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A class action suit charges that Unum systematically denies disability claims. The complaints we receive do nothing to dispel that notion. For a particularly outrageous chain of events, see Judy's Story.
Joseph of Skokie, IL May 20, 2009
I qualified and received my long term disablity payments from Unum for 2 years. My policy from Safeway/ Dominicks said that at age 65 I was elgible for 3 years of payments. Mr. C sent me a letter dated July 14 2008 stating that as of January 1. 2006, my policy was amended to two years. My disablity date was February 7, 2006. We went back and forth and got no where. I talked to a lady at Safeway;her name is Marikay S.She said that the policy had not changed since January 1, 2003. She sent me a copy of the policy.
It stated that Safeway and myself were to be notified of any policy changes.I had a lawyer send Unium a letter with my conserns. They told him the same as they were telling me. I am not sure when but Marikay S did a complete turn around. She said that Unum did not change their policy and that Safeway dropped Unum because of unsatisfactory performance. Later, she said that they did make the change. After that, I gave up. I lost a year of payments equalling 24,000. kathleen of buffalo, NY May 6, 2009
unum has systemically held up payment of my std claims by repeatly stating doctor has not sent requested information. on several occasions I have witnessed the doctors office faxing over all information. unum has unfairly closed my claim. I am not able to continue to pay my bills with no income from myself. They trying to force my back to work when physcially I am not able. Katherine of Wurtsboro, NY April 6, 2009
I am a full-time employee working part time and have been approved by Unum for long term disability. Some days I am able to work, other days are not as good, but my employer has agreed to allow me to work 4.5 hrs per day and I received disability for the remaining 3.5 hours. Every month I would fax my paychecks to Unum and based on the amount of hours that I was disabled they would send me a monthly payment. There are 2 months of the year that I did not receive payment from Unum because I received 3 paychecks from my employer and that put me over the amount I was allowed to earn.
That was all fine until November 2008. At that point I reached 24 months, never earning more than 50% of my total earnings from my employer. Unum then states to me that after 24 months they are doing a new calculation and they base it my projected earnings for this year. I requested a copy of my employers contract and it clearly states If your disability earnings fluctuate, Unum may average your disability earnings over the most recent 3 months to determine if your claim should continue. The contract goes on to state they will not terminate your benefits unless Beyond 24 months of disability payments, the average of your disability earnings from the last 3 months exceeds the gross disability payment.
My gross disabiltiy payment is 1673.26 per month, and my average earnings over Nov, Dec and January were: 1,577.37 which is clearly below. I have requested an appeal, only to have it denied. Unum states they can calculate my income on a common basis and are projecting that I will make over the limit. This is totally untrue since I have not worked nor will be able to work over 4.5 hours because of my medical condition. I am not being denied disability due to my documented illness, but simply because Unum has decided to calculate my income in a way that is not conducive to the policy.
I have gone to my Human Resources regarding this issue to no avail since they no longer use Unum as their disability carrier which is why I believe they are denying my benefits. There are 2 months out of the year that I do receive 3 paychecks so for those 2 months I have not received benefits from Unum because I was over the allowed monthly income amount. I don't have a problem with that. You simply cannot talk to anyone there regarding this issue. I was told to file for Social Security disability if I did not like the decision. I am trying to do the right thing by working as many hours as I can, and feel as though I am being punished for it. I would appreciate any advice. Thank you :) Pamela M Guzek of Laporte, IN March 12, 2009
I purchased std through my company to off set my companyies benefits. I went on dis.SEPT.26-08. It took four weeks to recieve any benefits and then i was contacted that they over payed me so they stopped my payments when time came to start paying me again they have done every thing they can to not pay me. I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy and hypothyroidism the doctor has sent them all of the paper work, everything they have asked for. they keep putting me off Ihave been with out benefits since DEC.29-08
IT IS NOW MARCH 12TH THEY ARE RUINING ME FINANCIALLY. I PAY FOR THIS BENEFIT OUT OF MY OWN POCKET SO THAT I DONT GET INTO A SITUATION LIKE THIS. What is my legal right? where can i get help. We have had to get into our pension just to stay afloat. THIS has got to stop. this insurance company should be held responsible for ruining peoples lives by not paying beneifits owed. HEAR WE GO AGAIN THE LITTLE GUY GETS [HURT] AND THEIR IS NO ONE TO TURN TOO
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP UNHEALTHY STRESS
Sandra of Memphis, TN February 22, 2009
I work for Snucks grocery in Memphis Tn. I took out insurance thru the Company witch provied Unum Providince. I had surgery done to my hand on Oct. 2c. 2008 and have been out of work since that time. Unum sent me 600 dollars as a first payment in jan 2009. Since that time I have recieved nothing else from the except a denial due to not recieving my claim from my doctor. This is not true since I have contacted my Doctor on several occasions and they have verified that indeed that the claims were sent promptly at each request to satisfy Unum claim that they had not recieved my paperwork.
