Unum is a popular long-term disability insurance provider covering many workers in Atlanta and surrounding areas. Although the company claims to provide “Better benefits, delivered differently,” the reality is that many policyholders have found the insurer has not handled their claims fairly.
If you received an Unum long-term disability denial, you are not the only one. The insurer has been found to have improperly denied claims in the past, often acting in bad faith when doing so.
You have rights as a policyholder, though, including, potentially, being able to pursue a claim regulated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) if you received your long-term disability plan as a workplace benefit
Unfortunately, navigating the system to appeal a denied claim can be complicated. An Atlanta long-term disability lawyer can help. The legal team at Julie A. Rice Attorneys at Law & Affiliates has extensive experience representing clients facing LTD denials and ERISA denials, and we can put our legal knowledge of insurance rules to work for you.
Give us a call today to learn more.
Common complaints against Unum and reasons for false denials
If you are unable to work because of a disabling medical condition and you are covered by Unum, Unum is supposed to help you. However, some policyholders claim that Unum has allegedly engaged in unfair tactics in the past to delay or deny disability claims for Atlanta residents whose work abilities are impacted by a disabling illness or injury.
Some of the most common issues Unum policyholders in Atlanta and surrounding areas complain of include:
- Unum claiming they didn’t receive documents that you know you or your care providers sent
- Unum overburdening medical health professionals with continuous requests for documents to try to delay or deny your claim
- Unum sending you a different amount of money than you agreed to
- Unum trying to require claimants to fully repay benefits after qualifying for SSD
- Failing to respond promptly to policyholder communications
- Unum unfairly denying claims
Why was your Unum long-term disability claim denied?
If your claim is denied, Unum typically must provide a written reason for the denial. You could have your claim denied if you:
- Do not fulfill the requirements in the policy to be classified as disabled
- Failed to provide sufficient medical evidence of your disability
- Have a disability that your Unum policy does not cover
Your claim may also be denied for other reasons as well. While there are some legitimate reasons for a claim being denied, Unum often stretches the truth, overlooks key information, or looks for other justifications to deny legitimate claims.
How can you file an appeal to Unum?
Unum will provide information with your denial letter about how you can appeal the decision. You should pay careful attention to the deadline to make sure you don’t lose your chance to contest your denied claim.
Appealing a denial can require submitting additional information to maximize your chances of a different outcome, such as more medical documentation of your disability.
If Unum fails to approve you after your appeal, you may also need to pursue other legal options, the specifics of which will depend on whether your policy is covered by ERISA or not. You typically must exhaust the internal appeals process first, though.
Getting help from an Atlanta long-term disability lawyer
If you live in or around the Atlanta area and Unum denied your long-term disability claim, reach out to Julie A. Rice Attorneys at Law & Affiliates today to get help from an experienced long-term disability lawyer today.