Had about all I can handle.

[The Straight Story]

I have been off work since late Sept. on short term disability (which I pay for). Got my initial claim approved and got paid for a few weeks.

Was expecting weekly paychecks. Nope. Had to go back to Dr. for more paperwork. I went, and sent it in.

Prior to this I went for over a week when the claim should have been approved but the insurance company said they only got a partial fax from my Dr the first time. They faxed it all 4 more times. Then I got my own records and faxed them from 2 places. Then it had to go to a dr to review.

(And in researching the company have found that others have heard the same thing...sorry, we never got the faxes, even when the Dr. Office has confirmation that the fax went through).

So now they have my paper work and today told me it could be 10-14 more days before someone looks at it - even though nothing has changed, my dr. has me written off, they want to review all of my medical records again.

All the while I sit here with no paycheck, the one they did give me was short and all went to bills. No gas. My Dr. saw me and said she would just bill me later for the copay (she is awesome, and pissed at the disability company) and gave me some free samples until I can get my prescription filled.

The guy in HR I deal with is miffed at them as well (and not just because of my situation, he has a lot of problems with them).

Can't go back to work until release and was going to see a specialist but they cannot see me until later next month, and the lady at disability was pissy with me about it "Why haven't you seen so and so yet?" well cause I can't get in, can't afford it, and she is on north side of town and don't have the gas to get there until you jackholes pay me.

---Not taking this laying down, researching and going to call them and get medieval on their asses. My x relies on my support payments (she is disabled and on fixed income) to make it month to month.

I pay into the insurance to have pay continuation (at 2/3 normal pay rate). Last time I was off (earlier this year) I went through this hell and said screw it and got my Dr. to let me go back to work, and didn't get paid until much later (went 6 weeks without pay). My Dr. does not want me going back until I am better this time. How the fuck am I supposed to survive and get better when the company I have been paying - weekly - to cover me if I was out won't bother to pay me? Lord knows if I didn't pay them one week they would drop me.

Rant off. Two links I found after only a cursory search:

http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/liberty-mutual-new-jersey-c224945.html


Liberty Mutual is the worst insurance company I have ever dealt with. They need to get with the progam and
treat people with respect and give the disabled people their monies. I have been dealing with this
unprofessional business since May and it has been a nightmare. They never returned my phonecalls, they
tried to deny my claims by lying and saying that they never recieved all my medical documents needed. I got
proof that they were lying about my medical records not being sent. And then they had the nerve to close my
claim without telling me that I had been denied. I am extremely disgusted with this type of
unprofessionalism. I reported them to the Better Business Bureau and I would highly recommend everyone to
stay away from this downright "rip off business". I have news for them, I will not back down and I will
receive my money. They finally messed with the wrong person!


http://www.consumeraffairs.com/insurance/liberty_disability.html

d) LM will pay benefits for about 2 months and then start suspending payments. Most common reason is
the doctors’ are not sending notes, even thought some were faxed in 4 times in my case.

[spanone]

1. insurance is legalized protection money.

[MADem]

BASTARDS. Sounds like your premiums go towards their hiring people to fuck with you so they do not

have to pay you.


Sounds like a consumer class action lawsuit waiting to happen. On top of being assholes, they are intentionally inflicting emotional distress on people in a weakened condition.

Shame on them.

Sounds like it is time to follow up every fax with a certified mail delivery.

[arcane1]

6. That's their entire business model right there n/t

[grasswire]

hang in there

Best of luck dealing with the greedy corporation.

[MADem]

2. BASTARDS. Sounds like your premiums go towards their hiring people to fuck with you so they do not

have to pay you.


Sounds like a consumer class action lawsuit waiting to happen. On top of being assholes, they are intentionally inflicting emotional distress on people in a weakened condition.

Shame on them.

Sounds like it is time to follow up every fax with a certified mail delivery.


EDIT--how odd, this posted twice with a post between it!!! No matter, they are bastards....times two.

[Ghost Dog]

9. Yup. All of them.

That's the business model.

[Ghost Dog]

3. Sorry for your trouble, SS. But, you've been in work, yet you've no savings

set aside for such rainy days? How come (I'd seriously like to know, in general, how come)?

[The Straight Story]

5. Don't make a lot, and what I had went to helping the X with her problems while she fought with ssi

And before this job I was out of work a year, kind of eats away at things.

