Due to the downturn of America’s economy there are many claimants who are attempting to process their own claim denial appeals using information obtained from the Internet (including this Blog). Those who read my posts know I have never recommended claimants attempt to submit claim appeals on their own. Whether claimants choose to hire consultants, attorneys or other [...]
Archive for October, 2011
Claimant Appeals – NOT A Good Idea!
Posted in Appeals on October 27, 2011 | 8 Comments »
Unum Claims Handler Mentality – A Perfect Brain Washing
Posted in Unfair Practices on October 26, 2011 | 6 Comments »
Recently a former Unum specialist posted a rather contentious comment to an insured’s post indicating a highly prejudicial and biased opinion regarding what constitutes a legitimate claim and what doesn’t. Although this particular claims specialist is no longer employed by Unum, his comments crossed the line somewhere between accusation and threatening, therefore, I did not approve the comment. However, [...]
Unum Influence in the UK Continues to Wreck Havoc
Posted in In the News, Uncategorized on October 24, 2011 | 12 Comments »
Due to the extensive research of Mo Stewart, a disabled female veteran of the WRAF, Unum’s influence and involvement with the government in the UK, namely the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) and Atos Healthcare (AH) are finally being exposed for what it is. Unum Life Insurance, UnumProvident and now Unum Group has long [...]
Fourth Quarter End Of The Year Results
Posted in In the News on October 23, 2011 | 1 Comment »
This is just a quick reminder November is the second month in the fourth quarter for insurer financial reporting results. There is enough time to request IMEs, field rep visits, surveillance, and updates on medical information etc. in order to prepare denials for year-end profitability reporting. Generally, there are accelerated requests from insurers for all of the above. [...]
Living In Fear Series – Cooperation Is A One Way Trip
Posted in Living in Fear on October 23, 2011 | 3 Comments »
The success of Lindanee’s Blog again brings to light issues surrounding how claimants and insureds react to disability insurers when it becomes clear disability claims are likely to be “risk managed” and denied unfairly. A recent caller told me, “I just cooperate with Unum and hope for the best even though I am made to [...]
Unum Pays DCS, Inc. Client and Overturns Denial on Appeal
Posted in Insurer Kudos on October 19, 2011 | 5 Comments »
DCS, Inc. received word yesterday Unum Group overturned a denial on appeal and paid a claim for our client worth $2,100,000+ in financial reserves. As is our custom, we publicly recognize insurers who “do the right thing” when it is clear disability has been supported (even Unum Group). However, the success of overturning the Individual [...]
Unum’s Policy Provisions In Disability Claims – Closing Loopholes
Posted in Policy Reviews on October 17, 2011 | 1 Comment »
As a former Unum trained contract specialist I frequently audit disability policies underwritten by all major disability insurers and explain the provisions to those who need to know. Recently, I had the opportunity of reviewing two Unum policies. One was a conversion “Certificate” policy and the other was an IDI policy containing newly written provision additions which, [...]
Unum’s CBA (Central Benefits Administration)
Posted in Claims Process on October 15, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
In the past Unum Life Insurance included a department called the Central Benefits Administration or CBA for short. The immediate goal of this department was to utilize Unum’s best and most qualified claims handlers to ”risk manage” claims already awarded SSDI, and claims paid for a long time. In fact, all claims awarded SSDI from all Unum locations at [...]
Met Life – Another “Bad Egg?”
Posted in Claim Watch, Unfair Practices on October 12, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Information recently sent to DCS, Inc. indicates Met Life may be second only to Unum Group in its egregious claims practices. Although I haven’t yet put together all of the court cases provided to me, it appears Met Life is in fact doing business in ways which are extremely unfair to insureds and claimants. In [...]
The Truth About Disability Insurance- Editorial by Linda Nee
Posted in Living with a Disability Claim on October 8, 2011 | 11 Comments »
In recent years, possibly due in part to the recessionary economy, I’ve received many calls from insureds and claimants who are so fearful of not receiving their next disability check, that management of a disability claim becomes a second disability. Living in a constant state of panic and fear about money coming in each month is indeed [...]
