UnumProvident Insurance Company

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Select an insurance Auto and Home Auto Home Life Health Long Term Care Are you currently insured? Yes No Enter ZIP UnumProvident • Consumer Complaints • Reader Comments News: • UnumProvident Agrees to "Sweeping Reforms" • In Settlement with NY, Unum Agrees to Review Denied Disability Claims • Unum Class Action Filed • $31 Million Jury Verdict • Georgia Fines Unum $1 Million

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.

Jim of South Portland, ME November 10, 2009

I have been paying into my health ins plan for 7 years.It was established by my partner, who was an Unum employee. He passed away 7 years ago. Never was a problem until about July of 08. I was hospitalized and missed a payment. Since that time things have never been the same. I would mail my payment, it never cleared my account. I would call and be told I was going to be terminated. My credit union however had the numbers of Confirmation. Where was my check, no one knew. This process has continued until today. I called the Resource Center, spoke with Elina, who was very gracious, and it seems my November check is missing and I am about to receive a Notice of Non Coverage due to lack of payment. How does a company the size of Unum, use a benefit company like Hewitt.Where are my checks that are stamped as being received, yet I have my coverage discontinued.Something is very wrong here.

Anthony of Nesconset, NY November 6, 2009

I work as an RN and had to go out on disability August 17th 2009. The reason was "substance abuse" which originated from a prescription anxiety medication I was prescribed Klonopin which is very addictive, and was on this medication approximately three years. In addition I was prescribed several other addictive sleep medications such as Ambien, and Lunesta and Fiorcet for my Migraine Headaches.

After I had to leave work I went right in to Rehab and saw all the appropriate doctors. I promptly applied for Disability under the Auspices of the rehab Physician. After close to a month I recieved my first denial notice which stated "substance/drug abuse is not covered unless prescribed by a physician". This was their first stall attempt. The medication was prescribed. However I decided to play along.

I wrote them a long letter describing the situation. In addition I provided the full year of pharmacy printouts which showed the ambien, klonopin, lunesta, and fiorocet. In addition my primary doctor wrote a letter stating he prescribed the ambien and lunesta and my Psychiatrist wrote a small note stating that he had prescribed the Klonopin for generalized anxiety.

I sent this package via certified mail October 13th with hight hopes and received my second declination on November 5th. This time their reason was completely outrageous and I know they are just trying to waste my time. They state "The diagnosis provided by my physician is generalized anxiety disorder and is excluded from the policy" The fact that I had Anxiety and was being treated with Klonopin in the past should have nothing to do with the fact that I was now claiming substance abuse as disability which they DO cover. I am not disabled from anxiety. In fact Sice being in Rehab since August I have not been on any medication what so ever.

I do not think they can change my whole disability claim to "anxiety" because my doctor wrote I was being treated for anxiety in the past on a prescription pad. I filled out all the legal appropriate forms and had the rehab doctor sign the disability forms stating substance abuse was my disability. NY state paid my disability.

I have some meager sick time left from my Job but it is not enough to support my family. And it irritates me that through this all first Unum is still being paid every pay period and and not paying me on my claim. Now they say they want my full private medical records and I am not sure if I should give that to them. they already have enough information.

I cannot return to work until the middle of December. My sick time and benefit time from my job will end in November 2009. As a result I will not be able to pay any of my bills in December. My mortgage alone is 2200 not to mention oil,electric,car payments and then it is the holiday season. I am entitled to 2700 a month from first Unum which I have been paying 60 a month for years just in case something like this happens.

M of Morrow, OH October 13, 2009

I applid for disability benefits October 2009. On the form I specifically stated contact me by mail ONLY. Oct 12, 2009 5 pm I get a call from Lorraine P.-C. - can she talk to me? I ask her what part of contact only by mail doesn't she get? She states she saw that but won't I "give her a chance?" I tell her I am happy to answer their questions by mail. She asks me do I have an attorney. I ask her do I need one - that I am full well prepared to get one. She answers "no, no..." and then asks me AGAIN if I won't speak with her.

I tell her AGAIN to send her questions by email. I had to tell her this three to five times. I expect from trouble and intend to do online reporting all the way through this on their behavior. Rage - this incident set off a rage reaction within me. I called her boss - a Jim A. - Director IDI (Individual Disability Income) Benfits and left him a really nasty rage-a-gram. They wouldn't give me his direct dial or I'd pass it along too.

Rose of Frenchburg, KY October 12, 2009

I was injured in a motor vehicle accident 10-25-01 and received disability benefits through the insurance company for several months. The benefits were denied/discontinued in 2002 or 2003 based upon my being able to return to work. This was incorrect as my doctors refused to release me to return to work at any jobs. I have been continuously receiving disabled Social Security income since 4-1-02. I didn't know anything about the class action suit until I found the information on the internet while looking for something else. PLEASE let me know if I still have time to file something with the company in order to obtain the benefits that were rightfully mine!

