Request Legal Help Now - Free

Advertisement
LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION

Unum Health Insurance Still Bullies and Harasses

. By
Raleigh, NCIt’s been more than a decade since Unum, or First Unum was ordered by the Department of Labor to resolve its bad faith insurance practices. Judging from the number of policyholder complaints, however, it appears that Unum’s mandate is profits by way of denying benefits.

Not only does LawyersandSettlements receive hundreds of complaints a year, the Consumer Affairs website gives Unum its lowest rating (1 out of 5), based on 51 ratings out of 204 reviews. Lisa from Maryland says that she was denied long-term disability even though she injured her back - she is unable to sit for any length of time - and has chronic pain. Unum uses all kinds of tactics to deny. “[Unum] knew that my short-term disability was concluding in the beginning of September yet waited until the end of September to even begin requesting information from my physicians,” Lisa wrote to Consumer Affairs. “They are saying that I am capable of sitting in a chair all day at work when I am not capable of doing that and I will be fired for not being able to keep up with productivity.”

Dylan of North Carolina was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2002 and began collecting long-term disability from Unum. Last month, he told LawyersandSettlements that Unum’s independent medical examiners said he was no longer disabled! “Since 2002, my case has been closed twice by Unum unjustly. I’ve been harassed, in fear and threatened,” Dylan said in an email. “I am currently about to be homeless and will lose everything I own because of their medical review, denial and the closing of my case. I am stressed out, have anxiety, and MS exacerbations because of this.”

Across the country in Oregon, Sharon says that Unum is bullying her to go back to work, even though her doctor says that fibromyalgia has rendered her disabled. “I took my 12 weeks of medical leave from work and then I received a few long-term disability payments from Unum,” Sharon says. Now Unum has cut her off and if she doesn’t win her appeal, her electricity will be cut off.
“I can’t pay any bills and I can’t go back to work. I don't know what to do.”


Unum has consistently denied fibromyalgia claims, but there is hope for Unum policyholders diagnosed with the disease.

The law firm Kantor & Kantor won a lawsuit against Unum from an order filed in January 2013. Their client, a Los Angeles resident, was suffering from fibromyalgia and avascular necrosis (bone death believed to be a result of leukemia treatment) and began to collect LTD in 2009. But Unum decided to terminate her benefits after just one year, determining that she could work in a sedentary job. The woman appealed, to no avail. Next, she sought legal assistance. A lawsuit was filed against Unum in federal court because her claim was governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The suit claimed that Unum’s termination of her disability benefits was unlawful because she was too weak and in too much pain to tolerate the prolonged sitting or typing needed to continue working. The judge agreed. (The case is Mondolo v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of Amer., C- 11-07435 CAS.)

With its record of bad faith practices, no wonder Unum is a Fortune 500 company and the largest group and individual disability carrier in the United States.

READ ABOUT UNUM LAWSUITS

Unum Legal Help

If you or a loved one have suffered losses in this case, please click the link below and your complaint will be sent to an insurance lawyer who may evaluate your Unum claim at no cost or obligation.

READER COMMENTS

Posted by

on
My son Roy E Titchenell jr had a massive heart attack had 3 heart stints put in. went back to work left work went back to hospital had another stint put in. Paid his child support with unum check he received.Understood he would have to pay unum back. was awarded over $30,000 from s.s. sent that to unum. was awarded around 280 per month only receiived 1 check then was told he still owes $10.000.00 TO UNUM HIS exwife received 14,000.00 from his s.s. and spent that when she was told she had to repay unum this. money.How is he responsable for that money. I taked to him he had tear,s rolling down his face this morning and very stressed because unum said he needed to set up a payment plan. He called s,s. and they said unum could take all of his check. how is is this possible. iam afraid he is going to have another heart attack..He can not afford a lawyer . someone help please

Posted by

on
My wife draws permanent disability from a policy she had with UNUM. They have harassed her and violated our privacy on countless occasions over the last 15 years. They have private investigators follow us, take pictures of us, open our mail, etc. I have found evidence that they have been on my property and have tampered with my vehicles. I'm just waiting until I have enough hard evidence and then I'm going to burn them to the ground.

Posted by

on
I have the same problem terry. I was stupid to think kindred my employer was helping me..lol

Posted by

on
I have been on LTD for 5 years, again this year UNUM has sent me a Blank Authorization that as far as I'm concerned is a blatantly violation of my privacy rights. What is UNUM legally entitled to request from me?
Thanks,
Matthew

Posted by

on
Unum can only ask for the exact amount of SS back pay. It's basically a straight across because you only agreed to pay the back pay, nothing else. I gave them the back pay and then they stopped paying me after 8 years. Unum actually used bits and pieces of the award document to make their case sound real. They just reworded their decision with flat out lies! Since they aren't held accountable to any law or judge, they can do what they want for any reason. Then you have to appeal which goes to Unum for judgment! WHAT A SCAM! You know the outcome before you even try to appeal. Denied! So I'm in Federal Court starting the 28th against Unum. My lawyer has taken them to the Supreme Court and won. Good luck

Posted by

on
I have been drawing LTD from Unum since 2013. I recently was awarded SS disability. Now Unum sends me a bill for all the money they paid me which adds up to more than SS back pay. I too have been harassed as well as my doctors. When asking them for the policy they started giving the run around. I had to request the policy in writing. I did notice in the policy that they had back dated some things. I am not a lawyer so I didn't understand any of it.

ADD YOUR COMMENT ON THIS STORY

Please read our comment guidelines before posting.


Note: Your name will be published with your comment.


Your email will only be used if a response is needed.

Are you the defendant or a subject matter expert on this topic with an opposing viewpoint? We'd love to hear your comments here as well, or if you'd like to contact us for an interview please submit your details here.


Click to learn more about LawyersandSettlements.com

Request Legal Help Now! - Free