[Ghost Dog]

7. Got it. Understand.

:(

(I've never trusted insurance companies, so use them as little as possible).

[The Straight Story]

11. A legitimate question. Some years back it would have been 'because I was an idiot'

Since about 2006 I have been in and out of work. Temp jobs programming and such, contract lasts 6 months, then nothing for 6 more months.

You spend the next 6 months catching up on bills, rinse, repeat. Was doing ok, then off work 6 weeks and no pay - then get a pay that is 2/3 normal pay and you are paying up your bills (car insurance, child support, rent, etc).

I have helped out my nephew a lot (long story) and my X while she and her husband were trying to get disability (they finally got it, but she did not have enough hours for SSDI - she got SSI but that ended when he got SSDI, and they are living on very little a month and depend on me).

I just need the company I pay to deliver and life will be fine. Don't think that is too much to expect.

[Ghost Dog]

15. Ah. Used to be a contract analyst/programmer myself (City of London, 1980s).

I'm facing over a year living off savings, cheaply, here myself (temporary I hope X in my case has most of the wealth and I guess health - so much wealth I haven't worked professionally since too long now, I was just looking after her investments).

What kind of programmer are you? I have a couple of ideas/designs/development projects in mind I'd need to find the right people to work with on... Or just to brainstorm... PM me?

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. check out this Liberty Mutual employees complaint website:

http://mrlibertymutual.com/

has all sorts of info about the tricks the company uses to avoid paying.

does your state have a good Attorney General? Sometimes that can be an effective place to complain>
As can be, if you have it, a local tv news station that does consumer problem segments.
Not to mention the possibility of starting or joining a class action lawsuit.

[Paper Roses]

4. LIberty Mutual is on my s/list too. For entirely different reasons.

Your situation is more life threatening than ours was but the whole experience with them was a disaster. We ended up switching insurance companies. L/M was impossible to work with. After paying them homeowners and auto insurance premiums for over 30 years, they tried to jerk us around too. We lost a lot on something that should have been a no-brainer. Pay them? fine. Pay you? Major headache.
Good luck to you and get better soon. I suggest you see if there are any other insurance options.

[newfie11]

8. liberty mutual is horrible

My husband had a back injury in 1973 and they screwed around so long we had to get a lawyer.
Good luck to you.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

10. Report their ass to the BBB. The more complaints about them the better. n/t

[Vincardog]

13. file it with the Attorney General too

[grantcart]

14. More importantly put a complaint to your State Insurance Commissioner.

That will get 100 times the attention the BBB will,

Complaints to the SIC are kept as a matter of record and part of their overall statistics which is a matter of public record.

[grantcart]

12. I could double my income tomorrow if I added Disability Insurance

I refuse to because while the theory is good in practic it is as close to a scam as you can get.

Premiums differ but you could pay $ 1,000 a year for 20 years and then make one claim.

The problem is that many times they will shorten or disallow the claim.

I won't sell any insurance unless I know that there won't be a problem with claim process.

Sometimes it works without a problem but too many stories like this are around.

Good luck to you.

[Yooperman]

16. Blue Care Network of Michigan is just as bad ....

I speak from experience trying to deal with them with a couple of broken fingers, one needing a pin while it healed. Of course I needed physical therapy after the splints were taken off.... after 2 thousand dollars in therapy... they refused to pay saying my Dr. didn't send in the "referral".

He of course says he did ... in the end many Doctors in the area quit accepting BCN including ours so we were force to find another family physician.

Every family I have ever known has had at least one horror story dealing with insurance companies.

Good luck with your problems.... and your health.

Peace

YM

[Leftist Agitator]

17. Have your doctor send physical paper copies through registered mail.

If they refuse delivery, you'll have a hell of a strong case that a lawyer would most likely take on contingency. If they do take delivery, you'll have a record that they won't be able to contest in court, should it get to that point, and another case that a lawyer will probably take on contingency.

It's win-win!

[Earth_First]

18. Have you called your Senators/Reps?

Do you live in an area where this would be of any help

[noiretextatique]

20. had the same problem with CA state disability

if you can, go into the office with all your documents. CA disability "lost" my paperwork, but luckily i had copies and took the paperwork into the office. i got paid a week later...after two months of nonsense.