Mary of Atlanta, GA October 4, 2009

Have not received one cent in years. They have reduced the awarded payment of 1961.10 by 1208 for Social Security (I am 100% disabled), 604 for family SS even though my children have aged out (18+) and they have been told this, and the remaining 149.10 for an alleged "overpayment reduction," apparently in perpetuity. I get a "check" each month for 0.

Veronica of Spring Mills, PA September 30, 2009

I just called Unum to request that my file be reviewed. A representative said that my claim had been elligable for review back in 2006 but because they never got a form back from me, it can no longer be reviewed. I don't remember receiving this form from them. The gentleman told me that I had sent in other forms. I would not have started a process and then not finished it through. They had turned me down for disability back in early 2000. I often wondered how they could find me "not elligable" but our government said I was. I've been collecting SSD for several years now. I have been diagnosed with Chronic Post Phlebitic Syndrome. At the time I was first diagnosed, my job was to sit at a desk and answer a phone. I am no longer able to sit or stand for long periods of time. In 2006 I got another blood clot that broke free from my leg and lodged in my lung. It almost killed me. I had almost forgotten about Unum until I saw a television advertisement the other day. That's what prompted me to call. I realize it's been a long time. If in fact I was wrongfully denied in 2000, I am still wrongfully denied in 2009. Right is right. Money is money. In this economy, who couldn't use a hand?

Debbie of Lowell, WI September 16, 2009

I received a call the other day from Unum, telling me that they no longer would pay me my disability. They told me that they paid someone to follow me and that they took pictures of me bending to pick up my purse, and then they followed me to a Culver's and filmed me sliding out of a booth there. I have had 3 surgerys on my back, one on my neck, titanium plate. I have COPD that I have to do my nebulizer 4 times a day, and also arthritis in my hips. I am not able to stand for more than 10 to 15 min. without horrible pain. These people must have parked near my home and waited for me. My aunt and uncle picked me up to go to the Historical Society, so they had to have followed us to a town 20 miles away. I have not been able to work for almost 3 years now, I have no medical insurance as I lost my job due to illness. For the past year I have been passing out several times a week and can not see a doctor to find out the problem.

James of Cowiche, WA September 10, 2009

Lost vision in my right from a detached retina, May, 2006. Filed for partial disabilty claim. After much time they finally paid for some partial diasabilty. We never able to deteremine how they based their payment. They then decided I was no longer diasabled and stopped payments. I was never contacted prior to this, no follow-up exam, nothing.

I continued to try to work, finally in January of 2009 I was forced to leave my job. They have now spend the last 9 months trying to get them to make a detemination with no luck. I have statements from both my eye dr. and medical dr. that my sight was to bad to continue to do the type of work I do. I have spent the last 23 years in telecommunications business, A very high end technical field. My poor sight made it impossible for me to do an accurate job. My entire company is now on the verge of bankrupcy because of the delays.

My New York Life agent has done nothing to assist me with this situation. I was left out in the cold. I guess they figured after a while I would just go away. It probably will work, backrupcy has a way of taking everything away from you. In addition my wife ( partner in our company) will also lose her job. This will ruin our great credit, standing in he community We live in. I have been home for 9 months now. I do not drive, and rely on someone to take me.

carol of Upland, CA August 25, 2009

I have been on long term disabilty for over 2 years for Back Injuries,Fibromyalgia, Arthiritis, Osteothiritis and several other medical conditions. Unum has has decided that I do not have Fibromyalgia and that my conditions are not bad enough that I can't work. There Doctors know better than my Doctors. I have asked them to be examined by one of their Doctors, but they obviously agree by looking at my file they know how much pain and suffering I am feeling.I worked for my company for over 15 years and and voluntarily paid out of each paycheck for added Disability benefits. After several mergers and years I am still considered on a leave of absence. How bizarre is this. The Company has been Satisfied with my Doctors but not Unum. They were satisfied to take my premiums for 14 years and qualified to say I can lift 20 lbs or more when my Doctors do not agree.

Dorothy of Alcoa, TN July 19, 2009

After reading the complaints against UNUM, I realize I am not alone. UNUM has consistently made me grovel for disability benefits. As of May 10, 2009 I was denied benefits and was given a reduced disability payment. To add insult to injury, I found this out by accident. I was checking my checking account and I contacted UNUM - Mr P informed me that he was off the previous week and would get the letter to me or had mailed it. I requested a fax and he did that. I am disabled and have chronic pain in my body from a fall and (l) hip replacement. I have contacted several sources: Congressman John Duncan, Senator Bob Corker and Senator Lamar Alexander (whom I have not heard from) about this issue. My appeal letter says I can file a law suit if I want to. UNUM seems to have convinced the TN Insurance Investigator they have done everthing needed for this claim. NEEDLESS to say, I differ, but I have to live with it I suppose.

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