SSDI Overpayments – The Right Thing
Most people who read Lindnee’s Blog contact me because they know I will always tell them the truth about their claim situations and because I have the knowledge and experience to provide accurate answers. This is one of those siutations. I seem to be hearing a...
Unum – Financial Reserves And Reservation Of Rights – Editorial by Linda Nee
Disability financial reserves are generally defined as “a monetary estimate of what a claim will cost.” The reserve represents money set aside for the eventual payment of claims and is not otherwise available to pay operating costs such as salaries, expenses and other...
Insurance “Robber Barons” – Deliberate Strategies White Paper
Statistics published by the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA) report three out of ten American workers file disability claims before retirement. Of the thousands of disability claims filed in the United States, excluding Social Security, approximately 20%...
Fibromyalgia And Unum – A Sunday Editorial by Linda Nee
Unum’s Fibromyalgia Position Statements and Guidelines (7/29/2002) Just before leaving Unum in 2002 one of its physician consultants handed me a copy of Unum’s “position statement” regarding Unum’s handling, review, and philosophy in administering fibromyalgia claims....
Unum – Talk About Scary, Spooky And Shady…
I think it is exactly the appropriate time of year to talk about Unum’s “scary, spooky and shady” claims practices that are heralding 4th quarter profitability and causing insureds a great deal of grief. Unum’s investigations appear to be over...
DCS Report Newsletter – November – Understanding ERISA Plan and IDI Provisions
The DCS, Inc. Report for the month of November will focus on various ERISA and IDI contract provisions that are most commonly misinterpreted or misunderstood by claimants and insureds. Insureds who have not yet subscribed may do so through Pay Pal using my email...
Unum -News Updates
Just entering into 4th Qtr. profitability results Unum is denying large numbers of claims attempting to prepare for an economic recession in the spring. As a result of Unum’s targeting of claims for profitability, I’m already aware of several claim denials...
Holidays With No Money – Late Checks
We are quickly approaching the holiday season and that could mean delayed checks and late benefits from insurers. While Unum by far has the most difficulty in getting checks out on time, hardships over the holidays from not receiving benefits on time can happen to...
Adjusting To The New Insurance Normal
The claims process for private disability changed. It happened so silently, and covertly, that claimants and insureds failed to notice subtle changes in communications and how insurers have tightened the reigns to make denying claims easier, more efficient, more...
Medical Proof Of Claim Not Sufficient
So far this year I’ve written at least four articles about medical “proof of claim” I thought were going to be very popular and helpful. In reality, these very informative medical articles were not popular since insureds opted to read writings on...
Top Five Worst Disability Insurers For 2019 By Disability Claims Solutions, Inc.
Based on business calls and other consulting business, connections with attorneys etc., the following are the worst disability insurers in the country. Unum Group – Unum’s inability to adopt patterns of practice to include fair and equitable...
Don’t You Believe It! Unum Field Visits And Other Prevarication
Yikes! Insureds are calling DCS with reports of, well….let’s say “untruths” Unum is using to get people to agree to field visits. Deception appears to be the name of the Unum game lately. G4S, Unum’s investigators are certainly going all...
What You Respond To On Questionnaires
As a disability Consultant, I have always recommended that insureds and claimants request communications from insurers in writing. Despite this common “best practice” many insureds continue to communicate directly with claims reps, and/or OVERWRITE answers...
Fact or Fiction – Do You Know What’s True?
It always amazes me how much public misinformation there is out there regarding private disability insurance. Although separating fact from fiction may seem daunting, it also gets a bit ridiculous at times. Insurance fiction usually stems from word of mouth from...
Financial Management For Disability And Beyond – Part II – Net Worth
Welcome to Part II of my Financial Management for Disability articles. Since I’ve already discussed the need for financial planning BEFORE a disability occurs, and previously established that YOU are your own best asset, “net worth” is a great place...
Testimonials For New Website
In order to meet many of the new Search Engine requirements I’m having my website re-designed. My web designer informs me that Google, for example, likes to see Ratings and Testimonials in order to place higher. If you would like to write an anonymous...
Money Management For Future Disability Part I
One of the most destructive reactions to those with private disability is “fear.” Although I write about it quite often, I’m not sure my message is understood as something that can be planned for and controlled, or just part of a complex system gone...
How Many Times Is Unum Going To Recalculate?
Most people receiving disability insurance look to receive monthly benefits when they can’t work due to medical impairment. However, if you have a Unum claim it may seem as though you are continuously paying THEM and not the other way around. We all are aware of...
Returning To Work – A Sunday Editorial
There’s been a great deal of talk lately from insureds looking for advice about returning to work after a disability, and that’s a good thing. I am of the opinion that it is physically and emotionally healthy to return to work after a period of disability,...
When Insurers Laugh At You
Some years back one of my investigators read the Facebook pages of many of Unum’s claims handlers and managers and discovered the following comment on a managers page: “Insureds are like slinkys, they aren’t worth anything, but you sure do like to...
