UNUM Insurance Denied Long Term Disability Benefits
From: Linda Ehler (whereverugothereuare@earthlink.net)
Thu Jan 20 18:40:38 2000
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