UnumProvident Insurance opens the door to reassess over 200,000 previously denied disability claims

October 17, 2005 (PRLEAP.COM) Business News
Los Angeles, California - With news of UnumProvident’s multi-million dollar lawsuit settlements, consumers turn to LawyersandSettlements.com for free case evaluations from U.S. lawyers specializing in Insurance Law. Consumers who may qualify for legal assistance include those with denied claims on disability insurance policies provided by or administered by Unum Life Insurance Company of America, The Paul Revere Life Insurance Company, and Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company.

In 2003, UnumProvident was under investigation from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) due to allegations of unfair business practices involving wrongfully denying disability claims and violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

After formal investigations, Unum settled a lawsuit for $15 million which involved 48 states accusing the insurance provider of unfair claims settlement practices. In the settlement process, Unum agrees to reassess over 200,000 previously denied claims from as far back as 1997, whether or not the claimant is still disabled.

The State of California did not participate in the 2004 class action lawsuit and brought the case further by alleging that the corporation supported 25 unlawful business practices. Backed by California’s strong consumer-rights laws, the state’s Department of Insurance recently won the precedent setting case which included an $8 million dollar fine and major modifications to Unum’s claims handling practices. This California settlement is a big win for consumers nationwide as it raises the bar for claims handling practices toward disability insurance; consumers are hopeful that these improvements will carry over to health insurance practices.

California consumers who were denied benefits from the UnumProvident entities between January 1, 1997 and September 30, 2005 will now be eligible for claim reassessment; these claimants only have 60 days to submit their reassessment information. Since the process involves waiving certain rights to receive benefits or compensation, Insurance Law specialists advise consumers to seek legal assistance.

UnumProvident and its subsidiaries provide individual and group insurance programs to over 25 million people worldwide. Their programs include disability income protection, life insurance, long-term care and critical illness insurance. Unum claims that they have already undergone tremendous internal changes to repair and improve practices and notes they have a $25 billion dollar reserve for potential claims.

Several leading Insurance Law professionals, advertising on LawyersandSettlements.com, are providing free case evaluations for consumers that were denied insurance benefits. To learn more, visit: https://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/case/first_unum

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