Re: UNUM Insurance Denied Long Term Disability Benefits
From: anonymous (anonymous@medispecialty.com)
Wed Jan 17 21:30:30 2001
At Thu, 20 Jan 2000, Linda Ehler wrote:
>
>Hello everyone, Has anyone had this problem before?
>My short-term disability ran out 12/28/99 with my employers insurance
>company UNUM (one of the largest. I was supposed to be transitioned
>over for long term. Of course, they had to go through the approval
>process. I have 6 diagnoses, one of which is ARD, Fibromyalgia & CFS,
>Costochondritis, IC, and major migraines. None of these ever kept me
>from working until July 2, 1999. Anyway, they just denied me benefits
>based on their criteria of "Pre-existing" (prior to March 1, 1999 and
>going back 90 days. The only thing that was pre-existing was a bleeding
>ulcer that caused the left flank pain. Much proof to this effect. My
>doctors all wrote letters regarding this etc. I am appealing. Does
>anyone know how this goes? Have you ever appealed a private long term
>disability giant like UNUM?
>
>I guess all they say is true. I read an article in the Portland Press
>Newspaper from 1996 that stated UNUM claims administrators were paid
>bonuses of $86 million to deny claims!!! I couldn't believe it until I
>saw it for myself.
>
>My sincere thanks to anyone who might have experience with this. What
>are the chances with an appeal? What is the worst is that you are left
>out in the cold. No medical ins., no money,not cured and still disabled
>and not doing well enough at all to go back to work. Our state WA only
>gives a single person (with no children) $330. month!!! Like you can
>really exist on that. Thanks again. Linda
Linda,
I have just recently started researching this myself and found some
information that may help you.
Go to http://www.lander-downs.com/ladtort.htm
This is a case that awarde punitive damages for denial of claim in
Warrington v. Great Western Life Assurance Co. and the man making
claim had the same fibromyalgia.
Go to http://www.phillipslytle.com/06-00_case_law.html
This case dealt with pre-existing cases.
I hope that this will help you and give you some hope.