Unum Insurance Company Reviews

Unum has now revoked my FMLA. They have sent me letters and left messages on my phone stating that NO FURTHER MEDICAL TREATMENT IS REQUIRED. National Cancer Guidelines for Clear Cell Cancer and Lynch Syndrome state doctor follow up every 3 to 4 months for the first 3 years, twice a year for the 4th and 5th year. Colonoscopies every 1 to 2 years. I am now waiting for Unum to tell me when I can expire.

Anyway I had my doctor send over records. While I was speaking with the rep, I was at the deli I have been trying to purchase, and I asked an employee there to do something - I can't quite remember what, probably pick something up for me cause lifting things throws my back out all the time now. The rep asked me what was going on and I told her I was at the deli my family was preparing to buy. The furthest we have gotten with this process is we created an LLC. We have to go before the City Board Meeting at the end of this month in order for the P&S to be approved, THEN we will own the deli. I haven't made a pay check at the deli at all. I have come in to oversee the deli and figure out whether this is a purchase I want to invest in, but I haven't made any money of this place yet. I did a financial analysis of the deli last week and learned this place is losing money, not profiting at all. I don't have the kind of capital to take on a failing business, so I told the owner I was passing on the sale.

Now Unum is telling me I supposedly told them I made a pay check here. She said cause I told employees to do stuff, that equated to me working and making money. I said "If I am about to purchase a house and I tell the homeowners to fix their roof before I buy the property, does that make me the homeowner? No!" I don't own this place until that meeting is complete and the P&S is filed - neither of which has, or at this point will, happen. So not only did they keep the claim closed - they rescinded the ENTIRE period of the claim - from the beginning, all because I wanted to buy a deli, not because I own it or was even employed by the current lessee there. I contacted my attorney, but who has time to sit around waiting for legal matters to be resolved? How do I pay my bills in the mean time? I could see this being a problem is I had started this whole purchase process AFTER I got in the accident and filed the claim - but even then if I'm not making a pay check I don't understand how they can use that as a reason to close a valid medical claim.

So, I was basically left screwed because my company then started withholding my paychecks. So there I was in pain, unable to work, but not being paid. All I can tell you is to beware of Unum, because they will use the 'lack of medical documentation' tactic as a way to screw you over. There's really no way for you to prove your case when they claim they haven't gotten the paperwork. And what's even more mind-boggling is the Unum reps are too lazy to actually pick up the phone and call the doctors' offices themselves. They get the patient all mixed up in that, requiring them to be the ones to be the go-betweens. It's extremely, extremely unfair and, in my opinion, criminal what they are doing. I cannot warn you enough NOT to buy Unum insurance and if you do, God help you.

I have nothing bad to say about SSDI, they have been there for me with no problems. If the Insurance Agent who sold me the coverage had been truthful he would have said any attempt to retire on UNUM's dime would result in endless harassment and interference with your doctor/patient relationship. Your claim payments will be reduced by 40% due to necessary atty. fees. You would have gotten food stamps and fuel assistance at the 60% of policy pay rate but lawyers' fees are not deductible. UNUM never misses a chance to be nasty rude and evil. They have spent more money trying not to pay me than what they have paid me. I have seven more years before I'm 65 and coverage ends. I'm sure they will continue to harass me till then.

I have sent numerous complaints to my company and UNUM. The one time I was able to reach the complaint department, UNUM's complaint specialist yelled at me, was defensive, then refused to transfer me to his manager when I requested. He also kept repeating that I was covered but that doesn't mean that UNUM will pay me. My company continues to tell me they show they are paying UNUM my benefits, and that UNUM should be releasing checks to me… But UNUM has not paid me anything for months now.

So, can we all say the F word - FRAUD??? Remember, UNUM is just an administrator on my policy - they don't even have to pay it - the money is given to them by my employer… So, where is the money going? Nobody at UNUM has answered that question yet. Also, there have only been two customer service reps that have treated me fairly at UNUM - most of them I've dealt with have been mean, accusatory, and don't allow me to speak or ask questions when I call. I suggest you look somewhere else for disability insurance - not worth wasting your money, time, or sanity when you need it most… when you are disabled.

Even if my ex-wife were to file, the monies could only be used for my son and for no other reason. I would never see a penny of that money. UNUM stated to me that regardless of whether or not she files, my son is entitled to the money and therefore they can reduce the monthly amount they pay me. How can this be legal? How can UNUM force me to break the law or force my ex-wife to file for monies that would go directly to my son and used strictly for his benefit. If he were to receive it, it is of no benefit to me. How can they do this?

I am still not working nor am I collecting the funds that this company collected premiums for years. I did not ask for the injury, by the way, a herniated disc was the injury along with a partial dislocation of 2 of my vertebrae. I faithfully paid premiums for years in hopes that if I were injured that I would still be able to feed my children. I am not sure how on earth companies can collect premiums and then when you need to use the benefits that I have paid for they get away without paying. I am currently still calling and trying to get copies of doctor's notes to be sent Certified mail so that they can't use the "We can't find your fax," excuse any longer. Of note, all other parties involved received their information on the first fax and provided services promptly.

I deal with chronic pain from this surgery and it is affecting a prior hip replacement, surgery to my back (herniated disk) and prior neck surgery. I have done all that has been asked of me by Unum. I have no money coming in and being evicted from my apartment is a reality if I don't find money in the next few days... This is just a pure nightmare. I was told by an attorney that their goal is to force the claimant to get any job or starve them to death, they just don't care. They will have their own in house doctors simply refute the option of a prominent surgeon even though their doctor never examined me in person, all to decline payment of a needy. I will filing complaints with the Attorney in the great state of Florida, sue Unum and their in house physician, file for disability with the state. I know that I am in for the fight of my life and a tough journey .

To add further misinformation, Tony asked the physician to rate if the insured could lift certain weights, do light work, etc. based on the IME physician's findings. This was also misinformation as the insured's disability is not based on ability to lift weight, etc. The treating physicians clearly stated in their report that this did not apply to the insured's disability. This insured has been disabled since 1999 and was cut off by UNUM in the summer of 2013. The insured has hired a lawyer. The results will be posted when they are known. DOES THIS SEEM LIKE FRAUD TO ANY OF YOU INSURED BY UNUM? Is UNUM's conduct culpable under an ERISA policy? There appears to be pure malice on the part of Unum's inside physician Tony **.

UNUM will stop at nothing to try to get a picture or video of an insured. They will also hire the HUB to check out your children's Facebook pages as this was recently documented by an insured to see if they can find "activity" by the insured.

Somehow, without permission, UNUM uses INTELLISCRIPT to find out about all of your prescriptions for the last 10 years or so. INTELLISCRIPT should be prepared to be sued. That is a gross HIPPA violation. Pam **, a lead disability specialist with UNUM ordered such investigations including a medical canvas, calling hospitals in a given area to look for an insured.

