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.

Janet of Waterford, CA January 11, 2010

My employer supplied a benefit for longterm disability from the company Unum, which is supposed to be for 40% of my salary while employed. I developed osteoarthritis in my fingers and went on disability October 2008. I was awarded permanent Social Security disability beginning July 2008. It has been a constant battle with Unum, receiving periodic calls from Marissa asking when I will be able to return to work and asking if my condition has improved. I have seen three different physicians, and they have received those records. I tell her every time that arthritis only progresses, does not get better.

I worked 40+ years using either a typewriter or a computer keyboard 8 hours a day. I can no longer do that type of work with the constant pounding on a keyboard 8 hours a day. I received a temporary approval under "Reservation of Rights" in the amount of 100.00 a month. I feel that it has come to the point of almost harassment. I have been declared disabled by Social Security and they are constantly questioning this fact. If this is an example of their longterm disability, I would give this company an "F" for customer service. I don't feel it would be worthwhile consulting an attorny for 100.00 a month.

judy of webbnille, KY January 3, 2010

on august 23/2007 i was dx with cervical cancer . I drew std from coloniai std from aug,07 through feb,14 08 i had recieved treatment of chemo and internal as well as external radiation. I returned to work in feb,08 . My company switched to unum ins which became effective dec,08 in mar 09 i became very ill i had sever abd pain subquently had to have surgery had 6in of bowel removed due to ilealus.

i filed for std unum denied me stating it was a pre-exestion cond according to their med staff. My md sugested I get a lawyer, but with no income who could afford one. I have a lot of hospital also had to let my car go bill collectors calling from 8am -10pm every day. I had good credit. now i am ruined. the ins was to pervent this from happening. my husband and i have lived on his ssr since april 09

ana of brooklyn, NY December 11, 2009

On July 15, 2009 I was in a car accident that required me to go on disability. I find it extremely hard and difficult to get disability payments for the month of September and October. UNUM claims that my doctor is not providing medical records. UNUM also claimed that I returned to work and closed my case. UNUM also wants evidence of my disability. My Disability Benefits Specialist has made more than one error in handling my case.

Dora of Laurel, MT December 1, 2009

I was diagnosed with Mono at the age of 41 in May of 2007. I was one of the lucky ones who became so sick I could hardly function. Unum allowed me 2 weeks to recover and since the waiting period was 2 weeks I received nothing and tried to go back to work. I made it less than a week and was even more sick than before. I had to fight for coverage from Unum. It took almost 6 months for the claim to be worked out and receive regular payments. In the meantime My illness became much worse and I developed chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.

Once the claim was finally allowed it was time to fight for long term disability which took another 3 months. Finally I got my regular payments. It has been 2 and 1/2 years now. I have had some improvements but nothing reliable. I may be okay for a week and then sick for a week. Any time I get a cold or flu it takes weeks to recover. I have tried everything and my doctor has been very understanding. He understands that I am not lazy nor do I enjoy not being able to work. I had a very high paying job that I enjoyed.

On Sept. 29th of 2009 Unum required that I go to an independent evaluation with Dr. Greg S in Billings Montana. He was rude and had made his decision before I walked in the door. I saw him for less than 30 minutes in which he listened to absolutely nothing I said. Based in this Dr. and his "findings" Unum has decided that I should be able to work a full time job as long as I don't lift much. He is crazy. I don't know too many employers who will hire a person who can't make it to work every day.

On November 20th 2009 I received a message on my answering machine telling me my benefits have been canceled and that I would get a letter explaining why and that I could call after I got the letter. I didn't get the letter until the 27th of November. Now I have to fight again. This has been a horrible experience. I have to respond by letter for anything but they can leave a message on my machine? I have no other source of income and don't know what I am going to do.

David of Drexel Hill, PA December 1, 2009

I was injured on the job back in 2005. I suffered a reoccurance of a Lumbar injury as well as a new Cervical injury. They denied me my claim verbally only and I never questioned it until as I see all you claims they started to as for the money from my short term back.

It wasn't until I called them last month that they sent all the paperwork from my original claim (4 inches of it) that I found out that THEIR MEDICAL ADVISOR had stated in 2006 that my CERVICAL injury was NOT preexisting! I was even told by one person at the company that I would have been approved had they realized it but were UNWILLING to pay me since I was making the claim AFTER their 180 day appeal period. This period was listed in the letter that they never sent me!

When I again reminded them that I wasn't sent it their response was they didn't get it back. It was NOT sent certified!! It was NOT sent at all, I find it VERY hard to believe that with all the mail that they send out that ONE LITTLE letter is the one that gets lost in the mail? I can't believe after reading all the current complaints about this company that they are allowed to stay in buisness! This has caused me damage to my credit, further economic damage to my finances.

Julie of Grayling, MI November 25, 2009

unum keeps stating that i have an overpayment due to them. The first time was when i got approved for social secority disability that amount was for 2100.00 About 3 mths ago i get a call again and was told that they over paid me again a year ago and are demanding another 700.00 from me now i have been awarded some more money from social security and UNUM wants this as well.

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!

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