ERISA Pre-Disability Monthly Earnings Figures
Today, when insurers attempt to “nickel and dime” claimants with repetitive calculations of SSDI and overpayments, it is possible your insurer may actually owe you. One of the figures I have always recommended verification for is the number called,...
SSDI And Repayments Review And Recommendations
As most ERISA claimants know, most LTD group policies contain a provision allowing for the reduction of monthly benefits by any amounts received from SSDI. This means your disability insurer has been allowed by law to use the social security system to “finance” part...
Turning The Worm
It is truly amazing what those who support insureds and claimants have to go through at times. Most readers are well aware that my articles report on all insurance companies when they are found to have violated the public trust. Yep! I’m harassed again. Three...
Biggest Mistakes Made When Managing Disability Claims
Since the beginning of COVID I’ve noticed several wrong actions often taken by insureds and claimants, that place disability claims in jeopardy. I’m not sure what influence COVID has had on these activities, but claimants are now engaging in what they...
Really, Really Bad Idea – Per Se ERISA Appeals
Most of you know I maintain contacts with attorneys across the country who keep me generally informed of trends and insurance actions that continue to be unfair and egregious. For the last year or so, I’ve been hearing a great deal about claimants attempting...
A Case To Remember – The Cost Of Exceeding Functional Capacity and Social Media
I received the email below, and have permission to publish it here on the Blog. I think it will be helpful to others as decisions are made regarding activity and social media. I thought your post yesterday very timely. I was disabled on July 15, 2000 and have been...
Unum’s Denial Abuse For 2nd Qtr. Profitability
Unum’s abuse of power denying claims for 2nd Qtr. profitability results has reached an all time high. Using broad and unclear provisions to deny high value reserve claims, Unum is likely to be sued by many seeking recovery of benefits legitimately due to them....
Friday Q&A
Can you explain how Worker’s Compensation offsets due to Lump Sum Settlements are determined? Sure. As most of you know, Workers’ Compensation is always included in most ERISA Group Plans as an offset to benefits. The WC system has progressed to a process...
Those Awful Misleading Insurance Questionnaires
The insurance industry has always been a “paper” dedicated rule book beginning with state regulators and moving down to individual companies. There are often more “forms” required than needed, making the entire claims process an...
Former Clients Reconnect – Always A Pleasure
It never ceases to surprise me when former clients contact me many times after 10-15 years when they’ve long since reached the maximum duration of their claims. It is always a pleasure to speak with former clients, and I rarely forget a name. The formation of...
First 104 Pages Of My Book
Anyone who is interested in reading the first 104 pages of my book please send me your email address and I will send you the first 104 pages. It’s a history of Unum’s claims paying process and contract abuse. I’d like your feedback as well. If...
Accountabilities- Real And Presumed
So much is written and said about what accountability insurance companies have to the disability Plan or IDI contract. However, claimants and insureds also have obligations to enter into the contract in good faith and fair dealing. Since most...
Little Known Labor Market Surveys And Why Insurers Don’t Use Them
Most ERISA readers are now well aware that “any occupation” investigations will take place between 9-18 months of paid LTD benefits for Plan change of definitions of 24 months. Although 24 months is the most common time period for any occ change in...
Summer Surveillance Is Alive And Well
Reports of summer surveillance are already coming in to DCS with the potential to deny claims. Although I try to remind readers of increased surveillance, I’m pretty sure most insureds exceed medical restrictions sometime during the summer. The problem is...
So What’s Up With Guardian?
Guardian’s reputation with the public is slowly dwindling, and for good reason. The newest fiasco, is not having a process in place that provides IDI insureds with forms needed to file disability claims. I had to personally get involved with giving “Notice...
Living With A Disability Claim -Worrying And Disability Claim Syndrome
For many years now, I have been writing articles regarding the various degrees of worry and fear that seems to emotionally affect nearly all insureds receiving disability claims. This phenomenon begins when access to productive income ends, escalates to the point of...
Who Are The Claims Handlers And What Do They Do?
In today’s terms, insurance claims handlers are really not “specialists”, but are considered bottom rung glorified Administrative Assistants, hired for the sole purpose of chasing paperwork and routing files back and forth among resources. Claims...
Is Your Doctor Becoming Troublesome?
The new normal, “after COVID”, seems to be driving disability physicians to tighten-up their support, and the manner in which they choose to support claims, and not in a good way either. Physicians are more cautious, skeptical, and selfish about the...
Hungry Vulture 2d Qtr. Profitability Results End of June
I just wanted to send out a reminder that the end of June is the end of the 2nd Qtr. profitability results for insurance companies. This means there are organized efforts to locate vulnerable claims, and conduct investigations to create the illusion that claims should...
New Fee Structure Reflecting The Times
I wanted to remind my readers, and in particular those who are looking or needing help with their disability claims, that I offer new insureds the option of paying my annual fee on a monthly basis. It has always been my practice to offer insureds the option of paying...
