This is a topic which has always existed, but unfortunately is increasing at alarming levels. I suspect very few cases of employer abuse are actually reported to the Equal Employment Opportunity or State Human Rights Commissions, the two agencies with jurisdiction to enforce proper conduct in the workplace. In many respects those who find it more [...]
Archive for January, 2012
Employer Abuse And Disability by Linda Nee
Posted in Employer Issues on January 31, 2012 | 18 Comments »
Blog Posts – Knowledgeable And Aware or Bliss and Risk?
Posted in Living with a Disability Claim on January 28, 2012 | 8 Comments »
On occasion someone will write in or email me that although they appreciate information shared on the Blog it makes them fearful. When I began providing consulting services to attorneys and clients in 2002 I incorporated a personal objective to provide insureds and clients with information equal to that of disability insurers and their representatives. [...]
Friday Recap – The Week’s Most Important Issues
Posted in Friday Recap on January 27, 2012 | 22 Comments »
(Please note this is a new category containing a weekly summary of issues brought to our attention.) Despite several Lindanee posts concerning phone conversations with insurance companies, nearly all those who contacted me talked about contacting their claims representative on the phone. From a consultant’s point of view I can only mention, suggest, recommend, reiterate, [...]
Disability Insurers and Actual Psychotherapy Notes
Posted in M&N Claims on January 27, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
In the last several months claimants have contacted DCS, Inc. with several issues dealing with Unum’s harassment of mental health providers to obtain actual psychotherapy notes. Although there are several other Lindanee posts on the subject I think the topic deserves a re-mention. Unum’s general Authorization to obtain information specifically excludes actual psychotherapy notes in [...]
Air, Food and Water – What’s In It And Why Am I Sick? by Linda Nee
Posted in Impairments on January 20, 2012 | 7 Comments »
Last week one of your clients sent us an article concerning indoor air pollution and its effects on those who suffer from chemical sensitivity and encephalopathy from the environment. As I read the article and understood the implications of indoor air quality on those who are affected, it also occurred to me the quality of indoor [...]
The Impoverished Disabled Middle Class by Linda Nee
Posted in Living with a Disability Claim on January 17, 2012 | 25 Comments »
More and more disabled Americans are contacting DCS, Inc. with personal stories of disability claim injustices followed by denied appeals leaving them to support their children and families with social security income only. An insured called to tell us CIGNA denied her appeal leaving her to support her son on the $1,700 she receives from Social [...]
Unum Claims Handlers Take Issue with Prior Post
Posted in Claims Process on January 12, 2012 | 11 Comments »
This week I received feedback from Unum claims handlers regarding my prior post using words such as “ass” and “fool” which, believe me, are no strangers to my UNUM SPEAK vocabulary. However, I have often viewed claims handlers in general to be victimized as well as the insureds who receive endless denial letters in the [...]
Disability Claims Handlers – The Lowest Rung On The Chain Of Command
Posted in Claims Process on January 8, 2012 | 5 Comments »
Less than 5% of insureds and claimants who contact DCS actually report having a good experience with their claims handlers. In part, this stems from the fact insurance claims handlers and specialists are generally not afforded the autonomy to make decisions as they feel appropriate given the results of their own investigations. Claims departments in [...]