UNUM needs to be brought down on a federal level. Their tactics are the most disgusting and they need to be called out again and again. A lawyer has been hired. More to come....... THE PICTURE FROM UNUM's Facebook page is the biggest LIE of all. There is no comfort, just harassment and more harassment for people who are disabled.

I ended up going back to work just shy of 5 months (in part due to the harassment by UNUM), and I still was unable to function very well... I got lost getting to places, was confused easily, had a hard time processing conversations, and had a limp. All in all, UNUM sucks. Funny thing -- I had Hartford Insurance prior to UNUM, and it was a completely different experience. Hartford may be more expensive but is well worth the extra premiums. It's been two years and I'm still pissed at UNUM.

A change of address was submitted with the Post Office the day I moved. I've filled out all their new questionnaires and had TWO doctors confirm my medical condition WORSENING, and new life threatening condition. After two months, I still have not received a payment from Unum! Maybe they think I'll DIE and they'll save a few bucks. This is a multi-billion dollar company. I think their new mantra or orders from their bosses is to stop as many benefit payment as they can. Might be possible that they get a bonus if they close payment on as many people as they can!

At almost 4 months out, I am still having problems sitting in a low seat on the bus and getting out of my desk chair. I rely on public transportation which is very crowded in the evening and it is very difficult for me to get off the bus. Even though they cut me off at 7 weeks, I did not go back to work until 9 weeks. Because of this, I had no income and got behind in my bills. I am presently appealing this and remaining hopeful.

Why can't insurance companies keep their part of the agreement?! I paid them for years, and now it is only fair that they pay what is rightfully due to me.

Unum has been receiving the same doctors' notes for a year with the same monthly tactics of telling me they need (MORE) medical records and doctors' notes. Instead of my Senior Disability Benefits Specialist calling my doctor directly for monthly needed paperwork, they would call me to do their job of getting in touch with my doctors every month. In return, they would hold my benefits hostage for months a time. Even after having my doctors' office fax paperwork requested and call my Unum caseworker personally, Unum still continues to play hardball tactics like sending letters requesting more doctors’ notes. Every call to Unum ends with “your claim is in review” for weeks at a time.

My livelihood depends on the little I receive in benefits considering having my benefits cut about 60% after being pushed to go back to work by Unum, not knowing that if I was to go back out on short-term disability, that my benefits would be reduced because in going back to work, I lost my full-time status because of my 3 times (a week) 6hr long Dialysis treatments. So, now it’s another full month of playing the wait game with them (Unum). I did file a formal complaint against my Senior Disability Benefits Specialist with her supervisor for not working diligently on my behalf, and two weeks later, still nothing to look forward to. I still haven't received benefits. I need help to fight the system.

As a result, I have used all my sick time and have had formal reprimands and letters placed in my records at work for excessive sick time. As of now, my company has the right to terminate me for that reason. I also have had to use up all of my vacation time to cover the rest of the time or I can take time off without pay and reimburse my company for any time they feel I was paid for that was not covered. I have large medical bills and a small salary. I barley make ends meet already. My condition is recognized by the ADA but Unum denies it and I cannot even get support at my company because of this. I have had at least 15 procedures/surgeries over the last 5 years and only the first few were approved. The state of NJ, which is notorious for denying claims, approved everyone that Unum denied. I have had to work while recovering and in pain. Driving 50 miles while you have severe abdominal, flank, and groin pain is rather difficult, as is working in that much pain for 8 hours.

I have had to be picked up from work as I could not drive. This was because the pain was so bad I needed to go to the hospital. These days were denied as well. It's also embarrassing to be in so much pain and shaking and in tears while in the office. My hospital stays for severe infections that did not respond to antibiotics were also denied as well as the recovery time at home afterwards once I could be back on oral antibiotics instead of around the clock IV antibiotics. My company contacted Unum and they chose not to review my cases again. This is the worst experience of my life. I live and work in pain. I have no sick time and no vacation, and on top of all my medical bills, I will have to continue to take time off without pay for a real disability and surgeries.

I called Unum back. They basically accused me of trying to perpetrate a fraud. I relented & took the 5 days PTO. That was just the beginning of the rollercoaster ride to hell with Unum! I think Unum uses a script as well as processes & procedures purposely designed to slow &/or prevent someone from collecting STD/LTD. I am a quality manager, & I can tell you from experience, there is no other possible reason for the dissatisfaction with Unum other than their processes which ensure the results Unum wants.

I relented on the 5-day elimination period, even though my employer told me again that it doesn't mean 5 consecutive days! Everything seems to go ok for the 1st few months, though Unum constantly sends me letters telling me I have a new point of contact within Unum "there to help me" etc. Total BS! So as I approach the initial arbitrarily set due date for review, I called Unum. The phone rep said, "Your claim is scheduled to be cancelled tomorrow." So, I called the rep assigned to my claim who conveniently was not in the office. In the meantime, I have gotten sicker & sicker, as the months have passed. I now have severe anemia & numerous physical & emotional side effects as well leaving me unable to do much of anything other than exist & take pills all day. So after numerous phone calls, Unum told me it was a mistake & that their own phone reps don't know what's "really" going on with a claim & that I should not call them but always call the point of contact in the letter.

This scenario repeated itself 3 times while I was on STD. I stayed on STD for 26 weeks (my limit) & then went on LTD for about 12 days. I then returned to work since the treatment was complete. During the 6 months on STD, I eventually had to resort to sending threatening emails to Unum as well as notifying my employer of how I was being treated & that Unum was attempting to deny/prevent me from collecting money which my company said they will provide through my employment contract. None of that seemed to matter with Unum. My boss told me she knew of another person in our company with the same story.

Now, in my office, a co-worker has been diagnosed with cancer. He is fighting for his life. I told him what to expect from Unum, but he thought I might be exaggerating. Not anymore! He is getting the exact same treatment from Unum down to the words they say! Unum is working just as hard against him, who is most likely dying, as they worked against me!

After reading about all the class action lawsuits against Unum, it seems they have not learned! Unum & its employees are a disgrace! They are what is wrong with this part of the healthcare system. They should be forced to pay & then forced to go out of business with all of the employees barred from holding a job in this area again! If we had these types of consequences for them, similar in impact to the processes they use against us, then maybe they would change! Warning: Buyer, beware. Stay out of the disability system at all costs!

In order to do that, my wife has provided me with a variety of health care services. I decided recently to shelve my pride and apply for financial assistance from my LTC provider, Unum. I have jumped through every hoop the case manager, Clifford, has asked me to jump through including having my doctors send him information he requested. In a telephone conversation with Clifford in July, he told me a 90-day exclusion window would open June 10, 2012. He called me 2 days ago and asked me if there were any changes in my health condition. I answered no. He then told me his notes said my PCP, Dr. Michael **, said he expected improvements in my deteriorating health. Clifford always has some fabricated information to delay positive activation of my request. I understand that my wife is not a certified or licensed caregiver.

