More Unum Insurance Complaints Flood In

By Jessica Tyner

Top Class Actions has been receiving throngs of complaints about Unum Insurance Company from people claiming that Unum irrationally declines valid disability claims -- leaving the policyholders stuck with insurmountable medical debt. The complaints mirror legal action taken against Unum, with dozens of Unum fraud lawsuits being filed each year. Judy from Portland, Oregon, is just one of the many recent Unum claim denial victims.

As a nurse for a mobile unit, Judy’s work takes her to a number of different medical clinics and settings. In 2004, she got a staph infection that wasn’t treatable by penicillin from a simple paper cut. Once the infection entered her bloodstream, it spread quickly and caused Judy to spend weeks in the hospital in so much pain that she could barely move. Her critical condition kept her out of work for a year as she went through rehabilitation in an effort to re-learn how to walk.    

More... Add new comment

Unum Accused of Denying Legitimate Disability Claims

By Robert J. Boumis

Unum is the largest disability insurance company in the world. Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, this company handles roughly 40 percent of the disability claims in the United States. However, Unum has been accused of systemically denying valid claims against the people who trusted them for disability insurance.

Unum is a Major Player in the Insurance Market

Unum is a powerhouse in the insurance business and is a Fortune 500 company. It was formed by the merger of Unum of Portland, Maine and Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company of Chattanooga, Tennessee. When they first merged in 1998, they went by UnumProvident Corporation. In 2007, the company shortened its name to Unum as part of a re-branding effort. This insurance company provides a variety of insurance benefits, including life insurance, employee benefits, and disability insurance. Over 17 million Americans have disability insurance through Unum.

More... Add new comment

Federal Disability Insurance Claims Lead to Judges' Suit

By John Curran

There is a backlog of Social Security Disability Insurance claims that stretches back for months or, on average, more than one year, leading to judges acting as government claim denial specialists. However, the political football of ensuring that deserving applicants get benefits while reducing fraud has led to a union lawsuit on behalf of administrative law judges.

They represent the second line of opportunity for people to get disability insurance benefits, after state claim denial specialists reject the majority of initial claims. The administrative law judges, who may also handle the appeals of Unum disability insurance beneficiaries, have complained that they cannot adequately review claims. Last year, Judge Randall Frye told Congress that they can only spend two and a half hours per case, including 30-60 minutes for the hearing itself.

More... 1 comment

UnumProvident Claim Denials Put in Media Spotlight

By Courtney Coren

Unum is an insurance company that provides employee benefits to 17 million Americans -- including disability, life, accident and critical illness insurance -- as coverage during times of unexpected illness or injury that may require a prolonged absence from work. It’s the type of insurance that is there to provide peace of mind when the unexpected happens.

In 1999, Unum merged with Provident insurance company, and almost immediately, several lawsuits began to come out against the large insurance company. UnumProvident was then sued by several customers claiming they were unjustly denied disability payments that they should have received in 2002.

More... Add new comment

Unum Plaintiff Awarded Attorneys' Fees in Wrongful Claim Denial Lawsuit

By Anne Bucher

Tanya Mondolo had been diagnosed with leukemia and received chemotherapy to treat the disease. She developed avascular necrosis, a type of bone death, from the chemotherapy treatments. She also suffers from fibromyalgia. Due to these conditions, she cannot sit for long periods of time and she has trouble walking. Despite her serious health problems, Unum denied her disability payments.

In 2011, Tanya Mondolo filed a lawsuit against Unum under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). In January 2013, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ruled in her favor, finding that Unum had improperly denied her insurance benefits. The court found that the insurance company did not adequately investigate her insurance claim. The judge ordered Unum to reinstate her benefits with interest. At that time, the judge found that Mondolo’s Unum lawyers could file a motion to recover attorneys’ fees.

More... 1 comment

Unum Lawsuit Ruled in Favor of Plaintiff, Twice

By Christina Drury

Unum offers disability benefits to those who need them, typically backing employer’s disability plans. The concept of the plan is good; however, many people have experienced difficulties getting their Unum disability insurance claims approved after becoming injured.