Crohn’s Disease can be an extremely debilitating condition, causing many sufferers to be unable to work in capacities they were used to. However, Unum policyholder Connie Jean Huffman was denied her benefits time and again by the insurance giant, alleging that she was not permanently disabled.

After going through every possible appeal, Huffman filed a bad faith insurance lawsuit against Unum on Feb. 18, alleging the insurer denied her disability payments in violation of her contract.

The Tennessee woman depended on Unum to provide her with long-term disability (LTD) coverage if she were ever deemed permanently disabled. During tough times like these, people often drain their savings and are facing high medical bills. Unable to work, LTD coverage, and sometimes Social Security disability benefits, are the only source of incomes.

According to her Unum benefits complaint, 2013 was a trying year for Huffman. She filed claims for long-term disability benefits several times in 2013, getting rejected each time and having her appeals denied each time. During this time, Huffman wasn’t able to collect compensation but also wasn’t able to work. Funds were running low, and she saw an Unum complaint as the last resort.

“The Plaintiff has been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, a L5-S1 disc herniation requiring a fusion, a C5-6 herniated disc requiring surgical intervention, degenerative disc disease throughout the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis in the knees and hips,” according to her complaint. “The Plaintiff’s medical condition renders her “DISABLED” as defined in “DEFINITION OF DISABILITY” under the group policy which is the subject of this litigation; The Plaintiff has appealed all of the denials of her Application for Disability Benefits and all administrative remedies have been exhausted.”

The company’s claims denials have led to so many complaints that hundreds of Unum bad faith lawsuits have been filed. At the heart of these Unum lawsuits are numerous claims that the company wrongly denies and/or stops payments. It’s the largest LTD provider in the country, with the majority of businesses depending on it for coverage.

Many people don’t question the reputation of their policy provider until they’re facing a problem, and most hope they’ll never have to file an disability claim. There are also allegations in the Unum MDL that the company preys on its customers during some of their most difficult times.

A Questionable History

Unum has been under fire for years, with some (now former) employees revealing some questionable business practices. In an expose of UNUM by CBS, it was revealed that the company had written policies that provided financial incentives for workers who closed the most, or biggest, claims. The company also has a reputation for leading customers on wild goose chases, with many lawsuits including details of vague answers.

Huffman is asking for “a judgment against the Defendant for all accrued benefits, for any month she is disabled under the policy, for pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, for attorney fees, for future benefits and for any relief this Court deems proper under the circumstances.”

Like other Unum victims, Huffman exhausted all other resources before filing a bad faith insurance lawsuit. However, she believes it’s her only choice and opportunity to force the company to act as it promised.

The case is Connie Jean Huffman v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, Case No.: 2:14-cv-02115-STA, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee Division at Memphis.