However, she provides a multitude of LTC assistance on a daily basis. According to the Dept. of Health and Human Services along with bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, caring for incontinence, other LTC services include housework, preparing and cleaning up after meals, helping me to remember and take my medications, helping me dress, managing my finances, and a host of other activities. Clifford's singular focus seems to be on bathing. Our LTC coverage with Unum became effective March 1, 2002. I am thoroughly disappointed with Clifford's handling of my claim. If his handling is within regulatory scope, then I will have no choice but to seek some sort of relief from the agency that regulates LTC. Your guidance will be deeply appreciated.

Now, all these years later, several departments are harassing me, telling me they are looking into my claim. One of the reasons I qualified for benefits, mental disorder due to injury, is only payable for 24 months. Ludicrous! My psychiatrist filled out paperwork for them the last time they began to harass me! They are asking for settlement information from Social Security, even though they have all the records.

Now, they are accusing me of owning businesses. The business they are claiming I own belongs to my daughter, and then they found an old website store from 2008, where I showed antiques. The site has been down for more than 4 years - a hobby for me. They are demanding 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 income tax information from me.

My ex-husband is a business owner and unwilling to release his information to them. They are making me and my simple life impossible. I have learned to deal with my mental disorder and chronic pain but each time, as they begin their campaign to harass me, my mind becomes confused and the chronic pain overcomes me. The stress and the result of it is detrimental to my health.

Someone please help me or direct me to a person that can stop this constant harassment from this company. Social Security disability benefits are in place for the duration of my life. Unum made certain of this, hiring a third party to guarantee this. I don't understand. If SS finds no irregularities, how and why do they continue to make these demands and constant harassment? I am 58 years old, disabled physically and suffer from a severe liver illness. I have been diagnosed with end stage liver disease. How can I get this company to leave me alone?

Most recently, they asked me to submit to a "field visit." When I asked what the field visit was for, they stated it was to update my records for medications, doctors, etc. I said to this 3rd company party that their request was odd because I just sent Unum the same information just under a month ago. When I called "Help Enterprises" number back (800-873-0933) and entered the ext. (23), I got an "after hour investigations" division. I found this very odd, since what would I be investigated for? You hear creepy stories about Unum using surveillance teams to follow those covered under their disability plan. I am guessing that I was forwarded to that unit. My head injury left me brain damaged. I had nerves severed that will not reattach, and I have very specific areas of my brain that were damaged that will never heal. This has all been documented for Unum.

This company is horrible. Do not do business with them. They treat the really disabled like we are crooks. Most of us paid dearly for years for coverage, and when we need them to be there, they look for every way in the book to not pay their policies resorting to "after hour investigations" and worse. Be aware of their surveillance teams and their disgusting underhanded way of not paying benefits. This should not be allowed, and one day we will end this kind of harassment by Unum. It is abusive.

Unum is a rip off company and should be put out of business. Even the employees that called me when I call back and was told they don't work for them or they have never heard of that person. These people are crooks and that it is obvious to all of us that have been involved in this.

Since then, they refuse to tell me anything. They gave me one number to call which was for a different company who said I am not in their system and try this other number so when I call there I am told they cannot tell me anything because the beneficiary will be receiving a letter in the mail with further instructions on what to do and they cannot tell me who the beneficiary is whether it is me or not. I know I am the beneficiary and there is no one else who could be and I have not received anything. I think they are just trying to get me to give up because they know no one else will follow up on it and they will just keep the money.

The only other relative is my 95 year old grandmother who I know is not the beneficiary. I have paperwork my father filed with me as the beneficiary and my grandmother is simply listed as another relative in case I can not be reached.

Now they have an attorney contacting me stating that I owe them $44,921.07 and that if not paid they are going to bring a judgement against me. I need to know if this is legal?

My income has dropped off nearly 90% and I have been forced to drop my health care since I have no more savings. The only security I now have is with my limited retirement plan. When that runs out, I will be on the streets. I really don't think anyone can live on $4800 per year as me and my wife have been doing.

They would misquote and twist my diagnosis and outright lie. All the while sending threatening and harassing letters, and phone calls to me. I filed a complaint with the PA State Insurance Commission and they backed off some, but the Insurance Commission sided with UNUM? In December 2010, I was awarded SSDI and, in January 2011, UNUM sent me a letter terminating my LTD stating that my conditions were self-reported with no substantiated medical proof. Huh? I was so tired of fighting them I just couldn't take anymore so I didn't appeal. However, I want to know if there's anything I can still do. It just infuriates me that they can take advantage of the people that they are paid to help when we're at our weakest.

I have blown all my savings on bills and trying to stay up-to-date on bills. I owe rent, bills, car payment and just went on default on my $401K loan (now, I owe $3K in taxes in a couple of months) since they wouldn't give me any money. Costco's corporate team and my surgeon said it's absolute ** and I should sue. My surgeon also said he has given them everything they asked for and more, and his word as one of the most outstanding heart surgeons on the NW should have been sufficient. Please help. What can I do?

I haven't received one penny of my disability benefits during the entire time that I have been off and do not know where to go next. I would like someone to tell me what I have to do to file formal complaint and or charges against Unum.

Then Unum sent me a letter stating my benefits are going to end. I contacted them and they told me their doctors said I was able to return to work.

At that time, I was on powerful medications and was entering a Stanford program to help manage the pain up to 6 weeks. I explained this to them but they didn't care. I told them I had MRI's nerve conduction study to show the damage. They still didn't care.

I tried hiring an attorney to take my case, but he failed to do anything. When I discovered this, I hired another attorney, who also took my case. But, when we went to court, the Judge said I failed to send a despondence within 30 days.

I feel they took advantage of my condition. The drugs I was on made it very hard to understand and stay focus on what needed to be done. To this day, I am unable to work and still on meds.

I can't work any more. I had to return to work 2 weeks after the accident because I was not getting paid. I had to work for 13 months after the accident to have my medical insurance pay for my epidurals. Can you help me?

For over a month, they argued that I had to get them work restrictions from a doctor I only saw one time before I was considered disabled by my PCP! They listed a chiropractor's opinion as their primary reason for denial, a chiropractor that a former lawyer for MVA had sent me to. It turns out both the lawyer and the chiropractor knew the man that hit me causing MVA and then opinions changed finally after they all discovered I didn't have a large UM policy on my auto insurance! They used his opinion over any of the other specialists I saw, specialists extremely more qualified than the chiropractor. I have not wanted to report my latest doctor to Unum being afraid they will make him mad as well! I have a complaint in on the other work comp doctor I saw, Dr. **. He's a horrible doctor and I only saw him four times, yet, they used his terrible report over all others.

My PCP opinion they lied about. I have proof. Unum says my alleged headaches are not recorded ever in any report. I have tons of doctor reports, headaches are recorded in all. Unum states I was never seen experiencing a headache! Unum calls my MVA a low speed parking lot collision, yet another lie. Unum states I did not seek medical attention until days later. My MVA was on 8-14-10, a Saturday night. After trying to call police to the scene, making security report, taking pics of my totaled vehicle, which my camera in my cell phone broke from the impact of the accident, so I had to wait for a camera from my mother. Police refused to come. Wal-Mart manager called them herself. I was hysterical! Any witness that night knew I was not okay.