In addition I have also sent the claim by Certified mail next day mail just in case the were to keep denyng that they are not recieving my claim.I need my money for this since I don't have any other income and cannot work due to thye type of surgery I had done to my hand.
This contant use of paperwork denial by Umum has brought me under extreem durest and now I am facing losing all I have worked so hard for all my life. I cannot pay my bills and or take care of basic needs such as food clothing etc.
Jane of Peachtree City, GA February 19, 2009
I purchased Long Term Disability Insurance with Unum Co. through my employer in 2004. Since I became disabled from work in 2006,I have two issues with Unum not honoring my benefits that I am entitled to receive under my policy. First, Unum abruptly stopped paying my benefits on August 12, 2008. Unum sent me a letter that they stopped paying my benefits because their internal doctor who never has seen me or evaluated me, overturned my treating doctors medical restrictions. Unum advised my treating doctors restrictions were too extreme, and I could in fact return to my previous job.
In fact, although I was diagnosed with multiple herniated discs in my back, and had a broken tailbone, and had sustained nerve damage and muscle damage from performing my sitting and driving job duties while my tailbone was broken (but as yet undiagnosed) - Unum determined I could sit and drive for extended hours on my previous job. However, the company fired me for the doctors restrictions, and refused to allow me to work until my restrictions were lifted.
My second issue with Unum is that once I obtained a copy of my file with Unum, it came to light that they had been paying me a lower benefit amount than stipulated in my policy the entire time they were paying me. The underpayment was based on Unum using three different incorrect disability dates - rather than the date my company's H.R. dept shows that I first missed work due to illness. Part of the problem developed from a wrong date that my doctor initially put on one of my forms. However, the doctor later corrected the date, and Unum refused to pay me the correct benefit amount. The difference of the underpayment so far is approximately five thousand dollars. (5000)
The consequences I have suffered from Unum not paying me the money they owe me, is that I have had to use my savings and credit to pay bills and expenses and medical expenses. In November, 2008, my funds completely ran out. I cannot afford medical treatment or medicines now. My stress level is very high because I have not had money to eat, put gas in my car, or pay my bills. My credit was in very good standing previously. Now, I have missed a credit card payment for two months straight. It is totally unfair to be placed in this position - while I am sick. It is an abomination that a company that is supposed to be helping disabled people, would take advantage of them in this way. I am the victim of bad faith practices on the part of Unum.
Kevin of Indianapolis, IN February 17, 2009
I took out a long term disability policy with Unum in 1999. I became disabled in July of 2008. My disability consist of cervical and lubar injuries which were not job related. After several delays by Unum to make a decission on my claim by requiring more information, they decided to approved my claim under Reservation of Rights due to Social Security granting me disability. I received four payments from Unum.
On February 10, 2009 I received a letter from Unum stating they were disconuing my disablity due to their decission. Their decission was based on them claiming under their policy, I was not disabiled. I find it very hard to believe Unum's policy is more strict then Social Security. Unum has practiced this type of tactic on several policy holders. They have also be sued before for these tactics.
