03 May

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Vertebral Compression Fracture and Wedging Claim Denial by UNUM Overturned by Federal Judge

Vertebral Compression Fracture Disability Claim

One of the most painful back injuries is a compression fracture of the spine that results in wedging and a loss of height of the vertebral body. The bone of the spine can collapse and, as it heals, wedge. The spinal bone can also fracture and fragment. That is known as a Retropulsed fragments. The fracture fragment is displaced into the spinal canal, potentially causing a spinal cord injury. Common Causes and Symptoms of Vertebral Compression Fracture The common causes are due to trauma, like ejection from a car or ejection seat, or something as “simple” as osteoporosis, lytic lesions, tumors, or infection. Symptoms...

02 May

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UNUM’s Claim that Policy Holder’s Back Pain was Out of Proportion to the Evidence of Radiculopathy on Exam Reversed by Federal Judge

Posted by Nancy Cavey

in UNUM Insurance Company

Radiculopathy ERISA UNUM Disability Attorney

One of the common reasons disability carriers like UNUM deny or terminate benefits is the argument that the policy holder’s pain is out of proportion to examination findings and, therefore, the policy holder isn’t disabled by the terms of the disability plan or policy. Many times, disability carriers can get away with this argument because the disability plan or policy has “get out jail free” language that grants the plan or policy the discretion to determine whether the policy holder is disabled. It can be extremely hard to legally prove that a disability carrier has abused its discretion in denying a...

18 July

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UNUM’s Current Tricks To Reduce Policy Holder’s Disability Benefits In Settlement Negotiations

Posted by Nancy Cavey

in UNUM Insurance Company

Disability Benefits In Settlement Negotiations UNUM Policy

UNUM disability policies, like most disability policies, have an "other income" provision that allows the disability carrier to reduce the gross LTD benefits by the receipt of the policyholders Social Security Disability benefits and that of the policyholder's dependents. Unum has started offsetting dependent Social Security benefits to 19 years and 2 months. There is a Social Security Administration provision that allows children still in high school to receive benefits to age 19 and 2 months if they are continuing as a full-time student at a secondary or elementary school. Normally the benefits would stop at age 18 unless the child...

21 March

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Learn How Easily Carriers Like UNUM Have Denied Mental Illness Claims

Posted by Nancy Cavey

in UNUM Insurance Company

UNUM has been the subject of a national lawsuit as a result of it’s claims handling which is ultimately settled. But unfortunately, UNUM continues to engage in questionable claims handling process. Many UNUM policies have a provision that provides that the long term disability claims can be terminated under a mental nervous limitation. Most mental nervous limitations provide that benefits will be paid for two years at which time the benefits will be stopped. While we understand that policy limitation, what happens if the UNUM policy holder has a herniated disc which causes depression or anxiety. Obviously it's the physical condition that...

01 November

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Paul Revere and UNUM Provident Claim’s Denial Tactics | Explained by UNUM Long Term Disability Denied Attorney Nancy Cavey

Posted by Nancy Cavey

in UNUM Insurance Company

UNUM and Paul Revere have been found to have engaged in “conscious course of conduct firmly grounded established company policies that disregard the rights of insured’s,” Hangarter v. Provident Life An Accident Insurance Company, 373f.3d998, 1014 (9th Circuit 2004). A jury returned a punitive verdict at over $10 million against UNUM Provident and Paul Revere finding that Provident had used round table reviews involving claim’s personnel, medical staff, vocational staff, legal counsel and management personnel. These round table reviews were focused on high indemnity claims, all notes about who participated in the meeting,...

01 November

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Paul Revere and Provident Found Guilty of Mishandling Subjective Claims for Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia

Posted by Nancy Cavey

in UNUM Insurance Company

If you are a Paul Revere, UNUM Provident policyholder who suffers from Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue and whose claim has been denied, pay attention! In a case called Hangarter v. Provident Life: An Accident Insurance Company, 373f.3d998, 1014 (9th Circuit 2004) found that in the early 1990’s UNUM Provident realized that policies made on own occupation insurance policies that they had sold was putting UNUM Provident at financial risk. The court in Hangarter found that as a result, that UNUM changed its claims handling practices and philosophy from a company that once willingly paid...

01 November

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An Interesting Article in Chattanooga Times Free Press on UNUM

Posted by Nancy Cavey

in UNUM Insurance Company

An interesting article in Chattanooga Times Free Press, UNUM Chief Executive Office Tom Watjen, sat down with a Chattanooga Times Free Press reporter to discuss “UNUM’s success despite the economic downturn.” We know where UNUM’s successes come from. Did you know that UNUM’s operating income has jumped more than 42% since 2006 and their earnings per share has increased 39% during the same time? Unfortunately, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported Brain Lezendy didn't ask Mr. Watjen the right questions. Those questions that should have been asked: 1. The number of claims that they have received during this time period? 2. How...

01 November

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Cancer is the Leading Cause of UNUM Disability Claims

Posted by Nancy Cavey

in UNUM Insurance Company

Many Long Term Disability carriers such as UNUM, track very closely the leading causes of payment in Long Term Disability benefits. In a May 3, 2010 press release, UNUM advised for the “9th consecutive year, cancer is the leading cause of Long Term Disability claims for UNUM. They constituted over 11.8% of the Long Term Disability claims in 2009.” UNUM has prepared a booklet called “Moving Down: Cancer Survivors at Work.” UNUM is aggressive about attempting to return those who have been diagnosed with cancer to work and their statistics show that 50-70% of...

28 October

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Florida UNUM Disability Claims | UNUM Disability Denial Facts

Posted by Nancy Cavey

in UNUM Insurance Company

UNUM, headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is the United State's largest provider of employer sponspred group disability benefits "providing benefits for 42% of today's Fortune 500" businesses. Unfortunately, it is our experience as Florida UNUM Disability Denial lawyers that UNUM does not deliver what it promises to those businesses who purchase group disability insurance for its employees. UNUM's website would have you believe that the "foucs is on recovery." Long term disabilty benefits from UNUM "can replace part of your income so you can focus on recovery instead of worrying about your ability to pay the bill." Unfortunately, as a Florida disability...

28 October

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Tampa Bay UNUM Provident Denial Attorneys | UNUM Locations

Posted by Nancy Cavey

in UNUM Insurance Company

If you have any questions about your UNUM Provident disability policy or have a question about filing a disability claim, I suggest you order a free copy of my book "Robbed Of Your Peace Of Mind." This book will help answer your questions about your UNUM disability policy and explain the claims process. You can also contact UNUM at their Corporate offices. Corporate offices 1 Fountain Sq Chattanooga, TN 37402 423-294-1011 2211 Congress Street Portland, ME 04122 207-575-2211 18 Chestnut Street Worcester, MA 01608 774-437-4441 655 N. Central Avenue Suite 900 Glendale, CA 91203 800-424-2008 1200 Colonial Life Blvd. Columbia, SC 29230 803-798-7000 or call UNUM Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. EST at 1-866-679-3054. Remember your call ...