The next day, Sunday the 15th, I was barely able to function but unless a limb is falling off, I can't afford the hospital! So early Monday morning, Aug 16th, I called my PCP and got in that day for exam! This was less than 48 hours after the collision! Liars. Cynthia ** knows I have severe sleeping problems and when I didn't answer my phone, she would then call my mother and bother her with ridiculous claims. Months and months of this! I will never buy a policy like this again! The last thing an accident victim needs is harassment from the very people they pay to protect them!

I have no income now. Filing an appeal, which requires tons upon tons of correcting and more doctor appointments! I have had it with these people! I will enclose a copy of denial letter and would like you to see all their letters, and how they lied! They say I refuse the injections that could possibly heal me. When I have infectious disease doctor note and note from my PCP of several years, stating the risks of injections with my health issues would outweigh the benefits! They have both letters. Nothing mentioned in denial letter about that. They called one of my doctors a liar in their report as well, a doctor that is qualified higher than any of them seen! Horrible company. I told Cynthia ** to have a good day every inquiry and she is so rude she can't even say it back! This company should cease to exist!

They called each month until I had panic attacks each time I saw their name on the caller ID and postal envelopes. No one can seem to stop them unless they are cheating the government. They insist that my illnesses are chronic and I've been through therapies that I keep doing over and over again, seeing the doctors constantly when my immune system is horrible and I get sick whenever I leave the house. They sent someone out who asked me the same questions for 2 hours over and over again while I sat on my chair with my feet up, so they said I could work, when I left in tears many times. Luckily, my family was there, and I wish I'd taped it. They should be made to pay out of their checks for what they've done to people.

As soon as Unum approved LTD, they then started harassing me to file for SSDI. I continued to jump through all requirements by Unum (and SSDI) and eventually won SSDI. However, the same month I won, SSDI Unum started reducing my benefits. They knew before I did that SSDI approved my claim. Unum continued to threaten me through many different avenues (even tried to say I owed close to $200,000.00). I did everything requested (and can prove it) but Unum continues today to send a monthly blank check.

Sadly, I had no idea of my rights when all this started in 2004 but I refused to give into them and hopefully my State's Insurance Office will continue to support me as they have in past efforts. If I wasn't so ill then I could have known what to do to maintain my benefits. The hardest part is knowing that many people do not have the support of a loving spouse and understand that insurance companies have lied making us all believe that there isn't anything we can to, however, this is a great country and though I may never receive the benefits deserved, I would gladly join the army again and give my life even for Unum!

Unum's actions cost me my entire retirement income (had to use to pay off medical debt), spouse lost his job because of the burden placed on him by Unum to prove I was medically ill, lost our medical benefits at the same time he lost his job, lost peace of mind and six years of constant dread and fear waiting for next actions taken by Unum. I have lost excellent credit history and so much more but best to stop now!

I asked what was considered disabled and I was told it depends on your elimination period. Since when was the level of a person's disability gauged by their elimination period or whether they work 3 or 4 days weekly. I work because I have children that I must care for. In January 2010, I changed my elimination period during my company's open enrollment from 90 days to 30. Primarily because hospitalizations were not automatically covered and how pre-existing conditions under the current policy (90 elimination day) were viewed. Changing only the elimination days and not increasing the coverage because of my pre-existing to a 30-day which would begin immediately with hospitalization. This was not made known to me when the district was switching over from MetLife to Unum. They stated the policies were comparable when that was far from true.

This has caused me to be late on payments because I have exhausted all my sick leave. I am constantly out on leave without pay. Contentious on-going treatments should be eligible for disability coverage, especially those ranging over seven months. My crisis began in July and continued until my 10-day plasmaphersis. Followed by continued treatments and another 10 days of plasmaphersis. I've been hospitalized for more than 25 days in the last year with disability insurance and I cannot receive payment. Something doesn't feel right. I am consulting a lawyer at this time. I was too tired and weak to fight for it in October. It was the first time in three years I had been late on credit card payments.

My company works on a point scale--for every day you miss, you receive a point. So of course when they "didn't receive a fax" they call themselves "fixing the problem". My doctor's office had to call and verify that they indeed sent the needed paperwork on the day it was due, it was actually received early, and yet they still denied various days in which I was pointed for! When I called to question why those days were not accepted, I got the runaround and was finally told that it was because once it's denied my company doesn't accept a change. Okay, well Unum messed up, they claimed they didn't receive a fax that they indeed did! I of course ended up hanging up on my "leave specialist".

I just recently received yet another set of papers for my doctor to fill out and they were dated May 25th, but yet I didn't receive them until June 7th. I called on June 11th and told them I was unable to have them turned in by June 12th because I had yet to have a recent doctors visit. The woman I spoke with told me it was no problem, turn them in as soon as possible and I will make note of it. I received a letter on June 16th stating that my leave was denied because the paperwork was not turned in. I immediately called and spoke to my "leave specialist", and yet she didn't have a single answer for me. So I'm at fault and I am in jeopardy of losing my job because they "didn't receive a fax" (that they did) because I didn't receive paperwork until the 7th and it was due on the 12th (five days?). All the while, I never hear, "I'm sorry, we messed up" or "I'm sorry, this was our mistake", no, never once did they admit or acknowledge that they're wrong.

So I ended up having to call my company's HR department to find out my employment status, they couldn't answer my questions. I ended up calling my department secretary and found out that my FMLA ran out on June 11th and I have eight points (on a 10-point scale). So as of Monday June 21st, I'm technically unemployed and who's going to admit they messed up? Not Unum, they blame the company. Once a claim was initially denied my company won't let them change it? It should have never been denied in the first place, when you indeed did receive the fax in a timely matter.

Dealing with Unum has made my anxiety even worse. Every single time I have called them I end up having an anxiety attack. I get chest pains, my left side of body hurts, my blood pressure rises. I literally can't stand calling and dealing with them because I always know how it's going to end. I end up cussing someone out and hanging up. As an employee on medical leave you should not have to deal with this. You shouldn't have to check, double-check and call your doctor and make note of every single thing you do and who you speak to. It's extremely stressful. Financially, we have struggled. My husband left his job almost two years ago to be a stay-at-home father to our child, so when the anxiety started and I needed to take time off from work, we've scrabbled and scraped.

Unum is unbelievably unprofessional. These companies continue to take advantage of people and I'm done. I refuse to speak to anyone from Unum, it's a waste of time and energy. When they mess up, they blame your company.

I was trying to continue working, and missed a lot of days on FMLA. I called FMLA on 4/20/10, to let them know I had to leave due to pain, and swelling. The operator informed me I needed to go on a short term disability, because I was missing too many days. As of 4/21/10, I have been out of work. I will be getting a total knee replacement on 6/22/10, and Unum has denied me twice for my short term disability. I had to give my car back. I am also behind in my mortgage, and will probably lose my home soon. I haven't recieved money in two months.

