Aetna Disability Insurance Reviews

On November 06, 2017, I received treatment at the Partial Psychiatric Hospitalization Program at the Baltimore Washington Medical Facility from November 06 – November 22, 2017. After waiting for approximately a month for a response to my claim with Aetna, I received an updated notification from my H/R representative that my claim for Short Term Disability had been approved for the period October 19, 2017 – December 04, 2017. To request an extension beyond December 04, 2017 required that I contact both Aetna and my doctor to ensure that the necessary medical documentation was provided in support of an extension. I immediately contacted Aetna to inquire as to why I wasn’t notified directly as to the status update of my claim, and why was the expiration date of December 04, 2017 selected despite my doctor’s insistence that I was unable to return to work for an indefinite period of time.

Aetna responded by stating that “just because the doctor recommends a date doesn’t mean that Aetna agrees.” I inquired as to the medical qualifications of Aetna staff to apparently re-diagnose my condition without having any first-hand knowledge as to the severity of my medical condition. I was instructed to obtain additional medical documentation from my doctor in support of an extension, however was informed that there would not be a guarantee of an approval for an extension. The arduous process of processing my claim with Aetna has only exasperated my condition, coupled with the fact that I have no money coming in and am a single mother of four children. I have demonstrated to Aetna with due diligence, the validity and severity of my medical condition, yet my repeated attempts for support from Aetna are being denied.

That was the first reason why I got denied, finally my SDI kicked in. Aetna continue to deny me, because of that the denial my company I work for drop me from medical insurance (which is against the law being on FMLA) causing me to lose my dr, my addiction treatment classes and also my SDI benefits leaving me no medication for my diabetes. I had to apply for Social Service and family got accepted for Medical. To this day I still been out on disability however never received any assistance from Aetna.

What is due me, is being delayed by Aetna. I bet, down the road, my claim would be denied. Yeah. A double wambam stress. Wondering how their high ranking officials sleep at night? Knowing consumer like me is struggling each day, I am a woman of God. I pray, something GOOD will happen. I will keep on PUSHING. PUSH. PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPEN. What a tangled web we weave.

My therapists has says he has never experienced such a mess of paperwork and lack of communication physically with any other company other than Aetna. You have an alert online where you can submit paperwork directly to your doctor but nowhere to check off what form to send, so then you assume the email was sent with the required form as it gives you an option to send to doctor, then there is another tab under letters that have forms, this comes up where you can forward the form to your doctor but this comes up where it is being sent out of your own mailbox. So now I am not sure if this form is for me to fill out or the same thing that may have been already sent.

To top it off, once you get out of the portal and go back in, the alerts reappear so then you think maybe it was not sent correctly but once you click on the link, it says that a request has been already sent. I would like to know who is going to cover all my bank surcharges and remove any negative impacts on my credit due to receiving payments very late. I normally get paid every two weeks, but right now they are over a month late. Let me try explaining that to my bank and mortgage company, and see how well that goes over.

My second visit to a new pain management dr, he did spinal injections to try and reduce the swelling in the neck, this only lead to him hitting my spinal chord in 3 places leaving me with permanent paralysis on the left side with limited feeling on the torso/hand/arm. I still to date have no feelings on the left side, but yet Aetna says I am able to return to work no problem. I still have MRSA and in the past 3 years have been hospitalized for it, 6 times requiring long stays with IV medication.

How is it that just because one person at Aetna says you are able to work, they tell you to return to work?? When MY physician has stated time and time again that I am 100% disabled?? I take a chance daily by getting in the car to become paralyzed from the waist down should I wreck and the broken plate severs the spinal chord. I am darn sure not going to build airplanes when I do not even have full range of motion nor can I move my neck up and down. I have a child to support and even though the case worker agreed that I could not go back to work, they tried sending me back anyway... AETNA NEEDS NEW PEOPLE, WITH COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING... I have worked my entire life, been a single mother since my kids were small, and didn't ask for handouts. But when I am unable to work and no way to get money but on disability they cancel it. NO ONE will return phone calls or nothing. They are ridiculous.

