Tag Archives: unum
Unum Creates Ambiguities to Escape Bad Faith Liability
In California, “[t]he key to a bad faith claim is whether or not the insurer’s denial of coverage was reasonable,” which ordinarily is question of fact for the jury. Guebara v. Allstate Ins. Co., 237 F.3d 987, 992 (9th Cir. … Continue reading
Disability Insurers Mislead Claimants
In our last few blog posts, Insurance Bad Faith: Cherry-Picking Your Medical Records and Disability Insurers Misuse Independent Medical Examinations, we have examined the prohibitions from the 2005 Order that coincided with the California Regulatory Settlement Agreement with Unum. In this post, we … Continue reading
Insurance Bad Faith: Cherry-Picking Your Medical Records
In a previous blog post we discussed how disability insurers use independent medical examinations (IMEs) to their own advantage, despite explicit state prohibitions. In this post, we will look at another similar ban that is also part of the California … Continue reading
Disability Insurers Misuse Independent Medical Examination
In 2005, the California Insurance Commissioner fined Unum $8 million and ordered it to stop engaging in unfair business practices. The California Order specifically prohibits Unum from engaging in 28 activities. In the next few blog posts, we will take … Continue reading
Facebook Photos Lead to Disability Benefits Termination
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (“CBC”) reports that Nathalie Blanchard, an IBM worker who had been on long-term disability leave due to depression, had her benefit payments terminated after she posted photos on social networking site Facebook that showed her on vacation, having a … Continue reading
Tucson, Arizona Legislative Candidates’ Forum on Disability Policy
Secretary of State candidate Chris Deschene and nineteen Southern Arizona state legislative district candidates participated in a forum on disability policy on October 15, 2010 at the Tucson Marriott University Park. Peri Jude Radecic, the Executive Director of the Arizona Center … Continue reading
Ed Comitz – My Own Story
An active lifestyle has been important to me throughout my life. But after I severely injured my neck and head, I questioned whether I would ever be able to enjoy sports or be active again. Shortly after suffering injuries, I began to experience … Continue reading
Disability Insurance Claims: Who Gets Denied?
Answer: According to Ed Comitz, Phoenix disability insurance attorney, the answer is individuals with neck and back pain. Musculoskeletal disorders comprise 23% of new disability claims filed each year, says the Council for Disability Awareness, an insurance industry trade group. You … Continue reading
10 Worst Insurers Named by AAJ
The AAJ (American Association for Justice) recently released a report titled, ”The Ten Worst Insurance Companies in America.” A comprehensive investigation of insurers’ legal and financial filings was the bases for the conclusions reached by the AAJ. Read the entire report here: The Ten … Continue reading
California Orders Unum to Cease Unfair Practices
The state of California found Unum violated several state laws by engaging in unfair business practices when it denied legitimate disability insurance claims. Before the case went to court, though, the parties settled. In conjunction with the California Regulatory Settlement … Continue reading