My claim was denied, so I went through the appeals process. That also was denied. We followed proper protocol before my son had surgery and even though I had a claim filed, as an existing injury, it was denied because he missed the 90-day deadline by "11 days". The reason he missed the deadline was because of doctor scheduling and the fact that my son didn't want to miss his exams at school. You pay all these premiums and get treated and denied like this? I instantly canceled my policy. I have better things to spend my money on than a scam like this.

I also found out I had an enlarged thyroid after blacking out and falling down a flight of stairs following physical therapy and being admitted into the hospital. I have had one steroid injection for the bulging disc, which only helped for one day and I just recently had a total thyroid lobectomy. I have a pending steroid injection and have to try to get the money from friends and co-workers because Unum is not paying me the $2000/month as promised.

I am in a bad situation at this present time. The bank is threatening to repossess my vehicle and I'm about to lose my home. Unum only pays as medical records are received by the doctors. They do not pay if you are not able to go to the doctor and you're at home trying to recover from surgery, or so sick, or medicated to the point you can't drive to the doctor.

I have joint custody of two children and when they are not with me, I live alone. I do not have, nor can I depend on anyone else to do anything for me. I do not have any money to go to every appointment. Unum made sure of that. They send what they choose to send, $300, maybe $400, then on one occasion, $55. How am I supposed to live like this? I am getting further behind in my bills and my health is worsening, mentally and physically.

For the test, Unum sent basically a kid, looked young 20's, just a PT. He had her do things, crawl on the floor, lift boxes, etc. She complained several times of pain, but he was pushy, telling her to do just one more or were almost done. Twice her blood pressure went up due to the pain. He then made her start lifting boxes with weight. Her doctor records says she's not to lift overhead. After doing this, her arm started going numb and she complained. He added more weight and asked her to do more and she tried, but could not. She had to walk a treadmill. She asked to stop once because her feet were swelling, but he told her they were about done.

She finally took her shoes off which made him mad and said they had to restart the test. All of this was done in a sports injury gym in front of a group of men. While crawling on the floor **, she could see men staring. Sometimes, the men would have to be asked to move. My wife was very embarrassed by this, crawling ** in front of men. She said she felt like a stripper. You would think these tests would be done in private considering the things they make you do.

My wife called her doctor's office the next day complaining about her arm being numb. After her neck operation, she had little pain in her arm. Now it was numb. She also told Unum. A few weeks later, we got a letter from Unum that she was denied and could go back to work based on the test not even done by a doctor. My wife, upset, called her doctor and could only get the PT asking why did she say she didn't know what her disability status was when it's in her file. She basically said that she herself wasn't aware of it. My wife had it out with her, as her status is in the file. We tried to talk to her doctor there, but he wouldn't respond. We called numerous times.

We then got a letter a week later; they had dropped her as a patient. We called numerous times, but got no real reason why. We needed him to do the appeal since we felt his PT goofed, but could never talk to him. So she lost her LTD, then her doctor. We couldn't pay the high cost of Cobra and then lost medical insurance. I suffer from a nerve disease and also lost my doctor since I lost insurance. We both lost our meds, etc.

We called Unum and one lady said my wife's records were clear and tried to fix it, but could not. We have to do an appeal. Since we have no insurance, we can't find a doctor that will do her forms for the appeal, so I assume we will lose the appeal, even though they have all her records. She has other medical conditions. Her blood makes no iron causing severe fatigue and a sleep disorder. She just falls asleep anytime anywhere. She actually falls asleep standing up. We feel both her doctor and Unum ** us. Why her doctor won't help and dropped her is beyond us. We can only assume he was standing behind his PT who made a mistake.

Since the function test, my wife's arm remains numb. We have no insurance, so she lives with it. Obviously, she lives in severe pain since she no longer is on her meds. I am disabled waiting on SS, but we live in poverty. Our home is now in foreclosure since we lost her LTD. Our heat pump was broken and we couldn't fix it and had no heat all winter except our wood stove. Her car was repossessed. She has fallen into severe depression and with her pain and can hardly get out of bed. Yet, Unum says she can work. If we lose the appeal, we will basically be homeless. We now have no income. I'm trying to start my own business back, but it will be hard with my nerve disease with no meds. We fear being homeless in a few months.

I worked 40+ years using either a typewriter or a computer keyboard 8 hours a day. I can no longer do that type of work with the constant pounding on a keyboard 8 hours a day. I received a temporary approval under "Reservation of Rights" in the amount of $100.00 a month. I feel that it has come to the point of almost harassment. I have been declared disabled by Social Security and they are constantly questioning this fact. If this is an example of their long-term disability, I would give this company an "F" for customer service. I don't feel it would be worthwhile consulting an attorney for $100.00 a month.

After close to a month, I received my first denial notice which stated "substance/drug abuse is not covered unless prescribed by a physician." This was their first stall attempt. The medication was prescribed. However, I decided to play along. I wrote them a long letter describing the situation. In addition, I provided the full year of pharmacy printouts which showed the **. In addition, my primary doctor wrote a letter stating he prescribed the ** and **, and my psychiatrist wrote a small note stating that he had prescribed the ** for generalized anxiety. I sent this package via certified mail on October 13th with high hopes.

I received my second declination on November 5th. This time, their reason was completely outrageous, and I know they are just trying to waste my time. They stated, "The diagnosis provided by my physician is generalized anxiety disorder and is excluded from the policy." The fact that I had anxiety and was being treated with ** in the past should have nothing to do with the fact that I was now claiming substance abuse as disability which they do cover. I am not disabled from anxiety. In fact, since being in rehab since August, I have not been on any medication whatsoever.

I do not think they can change my whole disability claim to "anxiety," because my doctor wrote I was being treated for anxiety in the past on a prescription pad. I filled out all the legal appropriate forms and had the rehab doctor sign the disability forms stating substance abuse was my disability. NY state paid my disability. I have some meager sick time left from my job, but it is not enough to support my family. And it irritates me that through this all, first Unum is still being paid every pay period and not paying me on my claim. Now, they say they want my full private medical records, and I am not sure if I should give that to them. They already have enough information.

I worked for my company for over 15 years and voluntarily paid out of each paycheck for added disability benefits. After several mergers and years, I am still considered on a leave of absence. How bizarre is this. The company has been satisfied with my doctors but not Unum. They were satisfied to take my premiums for 14 years and qualified to say I can lift 20 lbs or more when my doctors do not agree.

My home is in jeopardy of foreclosure. My car payment is behind. Doctor bills are behind. I no longer have medical insurance. I cannot take many of my prescribed medication. I have a hospital bill of $20,000 or more and payments are delinquent (because I was hospitalized after insurance coverage). My medical bills are enormous and like many, I am in constant pain.

I worked for the Mental Health Association of Southeastern PA for 9 years, and for the last 7 of those years, I was a project director. I loved my work and thrived there. After the fall, I gradually became worse from the pain, the migraines, and fibromyalgia flare ups. My father died, and I had a terrible time of grief. The migraines became so frequent and so bad that I was unable to continue my work and had to take a leave of absence. I realized that I was too sick to work, and I applied for STD through my employer insurance, Unum.

