The Hartford - Disability

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Debbie of Ewing, VA June 16, 2009

I work for walmart in shipping and receiving. I had surgery on my left foot on march 11, 2009 and was off for 6 weeks and the hartford paid me 60% of my base pay with no problem. I returned to work after 6 weeks and worked 8 hours in shipping and receiving and my foot hurt so bad, I barely make it through the shift. The next day I went back to my doctor and he gave me 4 more weeks for my foot to completely heal.

I filed for 4 more weeks of short term disability and was turned down hartford insurance company said I was able to go back to work, yet I had a doctors excuse stating I needed 4 more weeks off work so my foot could heal. I appealed and hartford turned it down for the same reason. I don't see how I can have short term disability insurance and have a doctor's excuse for 4 more weeks and hartford don't have to pay me my money.

Scott of Bonita Springs, FL June 2, 2009

I previously wrote about my problems with Hartford Insurance Company and my disability benefits being terminated. My policy was a group disability plan, therefore, it falls under ERISA Law. ERISA, as I understand it was created by the insurance lobby to not only protect insurance companies from their bad faith practices, breach of contract and out right "fraud" they continue to perpetuate against good american people who have become disabled. ERISA Law allows insurance companies to completely screw over people like me and many others who are ligitimately sick and count on their disability checks. My monthly check was for 10,000 a month. I have now hired an ERISA Lawyer to help gain back my rights to get the money I, as well as my family, rightfully deserve. However, I know longer believe in Long Term Disability. There are essentially no penalties to nail the insurance companies with for their terrible behavior. How ERISA ever got through legislation is beyond me. I do not know what the outcome will be with my case, but as far as my wife, children and I are concerned we have agreed to take our case all the way to Federal Court. For all of you out there who became disabled I do not know what to say. ERISA gives the insurance companies the ability to do basically whatever they want. There is NO SUCH THING AS LONG TERM DISABILITY UNLESS YOU'RE ACTUALLY BRAIN DEAD OR SOMETHING SO SEVERE. I believe LTD benefits are the biggest fraud being placed upon people who paid their premiums trying to do the right thing so we can still pay for our families needs.

I stated in my previous summary to call your congressman. I now believe that is a waste. They are the same people who allowed this ERISA ANIMAL to be placed into law. ?? Good Luck to everyone. We all are going to need it. I would certainly "BOYCOTT" all of Hartford's products and tell everyone you know to do the same. I doubt it will do much good but who knows? We are going to have to file for bankruptcy. We will lose everything because of them.

vincent of reinholds, PA May 28, 2009

I had surgury on 4-1-09 and the target date to return to work was 6-01-09 per the surgeon. I signed a relase for for the harford ins co so they could access the dr, info. they approved me and paid me %60 for my pay till 5-5-09. they stated that no more payments could be made untill they received more info from my family doctor. I complaied and it was fax to them within a few days. i followed up and asked what the status was. they now stated they needed to go back and get more ingo from my family doctor. that to was also fax asap to them.

i waited a week and heard nothing. I then when on line and form my case was closed and no one contacted me. I jumped thru hoops to comply, no response. I called twice and go a superviors voice mail saying i want to appeal. no one returned my calls. I asked them why did they pay me from 4-05-09, till 05-05-09 and not pay me till 6-01-09. they stated i was not in compalance beacsue i did not give them access to my medical insurace provider, they wanted to search back back into my personel records.

i said that is a privacy issue. My surgeon and family dr. gave them what they requseted. I also feel this is issue with HIPPA/OCR. I have been trying to recover and all they did was cold and rude. I am 60 years old and this made me depressed and discouraged. I pay thru susquhanna bank of Pa for my STD. I feel i deserve what little they should pay me. I thank you very much.

Scott of Bonita Springs, FL May 26, 2009

In 2004 I was working as an investment banker. I collapsed to the ground when my L4 disc simply shattered. i was approved for long term disability benefits which is 10,000 per month until I am 67 years old. I have been receiving this monthly benefit for approximately 5 years.

The Hartford has continually harrassed my doctors, bombarted them with redundant requests for more and more and more medical information. Like I stated I was approved for LTD benefits after one surgery, I have now had six major spine surgeries and spend most of my days in bed. A few weeks ago I received a letter terminating my benefits even though their own video survelliance showed me doing nothing and my doctor replied to them by stating I am 100% disabled and was totally NOT able to do what they say I should be able to do.

