Car Accident Begats Dental Nightmare
Awaiting Insurance Approval Turns Into A Marathon Of Pain For Long Island Man
Long Island contractor Tom Gallo was plowing the snowy roads back on January 28, 2009 when he was truck by another car.
The impact "totalled" his truck and injured his dog. Tom suffered a torn rotor cuff, fractured a neck vertebrae, plus he says he cracked several teeth on impact. He woke up in the hospital, where he was put on painkillers, while doctors assessed him.
The next day he was sent home with various medications, but only then did he begin to notice the pain in his mouth, as the hospital medications began to wear off. He says five teeth were cracked in the accident and six months later he is still waiting for his insurance carrier to approve dental surgery to repair them.
After waiting several months for the torn rotor cuff to heal, he just had surgery to repair his neck injury, but for some reason his dental surgery is still on hold. Tom says he has provided everything the carrier has asked for, including x-ray images from his dentist, showing what his teeth looked like before the accident, as well as getting estimates from two different dentists on what the surgery would cost.
Even his lawyer has thrown up his hands in his attempts to get Tom's dental surgery approved.
Meanwhile Tom is in constant pain and is taking medication to deal with the pain, which is paid for by the same insurance carrier, who has yet to approve his dental surgery. He has lost 20 pounds because he is unable to eat solid foods and has had to move back home with his parents because he cannot work, due to the pain. He had to pay out of pocket for the vet bills for his injured dog and his car insurance took care of the damaged truck, but Tom's injuries remain unresolved.
We decided to call his insurance carrier, "AutoOne", but they have refused to discuss the matter with us. AutoOne Insurance, based in Melville, New York is a division of OneBeacon Insurance Group, which is headquartered in Massachusetts. This was their official statement on Tom's case:
"OneBeacon Insurance does not offer media comments regarding outstanding claims, as we consider the details to be a private matter between the company (in this case -- our AutoOne division), the claimant and their legal representative."
We will continue to follow this story until it is resolved.
You may have to take on your insurance company someday, if you're initially denied coverage for a procedure, but there are several ways to help your case.
Remember, even if you are denied the first time, you can appeal and most insurance companies give you one or two chances to appeal your case:
• Understand your policy. Review it regularly, make sure you understand what is covered and what is not. If you have questions call your insurance carrier and have them explain, especially before you schedule any kind of procedures.
• Be organized--have all your paperwork in order, take detailed notes of your interactions during the process.
• Save everything; receipts, reports, etc. Keep a detailed folder with all of your medical paperwork.
• If you still need help, contact your state's Department of Insurance (in some states known as the Department of Managed Care). Every state has different ways of assisting consumers with health insurance appeals. The Kaiser Family Foundation also provides information on each state's health care rules.
Comments: 27
Hi howard,
I just finish watching this story and I was so amazed how much this man has suffered and I really want to help. I was just wondering if he was accepting any donations to help fix his teeth i really would like to give something.
I can't believe you guys are doing a story on this convicted sex offender.. Do you have any idea the details of how the accident happened? You should ask him to show you.. lol
This man was arrested in a sting operation by the Nassau County Dept of Consumer Affairs (See Newsday 7-21-09) for being an UNLICENSED contractor. Don't you look into the backgrounds of the so-called "helpless"? Boy did he con you guys too!!!
This guy is nothing but a neighborhood menace and a punk. He's been arrested on many occasions from drugs to being a sex offender ,most recently for being an unlicensed contractor.This just shows me that your show doesn't do great or if any background checks .This is to funny LOL!!!!
Finally had opportunity to post a comment. I couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing. Oh really, he just moved back??? Wow must be his double for the past several years! C'mon the medications for pain, yeah the pain! It is unfortunate Howard, that he made a mockery of the good that you can do for deserving people. This loser is most certainly not one of those!!
Soup? Yeah I beg to differ! Released from Georgia jail over 9 years ago and has been in NY ever since. Havent you seen America's Most Wanted? Newsday? Impounded vehicle?? He has been working, Didnt anyone see the ad on the truck and the T-shirt he was wearing? He's a cracker jack handyman by day. And his teeth have been like that for more than 6 months from Not seeing a dentist and ROT from drug use! And you let him wear a t-shirt that advertised his illegal/unlicensed business on television as well as advertise his drug dealing business as well. I hope no other news channels get this information.
DONATIONS ARE NOT NECESSARY FOR THIS LOOSER!
He doesnt pay taxes and he broke his back, arm and teeth when he fell off a roofing job several years ago ask his brother. Shall i go on?
Hey Howard - did you ever google this guy? whats up with your station?
how do you know hes a sex offender?
Hey howard i've known this guy a long time ,he's nothing but a drug addicted criminal who scams people.I couldn't believe the line of B.S. he was telling you.He was most recently arrested again for being an unlicensed contractor.Check out the article in Newsday and NEWS12 story.You should check out the people you want to help a little better.This guy dosen't deserve anyones help.
I am concerned because this loser lives close to children. He is not on any registry that I could find, but that doesn't mean anything. Since this guy is obviously a con artist, ex-convict, soon-to-be convict again, I am sure he knows how to avoid the system of checks and balances. If you know he is a sex offender for sure please inform the Nassau county police. Let's protect our youth from slime like him!!
