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Kay of Kansas City KS (06/05/06)
I had Hartford long term disability paid to me for 36 months for my degenerative disc and joint disease which I am also on Social Security Disability (not SSI). Anyhow, I go to the doctor who is also one of the doctor's used by our state's workman's comp and Social Security to determine eligibility as well as my primary care physician. Both, plus a surgeon said that I would progressively get worse and was unable to sit for longer than 8 minutes and could not stand at all for very long. I am on narcotic pain meds and have to rest during the day. Hartford paid me for my disability and according to them after my 36 months of payment my condition miraculously improved so I coould return to work. However, they had my doctor's statements as early as March of this year and paid me after that for several months. Then, when my 36 months was up, I became able to return to work. I would love to go back to work, but everyone says I'm a liability. I even tried to get health insurance and was told by several major insurance companies that I'm a liability and unable to be insured by them. I just don't understand when my employer told Hartford that they would not allow me to work on narcotics and they allowed me to get my disability payments, how all of a sudden now I'm able to work. It does not make any sense to me.
I can't afford an attorney to fight them and after reading other peoples complaints I don't think it would do much good. I still get my Social Security but it is putting a financial bind on my family and we will probably lose everything that I worked for when I was working because of this. Kathy of Cincinnati, OH May 18, 2006
Kathy of Cincinnati OH (05/18/06)
In 1999 I received short term disability benefits from Hartford. In October 1999 my Long Term Disability Benefits started. I received a letter in December 2000 stating my benefits were terminated as of November 2000 because I misrepresented my claim. Hartford performed a couple of surveillances and seen me go to a doctors appointment they scheduled me for and to the grocery store on the same day. They said I was capable of doing more than I reported.
On my application for long term disability benefits I did report that I went to doctors appts and to the grocery store, I have two children. After the first surveillance of two days Hartford had me on video moving my vehicle which was for about 10 seconds. On the second surveillance, which lasted three days Hartford did not get me on video the first or the third day. The only day they videoed me was the days they scheduled a functional capacity evaluation. Hartford also reported me to the Ohio Department of Insurance for Fraud.
I represented myself and filed a claim in Federal Court against Hartford. I won the first case. Hartford then appealled the court decision and I also won the appeal. Financially Hartford has ruined me, my home was in Foreclosure, my children were without electric and we have all suffered tremendously. But I am not through yet. ERISA law needs to be changed and I intend to do that. Kenneth of Palm Coast, FL May 17, 2006
Kenneth of Palm Coast FL (05/17/06)
I was recently denied my long term disabilty claim from THE HARTFORD after paying them through WALMART for over three years. What am I paying for Long Term Disability Insurance in my paycheck when they automatically deny a worker when he is in need of this benefit and have a chart of denial guideline to deny me my entitlement of my benefit?
This is called making money off of an associate between Walmart and Hartford Insurance Company and not providing this quote great Benefit. Plus they say this is a Walmart policy. In February I started getting huge blisters on my feet and ended up in the ER to have them taken care of. I am a diabetic but have never had any problems with my feet or legs. My doctors told me I could go back to work in a week but that I was to take a break every two hours and elevate them, which should not have been a problem as an assistant manager I have plenty of paper work to do and therefore this would not have to be considered a break.
The general store manager had no problem with that, he appeared to be glad to have me back (BTW, I have used only 1 sick day in 10 years ); however, as soon as he would leave the co-manager would not allow me to do this. The minute I sat down she would MAKE me go do something else. Within 2 weeks I could hardly walk and the pain was so bad I ended up at a neurologist. At first, he'd thought I would be able to get back to my job within 6 weeks but as of now he has me out until September which will make 7 months. I have had physical therapy, seen the podiatrist, bought home medical equipment and done everything that they have all told me do. Hartford denied the claim, saying that neuropothy was a pre existing condition because everyone who has diabetes will eventually get neuropathy in their feet. When I questioned them about the information provided to them and by what doctors, they had my sleep study doctor down as saying that he had seen me for the diabetes.