Also, my policy states I must have the same type of job and be guaranteed to make a minimum of 120,000 a year or I am still deisabled. Also, according to their own job study they did on me they stated my occupation was a (FC) for financial consultant. In order to be one I have to have many NASD and Insurance licenses, all of which were terminated in the last few years do to being in one surgery after another and not doing my continuing ed because I am totally disabled.

If there is anyone out there who has experienced the same or similiar conduct of bad faith practices, breach of contract or tortuos interference, should call their congressman, Senators and the like. Dont forget to get your local papers involved.

E. of Littlestown, PA May 14, 2009

I fell in my office, hit my head and injured whole left side of body. In Feb 09. I have stage 2 concussion and sprained elbow, arm knee and injured saiatic nerve and compressed disc in lower back as well as infammation of Bursa in left shoulder and hip.

Hartford was contacted by my employer it took them 3 weeks to respond and additional 2 weeks to respond to me. I filled out paperwork answered telephone interview that was taped and was told I would rec'v decision in 1 week. I am in PT right now and my current insurance has expired as of May 01. Hartford has denied my claim stating my fall was no fault of the employers.

My employer terminated my employment after working there 5 years stating he would have to find a replacement for me as I was coming in too many times late from PT or calling in sick since the fall and I cannot rec'v unemployment benefits as he filed a complaint of gross misconduct due to the many complaints of my being late. I was late at least 3 times in past 3 weeks since trying to return part time. I have severe headaches and neck pain and shoulder and back pain which is slowly getting better with PI but now I have no benefits as of May and I cannot pay out of pocet since I have no income. I went from making 27.oo an hour to zero. I am now living on my retirement money and trying to apply for social security benefits and trying to replace my current health insurance. It would cost 450 a month to keep it. I cannot afford it. I do not know if I should pursue this with attorney or not....still deciding and probably will.

Thomas G. Dealy of Idaho City, ID March 4, 2009

I was being paid Disability Benefits by Hartford up until the 26th of January when I did not recieve my benefit check for February. I called and spoke with Jennifer K as to the status and she stated that my benefits have been suspended due to an over payment which has resulted from my being approved for Social Security in November and being back dated to June. This has resulted in a overpayment of over 12,000.00 and needed to be repaid.

When I recieved the letter from Hartford listing the details it showed that they were estimating an amount of 690.00 for my son whom does not live with me and is not considered my dependant as a result of a Divorce. I pay 914.00 per month for Child Support(614.00) and Spousal Support(300.00). I feel that this is an error as this would be double jeopardy financially on me as I have to pay his support and pay Hartford for what he is recieving under Social Security. I have contacted Support Enforcement in California which is where he resides with his Mother and this is where we were Divorced and they state that Social Security is a seperate enity and has no basis on what I pay as far as support for him however what I recieve from Social Security is considered income and is used to base what I pay in Support as well as what I recieve from Hartford. So I ask why is Hartford holding me responsible for what he is recieving from Social Security. What is wrong with our system.

This has caused a huge finacial impact on me as I now recieve 2,752.16 less in my income. I have had to call my creditors and let them know that I can not make my regulary scheduled payments and really do not know when or how I can make them up. I also am only paying 300.00 in support at the present due to my income change so this is also making me in the arrears on my support obligation

William of Philadelphia, MS February 22, 2009

After paying premiums for long term disability for over 19 years, and recieving disability payments for nearly 2 years, I was recently awarded Social Security Disability for multiple conditions.Since I notified The Hartford of the award, they decided to suspend payments to me, siting an overpayment and requesting I send them all that Social Security has determined me to be entitled to plus an additional amount that equals thousands of dollars.They have also inquired about disability entitelments for my dependent child. They never paid anything for my child, so what's their interest.

Among other things, I am a type 1 diabetic who suffers from Sarchoidosis of the skin and kidneys, this instant determination by The Hartford has increased my already stress levels to a point where additional medications are needed, I have been to sereral hospitals in the area this month alone mor than 8 times. If not for friends and family I don't know what I would do.

