Unum Accused of Denying Legitimate Disability Claims

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.

Evidence of Wrongdoing

However, evidence has come to light that Unum has unfairly denied disability insurance claims. According to interviews from Unum employees on the television program 60 Minutes, the company sets monthly “denial quotas.” Allegedly, claims adjusters are rewarded for meeting this quota by denying climates their benefits, or punished for failing to do so.

The news program 60 Minutes also interviewed a physician who claimed that he was fired for refusing to play ball with Unum’s efforts to deny coverage to their customers. Since the program, several former doctors that worked for Unum have testified in court that they were told to falsely claim that policyholders were in fact not disabled, without regard to their actual level of disability. Some employees of Unum have alleged that they were punished for bringing up concerns about denying coverage to eligible climates.

The American Association of Justice listed Unum as one of the “Ten Worst Insurance Companies in America.”

Unum Fraud Lawsuits Allege Wrongful Denials

Denying disability claims hits vulnerable people. Some of those denied disability coverage included people who had trouble walking, found themselves in constant pain, and could not even sit for long periods of time. These conditions could make working all but impossible — the very definition of what disability insurance is supposed to cover.

However, Unum policyholders have begun to fight back. Thousands of dollars in Unum lawsuit settlements have already been awarded for policyholders wrongly denied the benefits that they had paid for. In some cases, judges have ordered Unum to reinstate benefits, with interest. In some cases, the company has been ordered to pay attorney fees.

If you have been denied the disability benefits that you paid for, you may feel like you have few options, and have lost control of your situation. But you have rights, and can take steps to improve your situation. You can start by visiting the Unum/UnumProvident Disability Insurance Claim Denial Class Action Lawsuit Investigation page. Here, you can submit your information for review by a disability insurance lawyer who specializes in this type of insurance case. Your information will be reviewed, free of charge. From here, you may receive guidance on the next steps you can take to get control of your life back.