The Hartford - Disability

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Dennis of La Pine OR (07/30/07)
I came down with a disabling illness around 1996. By 2000 I was forced by my DR. to go on long term disability. I applied with my employer under the terms of a long term disability policy that my employer had purchased for me for several years with the Hartford. Under the terms of the policy my employer covered the disability payments for six months and then the payments were transfered to the Hartford.

Initially the Hartford granted my request for disability payments but for only two years under their mental disease exception. During those two years I went to the Mayo Clinic twice in an attempt to find out what was causing my symptoms. The Mayo clinic referred me to Oregon Health Science University where ther diagnosed my condition and notified The Hartford of my diagnosis. The Hartford then granted my long term disability and paid the contract disability payments through June of 2007.

They then dropped my claim with a long bogus explanation that did not include any reference to my primary diagnostic condition or physician. I plan to appeal.

This discontinuation of my long term disability payments has reduced my income by 60% and will eventually eat up all our savings and we will lose our home if the payments are not reinstated.

Warren of Bayside, NY March 21, 2007

Warren of Bayside NY (03/21/07)
I am retired USAF and was working after retirement and became unable to work .I collected LTD from CNA for about 14 years, Then some how the Hartford to over my payments, Just before I turned 60 years old they started screwing with me, they terminated my payments at 60 years, 3 months old and and then denied my appeal even after having 11 hour spinal decompression L-2 to S-1surgery at the VA. I contact a lawyer who said I had a good case but would not take it for there wasn't enough money left since I was 60. People have told me the Hartford and other companies terminate payments of people at around 60 for they know we have no way to fight since the lawyers will not take the cases because the LTD policies only paid to 65.

I was forced into my last spinal decompression L-2 to S-1 surgery after they terminated my LTD, Surgery was ok after and now I am returning to as before.They took 3 very short pictures of me, One getting into my car, they say I drove to the supermarket, no pictures of me there. Then a picture of picking up a newspaper in my front yard. thrn carrying a small package up my front steps.at the time I was on 60mg of slow release  Morphine 2X's daily and immedate release morphine when needed for pain.Funny they don't have anything else and I had been on LTD since 1992.

Kay of Kansas City, KS June 5, 2006

Kay of Kansas City KS (06/05/06)
I had Hartford long term disability paid to me for 36 months for my degenerative disc and joint disease which I am also on Social Security Disability (not SSI). Anyhow, I go to the doctor who is also one of the doctor's used by our state's workman's comp and Social Security to determine eligibility as well as my primary care physician. Both, plus a surgeon said that I would progressively get worse and was unable to sit for longer than 8 minutes and could not stand at all for very long. I am on narcotic pain meds and have to rest during the day.

Hartford paid me for my disability and according to them after my 36 months of payment my condition miraculously improved so I coould return to work. However, they had my doctor's statements as early as March of this year and paid me after that for several months. Then, when my 36 months was up, I became able to return to work. I would love to go back to work, but everyone says I'm a liability. I even tried to get health insurance and was told by several major insurance companies that I'm a liability and unable to be insured by them. I just don't understand when my employer told Hartford that they would not allow me to work on narcotics and they allowed me to get my disability payments, how all of a sudden now I'm able to work. It does not make any sense to me.

I can't afford an attorney to fight them and after reading other peoples complaints I don't think it would do much good. I still get my Social Security but it is putting a financial bind on my family and we will probably lose everything that I worked for when I was working because of this.

Kathy of Cincinnati, OH May 18, 2006

Kathy of Cincinnati OH (05/18/06)
In 1999 I received short term disability benefits from Hartford. In October 1999 my Long Term Disability Benefits started. I received a letter in December 2000 stating my benefits were terminated as of November 2000 because I misrepresented my claim. Hartford performed a couple of surveillances and seen me go to a doctors appointment they scheduled me for and to the grocery store on the same day. They said I was capable of doing more than I reported.

On my application for long term disability benefits I did report that I went to doctors appts and to the grocery store, I have two children. After the first surveillance of two days Hartford had me on video moving my vehicle which was for about 10 seconds. On the second surveillance, which lasted three days Hartford did not get me on video the first or the third day. The only day they videoed me was the days they scheduled a functional capacity evaluation. Hartford also reported me to the Ohio Department of Insurance for Fraud.

I represented myself and filed a claim in Federal Court against Hartford. I won the first case. Hartford then appealled the court decision and I also won the appeal. Financially Hartford has ruined me, my home was in Foreclosure, my children were without electric and we have all suffered tremendously. But I am not through yet. ERISA law needs to be changed and I intend to do that.

Kenneth of Palm Coast, FL May 17, 2006

Kenneth of Palm Coast FL (05/17/06)
I was recently denied my long term disabilty claim from THE HARTFORD after paying them through WALMART for over three years. What am I paying for Long Term Disability Insurance in my paycheck when they automatically deny a worker when he is in need of this benefit and have a chart of denial guideline to deny me my entitlement of my benefit?

This is called making money off of an associate between Walmart and Hartford Insurance Company and not providing this quote great Benefit. Plus they say this is a Walmart policy. In February I started getting huge blisters on my feet and ended up in the ER to have them taken care of. I am a diabetic but have never had any problems with my feet or legs. My doctors told me I could go back to work in a week but that I was to take a break every two hours and elevate them, which should not have been a problem as an assistant manager I have plenty of paper work to do and therefore this would not have to be considered a break.

The general store manager had no problem with that, he appeared to be glad to have me back (BTW, I have used only 1 sick day in 10 years ); however, as soon as he would leave the co-manager would not allow me to do this. The minute I sat down she would MAKE me go do something else. Within 2 weeks I could hardly walk and the pain was so bad I ended up at a neurologist. At first, he'd thought I would be able to get back to my job within 6 weeks but as of now he has me out until September which will make 7 months. I have had physical therapy, seen the podiatrist, bought home medical equipment and done everything that they have all told me do. Hartford denied the claim, saying that neuropothy was a pre existing condition because everyone who has diabetes will eventually get neuropathy in their feet. When I questioned them about the information provided to them and by what doctors, they had my sleep study doctor down as saying that he had seen me for the diabetes.

Thank goodness for my wife's health insurance though her employer. I have been on hers ever since she was able to pick it up. My salary continuance ends in 2 paychecks. I don't know if I can file for unemployment with the doctor's restrictions. I have not been idle while out on leave, but finished completing my paralegal degree that I have been working on, along with taking advantage of free computor courses offered through our local work force. I'll never be able to go back to a stand up job, the nerve damage is so severe that if I am on them for more than 10-15 minutes I have to find a place to sit down. I don't want to be out of work, I am only 43 but I do need to get over this hurdle without falling through the cracks.

Samantha of Indianapolis, IN April 17, 2006

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