This guy is a loser! A menace to society. Anyone that knows him personally would know what I'm talking about. He has been arrested for dealing drugs to young children. Is this the kind of person you want to help? He has been on America's most wanted. I guess he likes being on TV. Please DO NOT feel sorry for this guy. He is a liar and a criminal.
Help Me Howard should really do a better job at screening these people. The insurance company got scammed by paying for his operation. His teeth are messed up from his poor hygiene and use of drugs. Help me Howard should help society by investigating him, his false claims and criminal activities.
Dear Howard: such a large radio station wpix- dont you first investigate your stories to see if they are true? If you ever saw gallo before -you would know he has rotten teeth and no teeth at all- He is the neighborhoods wise- tough guy, trouble maker and always maling trouble. Why doesnt he sell his 3 trucks- 1 motorcyce- 1 dirt bike,etc to fix his teeth? He is truly one person that knowa how to scam the system.
a concerned individual.
Don't feel sorry for this piece of garbage, he can't come out of the house and sits in the dark with blinding headaches yet he can stalk young girls as he drives around day and night with his dog. All he deserves is to go back to jail and stay there. Loser!!!
Don't feel sorry for this piece of garbage, he can't come out of the house and sits in the dark with blinding headaches yet he can stalk young girls as he drives around day and night with his dog. All he deserves is to go back to jail and stay there. Loser!!!
I dont live to far from this moron not far at all I'm actually pretty damn close when you think about it,I always see him and his mutt driving around the area.I belong to a local motorcycle club and I keep a low profile because I dont need everyone around here knowing my business ,I know where this guy lives he's a piece of crap,and one thing me and my fellow members dont like is someone riding around stalking children and harrassing the neighborhood bringing attention .Take some advive keep a low profile yourself . You already got one free pass from me and you dont even know it.
POSTED BY SOMEONE WHO CARES: Its not right to call people things they are not! T is NOT a sex offender or child mulester. He might not be perfect,but for someone to make up lies; is just as wrong;if not worst in this case. Know what your saying before you say it!!!!!!!!!
We have been friends for over 30 years and were married at one time.
I'm not sure of anything other than the facts. The man is a menace to society. He has a long criminal record, abuses the law, minipulates the law, is a major scam artist, an illegal contractor with no license, a tax evader, a want to be terrorizer and thug, a prescription (and more i'm sure) drug abuzer, a major B.S. artist, frightens children, and now a wanna be t.v. figure. It just blows my mind the levels he'll stoop to to scam companies and people out of what he wants. He hasn't just moved home he's been home since his stay in Georgia (look it up i'm sure you can figure out who he stayed with. Just think criminal). Well enough my fingers hurt and there is just so much more.
Wait a minute-"someone who cares"- first learn how to spell-it is molester, not "mulester"! Second, "he might not be perfect" is one of the biggest understatements I have ever heard!!! Boy oh boy, let me see:ex-convict, drug addict, drug dealer, unlicensed contractor and con artist? Is there anything else? So we should believe you that he is not a sex offender??
Oh yeah you say for someone to make up lies is just as wrong-oh so his entire interview was full of truth? NOT!!!
And a special thank you to redwhiteangel-at least you really do care!!!
Ok I may not be the brightest person on earth but,but"someone who cares" being anonymous means not giving any kind of detail to who you are,so by saying your this guys ex-wife might give people a clue to who you are. DUH!. And for you to even admit you were once married to him I'd say you have some serious issues yourself.Oh one more thing what is a "mulester" sounds like something having to do with farm animals.
Ok lets see, ex-convict,drug addict,drug dealer,con-artist,MAYBE a sex offener ,because not all offenders are registered,but if I had to guess I would say he is and an unlicensed contractor.Howard does your station ever do checks on these people,sounds like they don't.Seems like alot of people saw this show and know this guy for who he truely is.Keep up the good work Howard theres a mass murderer out there that needs a new shovel and some land to hide the victims, maybe you can help.
Ok lets see, ex-convict,drug addict,drug dealer,con-artist,MAYBE a sex offener ,because not all offenders are registered,but if I had to guess I would say he is and an unlicensed contractor.Howard does your station ever do checks on these people,sounds like they don't.Seems like alot of people saw this show and know this guy for who he truely is.Keep up the good work Howard theres a mass murderer out there that needs a new shovel and some land to hide the victims, maybe you can help.
Ok lets see, ex-convict,drug addict,drug dealer,con-artist,MAYBE a sex offener ,because not all offenders are registered,but if I had to guess I would say he is and an unlicensed contractor.Howard does your station ever do checks on these people,sounds like they don't.Seems like alot of people saw this show and know this guy for who he truely is.Keep up the good work Howard theres a mass murderer out there that needs a new shovel and some land to hide the victims, maybe you can help.
Oh my god, I couldn't believe what I saw when a friend told me to watch this clip. This guy is a BUM. A real piece of S*#T if you know what I mean. I think the Workmans Comp board, Nassau Consumer Affairs, the IRS, New York State Tax dept., Nassau County D.A's office, AutoOne, and anyone else I can think of needs to be contacted. This punk needs to be put down. This is just too much. Whos the first putz up top that wants to donate money, they must have a money scam idea together, another screwin by Big Tom Gallo, what an A@# H*&E.
This guy is scammin the insurance co. His mouth has been a wreck for years. I don't know whats worse, his teeth or his breathe. His breathe can bend a wrench.
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Insurance nightmare or is there more to it?