I read many reviews and experiences from others early in my disability and saw how many problems people were having, and I realized I would need to be very proactive. I did not feel I could rely on the staff of every medical provider I was seeing to get my records to Aetna in a timely manner, if at all. Many of those medical assistants and records people are just snotty. From the very beginning, I took responsibility for collecting every single medical record related to my condition, have them scanned to PDF, and uploaded them to Aetna's online portal, which I found easy to use.

The second thing I did from the beginning was to view my Claim Manager as my ally and built an appropriate relationship with him. There were times I proactively called him with an update after trying a new therapy or interventional procedure. I cooperated with all requests and circled back to make sure he had what he needed. When he prematurely arranged for a return-to-work counselor at Aetna to contact me, I treated her the same and answered every call and every question from her for a few months. I figured she had some input in the disposition of my claim from a different perspective so I was not annoyed by answering the same questions twice.

I asked questions if I didn't understand something about their process. I asked my Claim Manager about his knowledge of my condition and if people he knew had better outcomes than I. When I spoke with him at times that I was in a lot of pain, I let him hear it and didn't hide my crying and frustration that I was not getting better. He was kind, supportive and professional overseeing my claim. He told me the biggest hurdles they have is getting medical records in a timely manner and having the medical condition and course of treatment properly documented.

In addition, he said there are folks who do not follow their doctor's treatment plan which is an issue, and some who doctor-shop to find someone to support their desire for disability. During the first year, I did have a physician treating me who I decided to fire and find someone else because he was not knowledgeable about my condition and was trying to experiment with me. I called my Claim Manager and let him know this in case there was a gap in my treatment records. I hope this information can be helpful to someone else.

To top it all off, Aetna agents have been dismissive, disrespectful, condescending, and rude... And that's when I've been able to get them on the phone. Generally, they ignore my calls, promise to call back, fail to do so. And their online information portal is completely inaccurate and ever changing, showing that my claim is canceled, on hold, suspended, paid, and this cycle continues to change daily. The response I get from the manager of the case working is literally, "Eh, it's our process". Never once did anyone try to help or even apologize or recognize there is a problem.

At this point I am a little confused, because to my knowledge I am PAYING a separate insurance for them to help me in my time of need and not determine whether they can help me based on somebody else providing income to me. So I ask them "if you know the state of NJ provides payments for maternity leave then why would you offer maternity disability to your customers in NJ." (they couldn't answer that question) Then I proceed to ask them what do they offer std for if they are determining their decision on whether one get assistance from somewhere else. (they couldn't answer that) I asked them if they are affiliated with the state or government that they can not provide payments if we get assistance from them. (they said no) So my final question was then what am I paying Aetna for? (and they couldn't answer)

This is an insurance SCAM. It doesn't make any sense. When you pay for a specific insurance and you file a legitimate claim they should pay out because that is what you are paying them for. Regardless if you are receiving assistance form anywhere else. It is frustrating and disappointing and would like the amount of money I paid them since they aren't ever gonna be able to help in this matter, because most disability issues are covered by state or workers comp etc. I have separate insurance with Aflac and they pay out as long as you have all the required paperwork to submit. No questions or restriction on whether you received money from somewhere else. You get what you pay for and that is what insurance should work like.

1 month later letter stating have not received blah blah blah, this happened for 8 months. I told them they had 2 claims opened on same thing. 1 lady was starting a new claim while 1 person started reinstatement case which is the right one. Would not believe me. Would not let me talk to a manager for 6 months. Finally get a hold of manager and he gets it, they were each taking a few papers and so each only had half required documents, manager calls us and says "Well I'm letting you know good news. We put everything from 2 claims and have enough finally to process claim. The right one." Well tells me I'll be paid on following Monday. I have these phone calls recorded as they record also so I did.

