I’ve received six emails/calls from claimants with Unum Group policies in the last week complaining of denials and having difficulties dealing with Unum. I should have known. We’re within a week of the end of 1st Qtr. financial profitability, and Unum appears to be out of control with its denials. Despite the fact that I’ve been writing about this for twenty-six years now; it’s obvious to me I haven’t gotten through to people at all.
The first thing that goes through my mind is, “What are people thinking these days?” I have been warning about Unum since 2000 when I first wrote articles in a column entitled, “Inside UnumProvident.” I first started the column to clear up all of the untruths on the Net about Disability Insurance. Shortly thereafter 60 Minutes and NBC Dateline aired their evidences of “bad faith with Ed Bradley and insureds went nuts trying to find competent people to help them with their claims
Since C_VID, people haven’t wanted any help, or if they do, they are asking attorneys who know little more about the claims process than they do. Ahhhh……now, I get it…..PEOPLE AREN’T SCARED OF LOSING THEIR BENEFITS ANYMORE. Without the public disclosure of insurance industry unfair claims practices, insureds believe they are SAFE. And……I’m seeing far more claim denials than ever before, almost back to 2000 levels.
Unum Group isn’t the only insurer engaging in unfair claims claims practices again. MetLife and NYLife have gone off the rails as well. But, like to woman who called me today, when I explain about the unfair practices I could hear in her voice she didn’t believe me. But, situations with Unum aren’t just limited to claim “targeting” or “stacking the deck”, the issues people are having may involve fraud using other social security numbers, or sending out multiple W-2 forms. People can’t do their taxes because reported income has a wrong SSN.
I’ve been reporting for quite a while now that insurance claims handlers can barely speak English. Insureds really don’t know if they are dealing with real mistakes, or if there really is some sort of SSN fraud involved. Unum isn’t documenting any mistakes, so what then?
If you are a regular reader, how many times in 26 years do you think I’ve written articles about NOT SPEAKING TO ANY INSURANCE COMPANY ON THE PHONE? I would guess thousands. And yet, of those who called me this week, five of them mentioned calling Unum to try to “straighten things out.” They didn’t get straightened out.
I’m going to continue writing Lindanee’s Blog hoping that people will begin to listen to those who know again. Your claims are not as safe as you think they are, and most people really don’t know how to manage their own claims. I’m sorry if you don’t like this article, but it’s true people aren’t afraid anymore, and are losing more claims than they should.
LISTEN TO BEST PRACTICES FROM THOSE WHO KNOW. Here’s another truth. Attorneys aren’t always the best resources for claims management advice. Attorneys litigate, but they aren’t good at claims management.Is litigation really the way you want to go, or would you rather take the necessary steps to manage your claim so it doesn’t get denied in the fist place?
I’m really hoping people will wake up and smell the coffee the way they did twenty years ago.