George J Deaner of West Deptford, NJ January 24, 2009

I got injured at work i torn tendions in my rt. hand hartford waited almost 4 weeks to send me 1st. check was for wrong amount by half and only 2 weeks next 2 checks were sent after 4 weeks each but only for 2 weeks each then stopped sending checks and canceled my surgery without notifiying me and i am a union carpenter and can not return until i have surgery to repair hand so now its been 6 weeks and i had to get a lawyer involved and i have no answers yet

fell behind on everything they did not send check until 2 days before christmas so did not recieve until 3 day after i have 2 young children

Julia of Batavia, NY October 23, 2008

I had a total hip replacement done on 7/9/2008 and applied for short term disability with The Hartford. I recieved 12 weeks of benefits. I went to a follow up visit with my surgeon who advised me that he was not going to allow me to return to work for another 3 months. I applied to have my benefits extended to cover me until my return to work. In New York State we are entitled to a total of 26 weeks. The Hartford faxed my surgeon the relevent forms and he duly filled them out and sent them back. I decided to call the Hartford to find out the status of my claim and was told he had not sent what they asked for (consultation notes etc) nowhere on the form does it ask for these. I was told it was my responsibility to ensure that they recieved everything they needed.

I then called them to verify that they had recieved everything they needed and was told yes, it would now go up for review. I called regularly to request the status of my claim, often not getting answers as per their policy, which a representitive on the phone told me was that they are meant to call you back the same business day if you have left a message on the voice mail, which I always did. Finally a young man pulled up my name on his computer and said he could see all the calls I had made and was going to email a supervisor about this. In a short space of time my anylist called me and informed me that my request for my benefits to be extended had been denied.

 Firstly I dont understand how these companies can totally ignore anything that my orthopaedic surgeon had said. I know I can appeal but I have already been without my money for 3 weeks and cannot afford to wait fot the appeal process.They have tied my hands behind my back because if I go back to work against my Dr's orders I cannot appeal and should I get hurt my medical insurance could refuse to pay for any further treatment.

On researching over the internet I was amazed at how many comlaints have been made against this company for the same kind of problems that I have had, surely somebody can do something about this. I have already contacted the NY Insurance board about this and filed a complaint but what to do about money in the meantime. It seems to me that The Hartford are more than aware that many people can not afford to wait for an appeal and in desperation return to work against the advice of their Dr's which in turn lets them off the hook.

Tim of Norman, OK October 4, 2008

I worked for a big oil company in South America. I caught a Varicella zoster virus-visceral zoster in the genitourinary system (internal pain was/is tremendous in the private parts) fall of 1998 LTD started spring of 1999 terminated 2005-appealed and reinstated 6 months later....terminated 2007 appealed reinstated 6 months later.Settled out of court for 100,000.00-they owed me twice as much. I could not work a 8 hour day 40 hours a week without laying down at times/wear sweats/ in a non stress atmosphere. I suffered nerve damage in several internal organs that affect me to this day and take narcotics to control my pain.

I was video'd for 6 months 4 dvd's worth showing me shopping and working in my yard. Yes they will be watching. I won every termination due to amount of paperwork I kept and answered all termination reasons in my appeal with doctors backing my claim with there letters as well. I also had to return 16,000.00 back to Hartford that I received from Social Security as Hartford stated I was overpaid-I am totally disabled by Social Security as well.

I believe why Hartford settled was I found out my company pulled 100,000 policys from Hartford and at that time I was video'd-terminated and when I was going to bring this up in court I was offered a settlement in 2008. 1.Hartford tried to come to my house-I refused. 2.LTD CANNOT be trusted on anything. 3.Keep all paperwork of illness/meds/doctors and be sure to inform doctors that your LTD carrier will try to change their minds/or fax letters to sign in LTD favor....been there and done it. ERISA gives most all the benefits to big insurers policy holders get the shaft....Good luck to all as the last 10 years were hell on earth to me and my family.

Terminations and appeals will make one have depression as well as financial distress to the utmost and big LTD companys know this and work it in there favor. If one needs LTD coverage do not use an employer LTD company...get a private policy to get away from ERISA! Good Luck....been there and done it all on my own and it was a very hard thing to accomplish.

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