And Monday comes no pay. Another month of them saying Monday, next Monday bills 3 months late about to have my wife, daughter and self on street, no money no food, gonna take both vehicles, endless calls and my condition is 10 times worse because this no sleep, couldn't eat, function or anything, sores growing on legs from condition worsening and they say "Sorry we messed up. This is not your fault. I'm sorry. Tell bills to call and I'll tell them uta are fault." Tried that, waste of time, house says "are they gonna pay us if not we don't care." Pretty much how that went.

So much pain, barely walk now again due to way too much unneeded stress. I'd rather be beating down by 20 people stomping on me than go through the pain of CRPS freaking out more than ever due to them not trying to help and listen when I knew what was going on and tried many times to tell them sent letters, online act. all sudden says unauthorised to send messages, but it's perfectly ok for this Aetna company to do this kinda torture to people and THE system looks away, won't help or do what's right. Well we're gonna back pay, that doesn't fix THE late fees, pain and stress and suffering caused to a 13 yr old child and parents, cause they want to treat you like you're trying to scam. Even at one time said wasn't work related, "You already paid me for 9 months while I was trying to go back to work." Are you serious, but lawyer after lawyer says "sorry it wouldn't be worth it."

I wish Fox news and other big journalists would come here and interview and get this out there so someone or something can stop this cause it's over and over to hard working American people. That pay for ins. Like this also. I know it was by far the worst thing ever happened to me in life as and after the pain of hell I went through I hope I just get better and can go work again. CRPS is in the book the Dr's go by considered the worst pain there is, 2nd was cancer. Take that and multiply it by 10 or 100 doesn't matter times I didn't know what was going on. It hurt so bad like a bucket full of lava and you jump into them with bare feet.

These companies need to be stopped. I'm sure there are scammers they will be stopped when they can't get any provider to say they're disabled, don't need an ins. company you pay for that has not been seeing you every 30 days or less or putting huge needles in your spine without any sedation. Or taking you into surgery to insert a spinal stimulator and a huge battery that's at most is gonna probably give you pain relief, mine now is about at 25% relief or so I guess. Telling you "no we don't believe your Dr. That's ridiculous..." That's my opinion on it what else could it be. Someone or something with the knowledge or power to help us hard working families not have to be bullied or treated so wrongfully. Please help. They have numbers of money but it's been proven time and time again numbers in people will get attention.

Updated on 11/16/2017: So I have still up to now been struggling to catch up with what I still do have that I haven't lost. "So we finally got all documents from both claims into one and finally have everything we need to make a decision so you should be paid soon." One of the bosses of a manager I was told anyway. Yeah they paid and started again until 24 months up. It switches to ANY OCCUPATION which is fine. They're supposed to be there to help injured at work employees. They'll do what's best for the insured person who buys their crap in my opinion ins. No matter what.

So offered vocational therapy where they help you get back to making close to the money you were but doing different work. Great program. As I've from day 1 not wanted to be hurt and lose everything including myself at times, have told everyone caseworkers, claim managers, claim manager bosses that I want to go to work as soon as this Disease CRPS is beat. Also sending facts evidence that financial stress is a lot harder on CRPS patient than the person without it. And it's pretty damn hard on anyone. CRPS is the malfunction of the Nervous system and believe me it's not nice, people look at you different, friends, family, don't understand, they don't have to deal with it, so easy for them to not look into factsheets. There's sites for family and friends to check out, that hope would help anyone out there with CRPS. "The fact; you can do treatments but is not curable."

Then here comes the Physician of Aetna. I will not call him or her a Dr. A Dr is a person with integrity that becomes a Dr. to help people. How can you sign off saying patient has no physical or mental disability just reading papers that Aetna gives them of my claim. So never met, never talked, nothing to me yet 6 doctors from work comp to mine that has been treating me the whole time and SSC I.E.M that says disagrees. But wouldn't wait 2 days. YES 2 DAYS to receive my doctor's notes that disagree with them. Is that doing what's best for the insured. Hell no in my opinion.