Ricky of Frankfort, KY January 14, 2009
Had open heart surgery Oct, 2007, drew std money until March 2008, but had another heart surgery in Feb, 2008, was told in late March of 2008, i was eligible for ltd, which was supposed to start april 6, 2008. my personal physician of 18 years and my cardiologistboth have deemed me disabled, i will be 51 in april. unum would not allow my ltd to even start.
after reconsiderating my claim, they denied it. In the process, many other complications has popped up because of the heart problems .I should be on 12 medications, i'm getting by on 4 by samples doctors are giving me since i no longer have NO INSURANCE, MEDICAL OR LIFE, NO PENSION OR RETIREMENT BECAUSE OF UNUM. MY FORMER EMPLOYER WHICH I WILL NOT NAME, WAS MORE THAN GLAD TO SEND ME A LETTER EXPLAINING TO ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE BENEFITS SINCE I WAS ON UNPAID LEAVE WHICH IS A POLITICALLY CORRECT WAY OF TELLING YOU YOU'RE FIRED!
Since unum denied my benefits, i had a 2007 car repossed, had utilities cut off 4 or 5 times in 10 months, owe doctors several dollars, and i have stretched my family to the limit, they are not wealthy. I obtained a lawyer in August, she told me she has never ever dealt with a company like UNUM. It takes months for her just to get basic info from unum about me.
Oh yes a side note, i had been employeed by my former employer since 1988, had the premium deducted from my check weekly! Unum did not miss a beat deducting it for 17 or 18 years. It seems to me there should be some way to stop unum from doing these things. I'm not giving up, i want UNUM to know i'm in it for the long haul, and i applied for ss in late 2007, denied twice so far, but i'm in that for the long haul to!
Doug of Decatur, IL January 2, 2009
In 2003 I broke my right ankle severely at first i was on std and had no problems recieving these payments then went into longterm dissability and had no problems recieving benefits. over the next year i had several sugeries on my ankle recieved staph infection in my ankle and all kinds of problems. after on year Unum advised I needed to aply sor social security disablility i did and with no problems recieved social securiy disablility benefits. the unim rep working with me at the time told me that when i recieved my check from social security to pay off as many bills as possible because I would not be able to have to much money in my bank acount and advised me my monthly payment would decrease from what I was getting to 344 a month because of my social security payment i understoodall of theis.
the check came it was almost 17000 i paid of my truck i paid off hospital bills etc two months later i recieved a bill from unum for this amount in full with in 30 days. i called they asked my reps name who had told me to pay off bills with the money they said that was there money. I called social security they said they had never heard such a thing that was insurance like life ins you can have as much as you want as many policies as you want to pay for. so i called unum back asked to speak to the rep who had told me this she was no longer my rep no longer with the company and they would no longer be paying my monthy payment to me. they would be keeping it to pay themselves back for the over payment since i was stupid and paid off hospital bills with my social security check.
since this time I went through 15 surgeries and ended up haveing my leg amputated and finding out I am hiv poz. I am so depressed all the time and now because i am learning to walk with a prosthesis and have been released from my orthopedic because it is out of his hands. now unum is bugging and bugging and bugging me and needing this and that form filled out. I told the gentleman i am diealing with now look i just went through my three year evaluation with social security and they I still deem me disabled what more do you need. my unum policy is as long as i am deemed disabled they have to pay me to age 65. I am 33 this is a very long time to be harassed and put through there stress.
I am depressed because of all i went and go through on a daily basis losing my leg and finding out hiv poz told by my doctors to keep my stress level nill but have constant harrassment from unum.. I think that it is [bad] because a unum employee told me wrong. i have lost on income for the last four years to repay unum. i at least hope they continue my disability until they are paid off in may. then as far as i am concerned the games can begin. they can terminate pay. i will appeal and appeal untill i die!
Susan of Phoenix, AZ December 30, 2008
My husband was denied for LTD. He had a staph infection on his toe and had to have it amputated. When he went ouut on short-term disability due to an ulcer that had developed on his rt foot (which resulted in an additional amputation).He had underwent a kidney transplant and I was the donor when he worked in 2000. The transplant was due to some antibiotic so when he rec'sd the perfectly matched kidney he did not need dialysis and returned to work within a month.
Of course we were denied October 06 an for pre-existing condition (diabetes age 7) and we were forced to move to Phoenix where my parents lived and he was diagnosed with kidney failure because he could not afford his meds. If it had not been for our families he would not be alive. He has been on dialysis and undergoing chemo treatment so hopefully he will find a kidney soon. They destroyed a God-given miracle and bow that the Court of Appeals in NY has revoked the pre-existing blanket they refuse to pay us.
Chapter7 Kidney failure
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