Thank goodness for my wife's health insurance though her employer. I have been on hers ever since she was able to pick it up. My salary continuance ends in 2 paychecks. I don't know if I can file for unemployment with the doctor's restrictions. I have not been idle while out on leave, but finished completing my paralegal degree that I have been working on, along with taking advantage of free computor courses offered through our local work force. I'll never be able to go back to a stand up job, the nerve damage is so severe that if I am on them for more than 10-15 minutes I have to find a place to sit down. I don't want to be out of work, I am only 43 but I do need to get over this hurdle without falling through the cracks. Samantha of Indianapolis, IN April 17, 2006
Samantha of Indianapolis IN (04/17/06)
I have short-term disability insurance through my work. My employer chose The Hartford Group to take care of short-term disability claims. I was scheduled for a spinal cord stimulation implant surgery to remedy chest wall pain that I have suffered with for two years. The Hartford Group requested that I call the last day I work before my surgery to start the claim, March 13. (It would be too easy for them to start working on the claim before the surgery....) I called and was told that the work would be started on my claim. About seven days after this call, I received a letter from The Hartford Group. They agreed to pay for one day off, March 21. The days off from March 14-March 20 would come out of my paid time off as an elimation period... Wow, how generous!
I was orginally to be out of work from March 14, returning to work on March 20. Unfortunately, due to complications from surgery, I did not return to work until March 28. The doctor did not release me to go back to work until this date. When I called Hartford to indicate that I would be returning to work the next day, March 28, I was told if I had time to call the doctor's office to get my doctor's visits office notes. I was told it was not necessary (just some extra assistance from the patient side) as the claims administrator would ensure all necessary paperwork for the additional time off would be collected to process these extra days.
I am scheduled for the same type of surgery tomorrow, April 18, to correct some problems that resulted from the first surgery. The Hartford Group refuses to re-open my claim. They stated they never received the attending physician statement or the office visits notes from the first surgery. I told the customer service rep. that I was told the claims admin. would take care of that. Now I am being told that this was my responsibility to take care of. What is Hartford getting paid for???? This is their job to do!
I am now going to have to spend the time off that I have after this second surgery on the phone all day playing the telephone game with my doctor's office and Hartford. So much for recovery time! Hartford Group is pathetic! They are paid for a service that they do not deliver on. In fact, the customer service rep. told me an analogy about when you have a car accident, it is your responsibility to take care of all the paperwork and calls to get a claim paid. I corrected her and stated that , 'Yes, that is true if you have a lazy insurance company!' Anytime I have had to file anything for my car, my insurance rep. takes care of everything. He has even told me several times when I thank him for the awesome service, 'Mam, that is my job.' I wish Hartford would get the hint!
I am going to raise a big 'stink' with my employer when I return from leave again about Hartford and their pathetic service! My employer always bosts about what awesome benefits they have. If they want to stand by this, they will drop Hartford as their short-term disability carrier.
The time off from March 22-March 27 is being paid from my accrued paid time off that is really meant for vacation time. The time off for my second surgery will come out of my paid time off as well. (Which I am running out of... guess no vacation for me this year!)Hartford should honor the extra time off from the first surgery and all the time off from the second surgery. This is a legitimate claim. I should not have to do the claims administrators job for them to get the claim processed. They are being paid for this service. It is unacceptable to insist that the patient do all the work for them! Who knows.. they say that it takes longer to heal when you are stressed... I may have to be off longer than expected after this second surgery, because of the stress that Hartford is putting me through. India of Fort Wayne, IN March 10, 2006
India of Fort Wayne IN (03/10/06)
The Hartford Paid for a Functional Capacity Evaluation April 28, 2005 after my physician refused to complete the Attending Physician Statement form. She repeatedly said she did not take me off work. Dr. Joseph Fortin and Social Security disability stopped me from working, however, Dr. Fortin ask me not to return since the bill was not paid.None of the doctors I have seen wiill complete the form.
The Hartford resumed paymentin May 2005 after stopping it for a year.They sent a partial payment in January 2006, then stopped payment again.Iam unable to pay mortgage and utilities without this check. the frustration causes my neck and bacj to hurt more.
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