Is Unum Trying to Justify Denying Your Disability Insurance Claims?

A disability insurance policy is a contract between two parties—the insured and the insurer—that creates rights and responsibilities on both sides. At its most basic, a disability insurance policy requires the insured to pay a monthly premium. In exchange, the insurer provides disability benefits should the insured unexpectedly become disabled. Those with disability insurance understandably assume that they will receive disability benefits should they become unable to work after a disabling illness or injury. After all, if you have held up your end of the bargain under the contract shouldn’t your insurance company do the same?

Unfortunately, disability insurance companies leave thousands of their customers high and dry when they need help the most. At DarrasLaw, our disability insurance lawyers and ERISA attorneys are committed to helping people when Unum or other big insurance companies wrongfully deny their disability insurance claims. We offer free consultations, which can include an analysis of your insurance policy and help with your disability insurance claim. To discuss your case with a Unum disability insurance claim attorney today, call our office at (800) 898-7299 or send us an email through our online contact form.

Unum Disability Insurance Denials: A Checkered Past

Unum claims, “The Company is committed to serving its customers with the highest standards of business ethics and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.” Significant concerns about the way the company handles disability insurance claims, however, have prompted regulators to pursue prior legal action against Unum.

• In 2005, Unum entered into a settlement agreement that required it to change its disability insurance claims practices, reassess some long-term disability claims as far back as 1997, and pay a hefty fine. The settlement agreement resulted from an investigation conducted by insurance regulators in all 50 states and American Samoa, and a related investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor.
• A 2008 examination conducted by the state of California found that out of 191 reassessed disability insurance claim files, seven might have violated a 2005 settlement agreement that Unum executed with the state Department of Insurance. Violations included the company’s failure to apply the settlement agreement’s definition of total disability and the failure to effectuate prompt, fair, and equitable settlements in which liability had become reasonably clear.

In addition to these actions, Unum has faced a significant number of lawsuits from individual and group policyholders who allege the wrongful denial of their individual, short and long-term disability benefits.

A Disability Insurance Claim Lawyer or ERISA Attorney Can Help You

A denial does not necessarily mean that you will never receive disability insurance benefits under your Unum policy. However, just as Unum employs multiple ways to justify wrongful denials, its customer care claim representatives are also skilled in challenging the appeals of denied disability insurance claims—so hire an Unum insurance appeal attorney who understands how to effectively and aggressively defend your rights and get the disability insurance benefits you deserve.