And / Or

[free_spirit_etc]

This isn't really an issue with the VA -- at least not at this time - but could be for others..

What is your interpretation of the use of and/or.

If someone says you must do this and / or that...

Are thay saying either or both?

My concern is I don't want to do this.

But if I do that --they will focus on the AND (i.e. we said both)

But if I object to them trying to do this --they will focus on the OR (i.e. we said this OR that..we didn't try to MAKE you do this..)

Free

[Ricky]

Free - to me it means either. You can do either both or just one and it meets the standard required.

[Jay Johnson]

And/or can mean "in addition to" or "in the place of". So, baseball, basketball and/or football would mean any combination of those 3 or any single one alone. It's supposed to be a flexible phrase, but I can see your point how the VA could abuse it (I've seen it done with PTSD).

[JohnM]

It's like writting a check if you put Mr. AND Mrs. Both must sign if you

Put Mr. OR Mrs. either one can sign. So I would say if they write down OR than it would be either one if they write down AND they would mean both.

[JohnM]

I am sorry I should have add this in my last post. It is also a legal term when writting anything legal like a Will, Insurance ext. AND means all parties OR means either parties. The best way to understand And / Or is my example of your checking account or savings account And means BOTH Or means Either one must sign.

[free_spirit_etc]

Thanks! I have been doing some battling with an insurance company over a statement they want me to sign.

The most current letter said "if we don't receive a signed and dated statement" and / or hear from you in the next 30 days, we will close the claim.'

The authorization they want me to sing actually STATES "“ I understand that I may refuse to sign this authorization and that XXXX does not condition payment of a claim for benefits on whether or not I sign this authorization.â€

But I get the feeling they are putting me in a catch - 22 -- If I raise heck that they are trying to force me to sign a statement that SAYS I am not required to sign it - they can come back with "We said OR hear from you - we didn't try to MAKE you sign it." But if I don't sign it and they hear from me - they can say "WE said AND sign the statement."

Free

Edited June 7, 2007 by free_spirit_etc (see edit history)

[tdak]

Free,

Insurance companies are good for phrass like that. They need you to contact them within the the timeframe they stated, (but really do want you to sign the paper, but can't force you so the have to give you the option to contact them instead). I would call them, then follow up with an email or fax so you have a dated proof of a contact date. I would also ask them why they want you to sign the statement.

Good Luck,

Tamara

PS. I don't like insurance companies....I'm still fighting a bill from my surgey from 2005, for an in-patient (no co-pay) that they keep saying was an out patient doctor and wnt me to pay the balance of 109K......imagine that!!! Let me just get out my checkbook