I lost my life, everything except truck and house but Dec. 1st if I don't pay 956.00 and 900 to catch truck up were out on street. I've started working at age 12, Taco Bell 2.25 an hour. Worked up to injury date 8/6/14 full time. Was making 44.50 an hr. Family of 3 two beautiful girls and 1 pretty handsome use to be dad me. Lol, I'm not lazy, not nothing but a hard working man get up 4 am go to gym for 1 hr 14 then worth for 8 to 16 with the boys go home sweet good job mine job. Nope they don't care either. You're a # to them. A pile of ** if you get hurt in my opinion how they treat you.

So now it's in god's hands, lawyers, judges, but takes so long and owe Aetna needs extra 45 days. You damn right they're gonna grant it, but 2 days for me with week notice. Nope... I've become angry. Very angry, can't talk to anyone about it without wanting to **. I've tried going to a counselor. Emotional block everyone I try going. I've got to be here for my girls so I fight and fight. I make CRPS worse doing that everything. So I guess do not ever get hurt at work. Pic of sores started on my leg but they don't care.

Their computers were down. Case manager on vacation, no one else in case. Then sent to their Dr for review. Said didn't have enough evidence to prove that I was unable to do my heavyweight job. Now 3 months absolutely not a cent from them. Also I was told by someone else that Aetna was moving out of a few states including mine in WV. Wondering if there is a connection to this. Yes, I am in for a class action lawsuit. People that have worked for them say they are crooked and don't do people right. So it is a shame of a company like this to exist. My next step is going to insurance commissioner tomorrow.

And if you are a truck driver and if the doctor and a specialist clearly do not want you to drive why would Aetna see something else and deny benefits when they claim they do not have enough data? Lies they tell - now they claim they are sending records to an outside doctor to review and it will take another 8 days. I have been off work for 3 weeks, going to doctors and specialist all indicating in documentation of my condition and Aetna does not call you back. Only looks at the documentation when you are on the phone with them and I believe they get a bonus for the amount of claims they deny and do not want to pay short term benefits.

Every day for a month I called them; then called Kaiser and they sent Physician's Attending Statement one after another. Finally, on 30 Sept. 30, 2016 Kaiser called Aetna and had me talk to both parties via three-way call. Aetna DENIED that the Physician's Attending Statement was an issue. Then they asked questions only I could ask - questions they could have asked me in the twenty or so times I called them before. Well, I think we get it all worked out and an hour later, an Aetna representative calls my cell and the first words out of her mouth was that they could not process my claim without an Attending Physician's Statement.

I called my employer, informed them that the problem persisted and that Kaiser had it recorded that Aetna did, in fact, have the Physician's Attending Statement. My employer called Aetna who now says they will pay up, but I haven't seen a dime. Today my employer sent me a note saying Aetna would pay 65 percent. Customer representatives were supposed to call me back about this complaint on four occasions... None of them have. I would never do business with Aetna. They are dishonest, conniving and incompetent.

I met with the surgeon on June 2, 2016 and surgery would be scheduled asap, later that month. Immediately I reported the claim to Aetna as required and then Hell on Earth began for me. Aetna wanted me to sign a very broad information release to "help me" gather pertinent records. No problem. Nothing to hide. I signed the release but asked the Aetna representative to provide me a copy of whatever she obtained because I also was required to pay for fees associated with Aetna's requests. Nothing was ever said that Aetna's policy was to not provide the customer a copy of his own records that the customer is required to pay for.

My surgery took place on June 24. It did not go as expected. The MRI did not show all of the damage. Once the operation began, the surgeon found additional, more severe damage. What was to be only arthroscopic turned into a 3 inch incision along my deltoid along with two small keyholes on the front/back of my shoulder. My operative report lists 8 diagnoses and 8 separate procedures including tears of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, massive tear of subscapularis, biceps rupture, SLAP tear, etc... The massive tear could not be repaired so part of my pectoral muscle was transferred to the subscapularis. Part of my distal clavicle was removed. Part of my AC joint was removed and the list continues. The surgeon warned me that recovery would be long and painful. He was right. Trips to the ER for uncontrollable pain. Trips to my PCP because the pain increased my blood pressure to very high readings. Never ending.