Well, I had one hell of a time with constant paperwork, doctor visits, more paperwork, and more requests from Unum for more and more proof, until I ended up having a nervous breakdown. I felt suicidal and had to be admitted in the local hospital behavioral unit for a week. Unum demanded all my records from my mental health providers, and pressured me to send them everything. My therapist and doctor would not send my progress notes, only the dates and times of appointments. I did get short term and then long term disability after Unum made me go to Philadelphia to see an independent neurological specialist to determine the extent of my problems.

Finally, they gave me long term benefits. They pressured me to sign papers to get LTDs and demanded that I pay them my social security award, which I did not do. They began to a portion of my LTD benefits as repayment to them from me for what I have no idea. My long term monthly benefit is $1,495.00. They keep it. Every month from February of 2007, they continue to keep my monthly benefit. They want to sue me for a total of $55,000.00. My social security award was a little over $12,000.00 and I used that money to move to Florida to give family support to my sister, and to my mother who was dying of lung cancer. She passed on in February of 2008.

I am surviving on my social security income, about $1,000.00 per month. Believe me, I am not complaining about that because I am grateful to have it. But I am being grossly mistreated by Unum and they are getting paid somehow. They are supposed to be sending me a check but they are keeping it. I really need an attorney to help me to fight for this and to sue Unum provident for all of the pain and suffering this has caused me and my family members. I could not afford to have a funeral for my own dear mother, thanks to them.

Since I am not receiving my Unum LTD benefits, I had to move into a small place. I cannot afford clothing or shoes. I have to get free food, sometimes from the food pantry and other charitable places. I cannot afford a vehicle. I had to give up a lot of things I used to enjoy, like cable TV, a telephone, outside activities. My mother’s cremated remains are in a box on my bedroom dresser. My friends are providing me with a cell phone and internet access (great friends). I never get to go out to eat, or to shop for clothes or anything like that. I can't afford a car, so I very seldom get to go anywhere due to the physical disabilities I have. I can't afford fruits and vegetables all the time or all the right foods for a diabetic diet.

I can't afford to go to a dentist. I can't get my glasses repaired or afford an eye exam. I have glaucoma. I make "too much" money with SSD and I cannot get approved for welfare of any kind. The quality of my life has gone down so far, that I simply survive and exist to survive each day. There are days we have little to eat but a cup of soup and an egg sandwich, and we are happy to have that. There are many times we can't even afford a roll of toilet paper and we have to ask neighbors.

I requested a copy of my employer's contract and it clearly states "If your disability earnings fluctuate, Unum may average your disability earnings over the most recent 3 months to determine if your claim should continue." The contract goes on to state they will not terminate your benefits unless beyond 24 months of disability payments, the average of your disability earnings from the last 3 months exceeds the gross disability payment. My gross disability payment is $1,673.26 per month, and my average earnings over Nov., Dec. and January were $1,577.37 which is clearly below.

I have requested an appeal, only to have it denied. Unum states they can calculate my income on a common basis and are projecting that I will make over the limit. This is totally untrue since I have not worked nor will be able to work over 4.5 hours because of my medical condition. I am not being denied disability due to my documented illness, but simply because Unum has decided to calculate my income in a way that is not conducive to the policy. I have gone to my Human Resources regarding this issue to no avail since they no longer use Unum as their disability carrier which is why I believe they are denying my benefits. There are 2 months out of the year that I do receive three paychecks, so for those 2 months, I have not received benefits from Unum, because I was over the allowed monthly income amount. I don't have a problem with that. You simply cannot talk to anyone there regarding this issue. I was told to file for Social Security disability if I did not like the decision. I am trying to do the right thing by working as many hours as I can and feel as though I am being punished for it. I would appreciate any advice. Thank you.

The check came. It was almost 17,000. I paid off my truck, I paid off hospital bills, etc. Two months later, I received a bill from Unum for this amount in full within 30 days. I called. They asked my rep's name who had told me to pay off bills with the money. They said that was their money. I called social security. They said they had never heard such a thing that was insurance like life insurance, you can have as much as you want as many policies as you want to pay for.

So I called Unum back, asked to speak to the rep who had told me this. She was no longer my rep, no longer with the company, and they would no longer be paying my monthly payment to me. They would be keeping it to pay themselves back for the overpayment, since I was stupid and paid off hospital bills with my social security check. Since this time, I went through 15 surgeries and ended up having my leg amputated and finding out I am HIV positive, I am so depressed all the time, and now, because I am learning to walk with a prosthesis and have been released from my orthopedic because it is out of his hands now, Unum is bugging and bugging and bugging me and needing this and that form filled out and blah blah blah.

I told the gentleman I am dealing with, "Now look **, I just went through my three-year evaluation with social security and they still deem me disabled. What more do you need?" My Unum policy is as long as I am deemed disabled. They have to pay me to age 65. I am 33. This is a very long time to be harassed and put through their stress.

Unum asks again and again for documents they already have in their possession. And I definitely feel like they are stalling.

Once, my benefits specialst called me 10 minutes before she was to leave for the weekend to tell me they haven't received a response from one of my doctors and now they would require an extra 30 days to process my claim. (Even though they already knew this doctor only made an insert for my shoe and gave me no medical treatment.)

Every other week, they request information from a different doctor - which only prolongs the process and, in turn, they again said they had to take an additional 30 days to process my claim. Like I said -- they already have ALL of this information!!

I'm broke. I literally have less than $10 in my bank acount and all of my bills are MORE than overdue. Creditors call me EVERY day. I can't take it much longer.

My partner can't afford to take care of everything, which has also put a tremendous strain on our relationship because her bills are now behind because of me.

And here's the thing - according to Unum in order to receive benefits, I must be currently be receiving dotor treatment for my foot BUT I can't afford to go to the doctor because i do not have the money to pay the doctors -- so what do I do? Unum's got me either way!

It's going on 3 months and if it weren't for my partner I would be out on the streets -- if something doesn't happen soon, we may BOTH be out on the streets. I am completely depressed, broke, AND out of a job. Please help!

I called my employer and they denied they had ever told UNUM that. What was more, the indiviual I was communicating with thought I could still perform my work duties in spite of the fact I lived 25 miles round trip to my workplace and could not drive ( I broke my right ankle) per my doctors orders. Additionally, the cast would not allow me to wear most of my work clothes. When I protested these determinations, the agent became extremely rude and suggested I was trying to pull something. I was completely disgusted by the whole incident.

I never received a penny in compensation from UNUM insurance. They are not in the least bit helpful and the premiums, although inexpensive are a waste of money. They seek any possible means for denying a claim. I did not know this web site existed or I would have provided this information a long time ago.I do not expect any compensation at this late date but I want others to know about this disreputable company.

