Robert Griffin III and the Disability Insurance Reality

By Sarah Mirando | January 18, 2013

Category: Pharmaceuticals

By John Curran

Pro athletes like Robert Griffin III, popularly nicknamed RGIII, are beginning to understand the reality of private disability insurance protection. It’s unclear whether or not the Redskins quarterback who tore multiple ligaments during an NFL playoff game has a policy, but he certainly would not be alone. Numerous athletes have signed up in recent years because of a lack of league protection. It makes sense: millions of dollars are at stake without help from UnumProvident disability insurance or other firm’s plans.
Watching a player who had been a sprinter in college hobble like a nursing home resident drove home how much physical ability matters to someone in professional sports. While on the subject, Griffin shares something in common with a construction worker, or even a logger in the Washington forests. They, too, can lose a million dollars in lost wages if they are injured in their 20s or 30s without disability insurance. It’s not the $22 million guaranteed for Griffin, but it is a substantial sum and it is all based on physical capabilities.

What is less clear is whether people who work in offices or on a computer during the day truly need private disability insurance. Problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome do exist as on-the-job injuries, but in general the risks are not as great as an auto mechanic who risks a car lift crushing his or her leg. UnumProvident disability insurance and other providers do offer private policies, but doing the math on benefits covering up to 60 percent of income often doesn’t work out in the favor of buying a policy.

It is important to note that getting Social Security disability insurance benefits can take a long time. However, the fact that many individuals have had to hire disability insurance lawsuit attorneys simply to get the benefits they deserve adds another problematic wrinkle to the situation. An athlete has access to top-notch legal teams. An average office worker has to choose carefully to have a shot.

Unfortunately, many workers have faced unfair claim denials from UnumProvident, which has a storied history of denying legitimate disability insurance claims to raise its bottom dollar.

Many employees were not aware of the numbers and risks for Unum claim denials. As a result, many have had to sue Unum to get the benefits they deserve. Visit the Unum/UnumProvident Disability Insurance Claim Denial Class Action Lawsuit Investigation to learn more about what legal options are available. Going to trial is not an option due to the contract language in most policies, but rather goes before a judge for a hearing. Finding an experienced disability insurance lawsuit attorney improves the odds of success in obtaining deserved benefits.