Probably around Week 6 (I'm still in a sling and not allowed to move my shoulder at all) Aetna became "concerned" as to why I was still in pain... why had I not started PT yet. Why? Why? Why? I guess no one at Aetna read the operative report. This was not just a simple rotator cuff repair. Around Week 8, I started PT. Going 3x per week. Ah, the pressure of when can you go back to work? Again, why are you still in pain? Could it be that probably every major part of my dominant upper extremity was cut on! Aetna, ever heard of Google? Most of their questions could have literally been answered by Google or better yet what about the Doctor/hospital records? Have you read those?

Eventually I talked to one of their managers (I use that term loosely) and I can sum it up in one word - RUDE. She said I had no objective findings... that pain was subjective... that Aetna's nurse was going to review my records and Aetna was going to call my surgeon. So what! Anyone with half a brain or any medical training has told me "you've had very extensive surgery" and it's not unusual to still have pain after what you went through. Everything I said was perceived as untrue. My doctor's skills were called into question. By Aetna's standards, I am a liar.

After receiving no response to my letters to Aetna which had specifically requested a written response, being told different things by different Aetna representatives, feeling so depressed due to my surgery, the pain and the subtle yet so obvious questioning of my honesty & integrity... I have decided to obtain an attorney. Not because there is any money to be gained. I'm only due my regular wages lost due to disability from the surgery. I am getting an attorney because I detest Aetna and their questionable ethics. I will actually "go in the hole" financially by hiring an attorney. I just hate dealing with Aetna that much. There's a special place in hell for Aetna and its claim managers.

If you would like to join a class action lawsuit against Aetna disability then please contact me via email - I already have my lawyer looking into to it and he says there is plenty to sue them for. This is not a joke, only serious inquiries please. I will not rest until this group of dishonest people gets exactly what they deserve. They have no problem taking our money upfront but then when we have medical procedures done (in my case back surgery) then they find any and every reason to try to get out of paying the claim. The people that work for them should be ashamed of themselves. How many people do they screw over every day? If you're one of them and would like to take a stand then please contact me because I have the resources to ensure they will no longer get away with these fraudulent practices.

However, Aetna decided to deny my claim based on the same information they were approving it on. They actually are penalizing me for attempting to return to work. Now, I know the ins and outs and I truly am baffled that they denied me. I am a decent wage earner, so my reserve is high I am sure and this plays a part. They can ** you and say it doesn't but I've had directors go out of their way to take claims out of approval status so they can rip the claim apart to do their own investigation and wouldn't you know it, they would find a reason to deny it.

I am currently in appeals status, which I am bracing myself for a litigation fight. I am also a walking wounded disabled vet, not that I am above anyone else but Aetna has balls. They make people want to think they have high ethical values and treat each claim in its own, but they don't. They will fish around until they find no support. The clinicians that review these claims are not doctors, barely any real life experiences. It's a joke. Aetna should be investigated like Unum was in 2003 for going out of their way to deny claims. Again, I am a friggin' Aetna employee and they treat us just as bad as the rest of you. I am ashamed to say I work for this company and the way they treat people. I will not be going back to this company once I'm able to work again. Ashamed is what I am. I hope you all the best in your fight for your benefits in which if medically supported, you are entitled to it.

So I was extended until April 18 and was told my case will be transferred to Long Term Disability. Well just received a call stating that I could not transfer the case because I was no longer employed by AAFES and that they would be closing the case. I questioned the fact that I became disabled prior of being terminated and that I was still under doctor's care and therapy for a very chronic back condition that only got worst with the high physical demands of that job and I can no longer work the same job EVER! Will be getting a lawyer involved as they only provided one phone call to notify me of the case being close.

This is just a small example as to no one is exempt from this type of treatment and I can only imagine what they would do to people who are not quite as skilled with typing and filling out paperwork. One last thing. When I started the whole process the customer service representatives told me on 2 occasions that if I lose my job and continue to submit supporting evidence they will keep my claim active. To later being told that they had made a mistake in telling me so...