At the time my accident occured we were not doing well financially.The money sure would have helped. I wouldn't say any damages occured as a result, although we really had to struggle as my income was vitally needed. However, the agent I was dealing with was so upsetting I had to start taking medication for my nerves.

Unum has sent me $350 dollars in 10 weeks,they are (reviewing)!! my case since it is in long term status now.It's a good thing my children are grown now, because we would be homeless and starving to death waiting on unum to pay what they owe.It is mighty strange,my employer deducted money every single week out of my check without missing a beat for 18 years,every since they started the std/ltd program.Between unum and my employer,they gave me several different fax and phone numbers,said they have tried to reach me by phone,which they have'nt,wont call my doctors,but they did call my therapist to see if they knew me.I have sent them countless sheets of paper from doctors and therapists.They didn't believe i have been taking therapy since november 2007.

Have had to quit therapy 2x because of complications popping up.I've been widowed or 2 years,my 3 children are grown,two are out of college,one is a junior in college.They are struggling trying to help me and themselves.If it wasn't for my church and my family,i would have been kicked out of my apt,wouldn't have any utilities,and very close to losing my car.For the life of me i can't understand how unum continually gets by with these tactics,with all of the past and present lawsuits.Is there anyway they can be stopped?

I reported that to my doctor along with something that did make my back hurt which was a long bike ride through soft beach sand. I got off the bike and walked it to the hard sand so I could resume riding it. The strenuous efforts of trying to ride in the soft sand caused immediate pain which was why I walked the bike. I have arthritis, osteoporosis, bone spurs, steel rods and screws in my back and am in pain daily. Unum asked for an update letter from my surgeon which was sent 4/10/08. On 4/30/08 they called to say they had not received it so I faxed a copy on the spot. Now they are telling me they will probably send me to another Orthopedic Surgeon to be evaluated even though they have numerous letters, follow up reports and copies of all MRIs.

If their doctor pronounces me fit with a quick office visit I will be cut off financially, addicted to narcotics, and still have no ability to work. When I asked how am I supposed to get a job, much less one just like I had, when I am in this position they told me that is not their problem. What a company. Glad I paid my premiums for 20 years. Now I can get ready to lose my home and any assets I may have because of a 10 minute ride on a jet ski.

I explained in writing several times thru fax, but was ignored. Every week I was getting multiple calls and at that point, was scared to talk with them The doc office advised that I not tell them anything, just keep refering them to my doc. Then I get another letter saying I would be going back to work full time April 1st - NO IDEA WHERE THEY GOT THAT DATE, not from me or the doc.

I ended up being able to go back full time April 7th THANK GOD and thoughtI would not hear from them again. WRONG, they have called me multiple times since, just recently again tonight and last Thursday - this from long term disability(Glenn Walker) - already told them once. I was under a lot of stress both financially and physically, and I truly feel, Unum was contacting me to the point of harrasement. PLUS in the beginning the number that was on their letter head was not the correct number. I would tell the people at the first number to update my file, and they just flat out didn't They were supposed to transfer me to HSBC Unum Provident.

When I was very ill, one person was SO RUDE I hung up on her and then found out all the calls I made had not updated anything. I understand that some people my fake a problem - I had plenty of documentation and doctors to prove what I was going through was not a fake. That didn't seem to matter to Unum. I have their letters and my faxes to back up what I'm saying and believe me there was much more.

I only received part pay and from Oct to Dec I got paid twice. and when I called them, they said it was HSBC. I also have uncerative colitis and this entire process was pretty upsetting that I had a flare up which was documented in Dec by the hospital as well as not being able to walk.

Economic damages: no longer could be independent, moved in with then boyfriend who had to pay my last 2 months rent on the apartment. Could not get unemployment because I was not well enough to work. Found a job working from home, but later the company wanted me to commute. I could not stay alert enough to drive the distance and I quit that job. Stayed off work for a few months and found a low paying job at the city of Houston. I have been ill off and on throughout, but in October I had a serious episode with this illness. I was off for 2 months, then went back part time. I cannot seem to make a full week of work because of the exhaustion.Ii have a sleep specialist, neurologist, endocrinologist, primary care, psychiatrist and in April they have referred me to a rheumatologist.

When my SSDI came through, oddly enough, they (Unum) decided to pay my claim in a lump sum. It came the same day as my SSDI did. I was told I could keep it. They bugged me every month because, heaven forbid, they had to pay me 100 dollars each month. That was my benefit. I was later put in collections for the $3,000.00 they had paid me, and I had to empty my pension to pay them back. They got off scott free.

As the years have progressed, my disability has gotten worse. I have fallen down my apt stairs and have broken my right foot in 2004, requiring reconstructive surgery. I had PT for 2 years. I recently in October re-broke the same foot. I walk with a cane now. I'm only 46 years old. I'm a prisoner in my own apt. (second floor) because I don't have enough money to move, and my apt. wants a 400 dollar transfer fee. I don't know how Unum employees sleep at night. They get away with not paying and leaving the government to foot the bill. I don't see things improving for myself and I feel deeply for all of you who told your stories.

Had to go into my pension and withdraw all my money. $3,000.00. Physically, I fall to the right, and mobility is an issue. They told me I could still work! I'm stuck on a 2nd floor apt. with no way to move. What I get paid a month, $892- apparently is too much for any kind of assistance. I live alone. And my disability gets worse each year.

And then the nightmare really began, it was my responsibility to get doctor reports, to prove my case should stay alive and not closed. Took Genex almost 2 yrs to get my SSDI, but an ironic thing happened when I got approved. Genex had my new address, but they sent to my old address, and faxed the approval to Unum. A phone call would have been appropriate, 3 days after approval of SSDI I received a letter form Unum saying I will need to fill out more info to keep my benefits coming. And a week later I received another letter from Unum's financial department stating I owed them $18,126.00, and then another letter came saying I had to sign over all rights of my Social Security Information, and if I did not my benefits would cease. I called the financial department and spoke to Ms Austin, who explained I would not be getting any back pay until all areas were straightened out accordingly to make sure I did not get overpaid. She said she would followup in January 2008. We spoke a few days ago and since I might not receive any payment at all due to personal reasons, they (Unum) have stated my benefits will cease and my monthly benefits will stop coming to repay what is owed to them. I am already in financial ruin and lost my home, and my vehicle, not much left but to file bankruptcy.

The consequences are marital problems and foreclosure on our home.

Anyway, UNUM was supposed to pay the difference between the SSDI amount and the UNUM amount which lowered UNUM's libility to about 1000.00 a month at the time.

We went bankrupt (legally in court) and never really recovered from UNUM'S crap and from that time approx 10-12 years ago, I've remained on SSDI and have never received a payment from UNUM which would be pretty big by now. Personally, I think they are all low lifes.

First thing, what right do they have to tell me I'm okay? Second, everyone heals differently, what could be good for one person is not good for another, therefore each claim should be looked at individually not as a rule. I am to return to work on May 15th, the company only wants to pay me for the time they think is reasonable, which is until April 23rd, which was my last Dr visit.

