A former corporate compliance officer for Maine Health has filed a lawsuit in federal court against Unum Life Insurance Company over his disability insurance claim denial.

According to the disability insurance claim denial lawsuit, plaintiff Stephen P., a resident of Maine, had been a participant of the long-term disability plan that had been sponsored by Maine Health.

The plaintiff worked as the Director of Commercial Finance/Corporate Compliance Office at Maine Health. However, he left the job in October 2015 due to lower extremity pain and nerve damage. According to the complaint, he felt continued and constant “pain, aching, throbbing, stabbing, burning pain with associated numbness and tingling.”

The disability insurance claim denial lawsuit alleges that the pain that Stephen felt interfered with his daily activities, including his ability to work.

Stephen alleged he also suffered such continued and debilitating pain that he considered and consulted about amputation. However, he decided against having the procedure since moving forward via amputation may not resolve the pain.

According to the disability insurance claim denial lawsuit, however, he did undergo a procedure in which he was implanted with a “nerve stimulator into his spine to attempt to block nerve signals that are believed to cause [his] pain.”

The disability insurance claim denial lawsuit further contends that the plaintiff’s narcotic medication, including opioid pain medication such as oxycodone and OxyContin, causes him to suffer from significant fatigue.

Stephen says he became disabled in October 2015, at which time he stopped working for Maine Health.

The disability insurance claim denial lawsuit further alleges that he was approved by Unum for short-term disability benefits but then later filed a claim for long-term disability benefits. He was later denied for the long-term disability benefits in May 2016.

In June 2016, the plaintiff was sent for an independent medical examination by a Dr. Stephen Katz. The disability insurance claim denial lawsuit alleges that Dr. Katz agreed the plaintiff’s “condition has reached maximum medical improvement and it was more of a pain management issue at that point.”

Despite the doctor’s recommendations, however, Unum upheld is determination to deem the plaintiff ineligible for long-term disability benefits.

Several people have filed Unum lawsuits alleging that the insurance company failed to properly pay them long-term disability benefits that had been stated under the insurance policy plans.

Like Stephen, they allege that the insurance company unfairly denied their claims. Not only do they claim the company unfairly denied their claims, but they also allege the company purposely denies these claims in an attempt to increase revenue and profit.

There have also been former employees that have alleged these accusations against the company. These employees claim the company for no other reason denies these claims to increase profit and fulfill the company’s quota.

The Disability Insurance Claim Denial Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-00362-NT, in the State of Maine Superior Court.