I was a general contractor, married, very happy, Type A personality and very rarely sitting still. I went back to work about 8 to 10 months after the first lumbar surgery which was pretty difficult to recuperate from. Another 6 years passed and then one day I herniated 3 levels in my neck c5, 6 + 7. Pretty sure they are needed at separate times but dealt with it for a number of months and tried everything from acupuncture, to chiropractic care, two injections. But did that with all of the herniations. Anything to avoid surgery. All three were fused in a very successful surgery and I was back to work in about 8 to 10 weeks.

Unfortunately I did have to deal with Aetna during the last two surgeries. With the 3rd surgery (my cervical) unfortunately I was left with two weeks unexcused days off of work, because it took two weeks longer than I first told them it would to return to work, even though I was going back early, even by my doctors very liberal estimation. This two weeks was unexcused because I didn't satisfy the REPEATED request for DUPLICATE paperwork in the 15 day window allowed.

I work in an aircraft manufacturing facility and my job tends to be very labor intensive with a lot of climbing and scrunching yourself up into very small spaces. Unfortunately about a year and a half ago I blew my L5 -S1, and unfortunately I felt that If I made a workman's comp claim I might put my job in jeopardy so I didn't. The surgery was significantly more difficult and profoundly impacted my life significantly more than either of the three prior surgeries. Shortly after the surgery I explained what my goals were to my surgeon, that I go back to work within 3 months.

Meanwhile using my $5,000 bone growth stimulator I was talked into taking with absolutely no knowledge of how expensive and how much I would be left paying, I began to heal. Unfortunately after three surgeries in nearly the same spot the interbody a-lift surgery helped eliminate a lot of the very intense sharp burning pain in my hips, buttocks and legs, however when I did move or do anything that took any effort, walking around the block ,doing something outside with my boys, washing the dog, I would be completely useless the next day. As it is I have to get in the bathtub just to get so where I can stand up straight in the mornings.

So with that goal in mind when the two and a half months time came around I asked the doctor to write me a return to work pass. Unfortunately I was not being a realist and being honest with myself and what I would be able to do well and they got a hold of that return to work and did everything they could including saying their independent physician said I was fine to return to work.

All this being said Aetna had the call to use a number of different tactics to try to find a way to deny my claim and remove me as a claimant. I had no less than 9 duplicate requests for duplicate information. They would ask for a physician's statement every single time they made a request hoping the surgeon or doctor's assistant who actually filled out the paperwork makes a mistake. Unfortunately in my case the person I had filling out my paperwork and did a horrible job. There was at least 60% of the answers on these forms were incorrect or completely fabricated, which of course now gave Aetna plenty of ammunition.

Nevermind then I was passed off to 4 different claims managers throughout this time. Oh and did I mention the boilerplate release form for all medical information, psychotherapy information, drug addiction information, pharmaceutical information. Just another loophole to try to find a way to disclaim you. What's funny is they actually insisted I go see an independent position. Who at the conclusion of our meeting looks me in the eye, shook his head and said how disgraceful at nothing was behaving and that after the letter he sends them I should not have any issues with them whatsoever in the future.

Unfortunately that wasn't the case. Move on to the next claims manager. This one seems to be a lawyer. She debates well and has nearly convinced me that my doctor is insisting I go back to work, and that it may very well just be in my head. Don't let me forget about the third claims manager who lied to the doctor's assistant and the physician who did my surgery about a number of different things, mainly communications between her, their physician and me.

Long long long story short Aetna despicable. If I had treated this way working for a company who has over quarter of a million employees worldwide I can only imagine how the lone individual with no deep pockets or leverage would be treated, or should I say mistreated. I can tell you that the constant badgering and stress of losing my benefits or suddenly being denied which I was threatened with repeatedly by two different frames of managers, put my wife and I both and the most fearful and worrisome time of our lives.

We had three children and home to feed clothes and take care of. Thank God I was lucky enough to have married one of the most incredible, most loyal, consistent, amazing woman alive. Without her there's no doubt I either wouldn't be here or I would be in desperate condition. I cannot quantify the amount of stress this company has put on this family on top of the awful feeling of knowing my two sons know that their dad doesn't get up and go to work every morning like you used to. That is incapable of doing the types of things a regular dad does. How do you Teach your sons to not be couch potatoes or sedentary individuals when you are day in and day out. It breaks my heart.