This company is very heartless and does not want to work with you on an individual basis.

I was unable to meet my financial obligations, so I had to borrow money just to make my bills, and promised to pay it back once UnumProvident paid me. I have just had surgery, which entails chunks of my body has been removed, I have stitches inside & outside my body, and now I am having to deal with the stress of these people, and getting my bills paid, and trying to recuperate. This should my time for healing and getting my body back to normal, not fighting with a company who should be helping me not hurting me.

As a result of one of the surgeries, I have significant difficulty with short term memory, comprehension, coordinating, forgetting what I'm, and walking away, no matter what it might be. confused very easily, and unsteadiness on my right side, and sometimes I forget something is in my right hand, and I drop it or it falls.

I suffered from extreme sleep apnea, had turned blue three times, was put into the hospital with breathing difficulties, and the decision was made that I needed to take time off. I was not allowed to drive and had to get help getting to the doctor, 70 miles away as they helped me. I was put on a c-pap which helped some, but not enough to make it through a day. I was put in the hospital three times for studies and the doctor stated clearly that my apnea was clearly disabling, after extensive studies and she would fill out any paperwork.

Social Security was filed and granted when I had to resign, the worst day I experienced. Unum Provident determined I qualified, as well, but not for the illness. I have been bi-polar for 30 years and am monthly monitored. I have no career ending problems with this, but the agent, when I called and was upset at this decision, actually called me a mental case. I received the two years of benefits for the mental issue, not the full benefits due me. I filed an appeal, was turned down and when I complained about this I was told I had reached the end of my opportunities.

I had so much evidence but they pulled what they wanted. I am one of those in review, but I believe Unum is Unum. My agent is decent, but I fear I will have to enter a class action or private attorney.By the way, not only do they take away your benefits, they take away your dignity, which gives me cause to keep fighting, for you see, I am not a mental case.

I lost my benefits that should have continued beyend the two years to age 65. I am not able to work, the stress caused severe stomach damage so that I had to have surgery to have my entire stomach removed. Currently I am on morphine and Vicodan for adhesions from the surgery. I have tremendous difficulty wearing my c-pap mask as I sleep sitting up to prevent vomiting in the mask. During the day I sleep two to three times, preventing me even the energy to volunteer in a school.

my reimbursement should have been in trange of $ 50 - 70,000.00 at this time, which leaves me in financial distress

So finally after 9 or so months I received a call from April: Good news, I just wanted you to know that this is a medically supported claim. Fast forward to 2 weeks later, oh we can't pay you because you have to have a 20% loss....OK, well I'm a 40 hour employee, and I cut my hours by 8 a week, so that's 32 hours a month. To me that looks like a 20% loss.

I was moving from NH to Maine when they sent a second letter requesting additional information during the summer of 2005. I was moving to Maine because we couldn't afford to live in Milford NH anymore. Besides the fact that I have been unable to work since getting ill, the company my husband had worked for, for about 17 years was cutting everyone's hours back to 20 a week. We couldn't make our mortgage payments, pay our taxes and all the rest. We had to sell our house. We had to use the proceeds of the sale to pay off debts we had accrued, and we had to use what was left to live on.

My husband was working for UPS part time in the Nashua NH facility in addition to his other job and was told if we relocated they would give him a full time position in the Wells facility. That didn't happen. We moved to Maine because we have a piece of land in Kennebunk Maine. We lived in our pop up camper all last summer waiting for my husband to be made full time and all along hoping that we would be able to obtain financing to build a house. We had no mailing address until we could get a building permit. All our mail was being held in NH.

After finally receiving the request, filling out the information they requested and sending it back, I received a letter back from Unum claiming it "was too Late". So again they have managed to screw me out of the coverage I deserved.

I have been out of work for almost a year now, spending my days in various therapies and doctors appointments, dealing with chronic pain requiring an assortment of pain medications. I have spent many months regaining my ability to walk. I work more now trying to recover my health and my ability to work than I did as a full time nurse. But that's only the beginning and not the worst of the story.

I wish I could say that this was just a story about a nurse who got hurt, but it's not. I have been introduced to the world of numerous fraudulent business practices.

To start with, my workman's compensation case was denied (I later found out they had an attorney working on a denial of my case after I was in the hospital only a couple of days and I didn't even know I had a case). But I thought, I'll be OK ... I have disability insurance. Yea right!

I'm here to share with people that if they think they and their families are safe in case they lose their income due to an injury because they have a good job and have insurance, they're wrong and they better plan on a very long rainy day. My disability insurance company (like millions of others) is Unum Provident. And if you look up Unum on the internet, that gives you only a glimpse of their business practices.

But here's the real interesting part. My claim was not denied. I was approved, not once, not twice but several times by Unum. But do they pay? No! I have waited now for over 10 months to obtain my short and long term disability payments for which I have been repeatedly approved. I have spent countless hours, written countless letters and even have retained attorneys on my behalf. I have found that they can ignore my attorney just as easily as they ignore me. Unum's "business as usual" practice includes repeated requests for documentation that they have already received (I should state via certified and overnight mail). They act as if they have never received anything.

After my initial approval, they even sent me a check, but I was called at 6:00am the next morning by their representative to tell me that they had put a stop payment on that check and that "he was sorry, he had made an error in the amount". After their representative continued to tell me one thing and then another I decided to let my husband speak with him. We have concluded that lying and playing stupid is their normal business practice and we don't talk to them anymore but now have an attorney represent us.

After the initial stopped check, Unum said they would expedite another check for the correct amount which of course never arrived. Then Unum wrote to tell me that, well, maybe my case is not approved and they need all my hospital files to send to their medical director for review. Yet another month later, I received yet another letter, congratulating me once again because I was approved. Do I see a check? No! Then new letters with requests for more documents. At this point their is nothing else to send. I retained an attorney who has also sent them many letters and made many phone calls on my behalf. Nothing has worked.

What's worse, is that I live in Oregon which is a state with no laws to protect its workers. In other states you will see many people suing for this very thing -- yet in Oregon I have very little recourse though I hope the Oregon legislature will soon make a change and can only hope that myself and others in my situation are helped. Unum doesn't care how its business practices affect individuals. Unum has continued for years to operate in this manner even after countless millions of dollars have been paid in damages for this very thing.

Just because they are a billion dollar insurance company, they aren't above the law. It's time this type of business practice is stopped. We need to encourage our legislature in our states to get tough and protect its citizens.

I have had numerous adverse financial affects as a result of Unum's refusal to pay my approved disability claim. I have had to sell my beautiful home, run up enormous debt, and have a huge financial burden placed on my new marriage. And I'm one of the lucky ones as I'm married to a wonderful man who has been so supportive both emotionally and financially though it has been difficult for both of us to say the least.

If I were single, I would be homeless and destitute as a result of these practices. I'm only speaking now of my disability claim. I have much the same to say for my workman's compensation insurance company who operates in the same fashion. And not much positive things to say about my medical insurance who pays some but mostly denies most of my medical bills.