Unum Life Insurance Company is the leading provider of group disability insurance policies in the United States and is often accused of failing to pay long-term disability benefits.

Unum and subsidiaries Unum Provident and Paul Revere have have faced numerous Unum lawsuits accusing them of systematically using bad faith insurance denial practices by wrongfully denying claims for which policyholders should have been covered.

One of these policyholders has taken action and filed a Unum lawsuit, claiming that the giant insurance company unfairly denied her claim.

Plaintiff Lynne H., a Chicago resident, made a disability claim on her Unum policy when she could not longer work due to a diagnosis of Lupus and fibromyalgia, which causes her debilitating pain and fatigue, according to her Unum lawsuit. Unum made good on her long-term disability benefits for more than two years, but then terminated Lynne’s disability insurance policy in April 2014 without reason or cause, she alleges.

Lynne, who worked as an affirmative action analyst, claims that she is still disabled and therefore entitled to long-term disability benefits until she reaches 65. Despite her appeal and submission of proof that she meets the eligibility criteria under her Unum policy, Unum continues to deny her claim, allegedly premised on unsupported and erroneous allegations from non-examining personnel.

The Unum claim denial lawsuit further alleges that Unum’s disability claim denial constitutes a breach of fiduciary duty and that Lynne is entitled to all long term disability benefits due her since April 2014, plus interest that has accrued and reinstatement of her long term disability benefits until she is 65.

Examples of Unum Bad Faith Insurance Practices

Long-term disability insurers must act in good faith and deal fairly with their policyholders when processing claims. This doesn’t always happen. Here are some of the most common examples of alleged Unum insurance actions that can violate the law:

• Delaying payment on a valid claim without justification
• Failing to respond to disability policyholder requests
• Making endless demands for additional information
• Making an unreasonable request or the failure to order an Independent Medical Examinations (IME)
• Performing an invalid Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE)
• Not complying with ERISA rules and regulations
• Ignoring new medical, occupational or financial information
• Conducting selective video surveillance of claimants
• Making a low-ball settlement offers or policy buyout offer
• Misinforming policyholders about the terms of the policy
• Failing to independently evaluate all of the conditions that prevent returning to work

The Unum Claim Denial Lawsuit is Case No. 1:15-cv-02429, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.

If you or a loved one have suffered a serious disability while insured by Unum or its subsidiaries and have been denied disability claims, you may be eligible to file a Unum claim denial lawsuit.