a time. if you stay sober the future will take care of itself and you'll be ok. if you don't there may not be one to worry about. please let us know how you're doing! fin