Again unfortunately these huge insurance companies pay a tremendous amount of money in Washington and have a ridiculous amount of lobbyists working on their back which have infiltrated both sides of the Senate and Congress. So I think it's fair to say they have a large part to play in the writing of the laws that regulate insurance companies. Sooner or later we're going to get money out of politics and all of this will change. I'd also like to note the fact that I repeatedly read how Obamacare had eliminated the pre-existing condition issue that so many of us have been faced with. I'm really glad to see that someone in a position to make something happen, did!

I'm sorry to those of you who have been denied and are probably thinking to yourself what is this guy ** about he's receiving his benefits, only after basically being tortured with stress by this company repeatedly continually for a year and a half. I'm sorry for all of you out there that have been denied. Immediately get a long term disability insurance lawyer and appeal appeal appeal appeal appeal. If you have a sound case you should be OK from what I can tell other than the fact that the lawyers will get a significant amount of your back pay period another lobbying issue in the laws ** made.

Second, my address is all over numerous paperwork that was filled out. How can someone mess up check someone is supposed to live off of and not verify the correct address?! I contacted Aetna 2 weeks after it was sent out, and their response was "it's the holidays so it may take longer." I just had a child where family from all over the US sent a card or gift. None took more than 2 weeks. When I found out it was the wrong address they said they had to stop payment and reissue another check. The minimum waiting period for this is 10 days. So another check won't even be reissued till at least the 16th of January.

The reason why people pay for short term disability is for financial support while they are unable to work. I will be unpaid and out of work with my son for almost 2 months (when it's supposed to be 1 week) before a check comes and Aetna could care less. My bills are now falling behind which hasn't happened to me since college 10 years ago. This is all because the carelessness of people's information and payment being delivered to them. I've never used disability for anything, and this is pretty traumatizing for a first time experience!

There wasn't enough documentation to continue it into a long term claim while I am under 3 doctors' care. I have had 3 surgeries and still unable to work. I am a single father with sole custody of my daughter. Since this happening have lost our only transportation and lost our home of the last 15 years. Is there not a way to punish companies that are embezzling of the working class? I attempted to use a lawyer that is out of state to combat them only to find out last week like in washington apparently Aetna has a hand in that pocket.

Instead of suing them as originally I was told for negligence of benefits the law firm is trying to negotiate. I could have sent them a form letter myself and the fact that we have lost everything isnt admissible nor does it pertain to the case. All of my medical bills are now in collections and we are homeless. My advice would be to find a local lawyer. Someone you can look in the eye.

One representative told me she had received it & there was a problem with their system & they couldn't see my paperwork. She would say she would call back at a certain time & she never did. I would call & be told "we don't have your claim" by a different rep. Then today I was told my claim was denied because the billing company had billed my stay as a observation. I stayed two nights in a hospital room? I have been paying into Aetna for almost three years now. I am so frustrated & angry. HR told me I can't drop them until next October (open enrollment). It's a scam. I don't think they ever pay anyone.

However, AETNA, in its wisdom, has determined I'm not sick enough and has denied me disability on behalf of my employer, SAP. When I appeal to SAP to intercede, they sent me back to AETNA vs. getting involved to resolve the dispute. With ERISA supposedly protecting the workers' rights, and both my employer and AETNA indifferent to the fact that I earned these benefits which are being withheld, where do I turn next?

Who has the power to force AETNA to treat me fairly when they won't pay for the most basic of medical expenses without a fight, and have unilaterally denied me my disability benefits as outlined in my SAP employee handbook? I am spending down my 401k while hanging on and trying to get through the State and Federal disability process, however, my understanding is that my employee benefits, earned while working for SuccessFactors, a division of SAP, should already be paid to me during this very difficult time. There is apparently no recourse through either AETNA or SAP, so I'd appreciate any suggestions about where to try next.