Liberty Mutual (LM in rest of document) is a highly rated insurance company because they are profitable. Period. They are profitable because they collect premiums and deny claims. PERIOD.
I purchased Liberty Mutual (LTD) long term disability through my employer in 1/1/1997 I went out on (STD) Short term disability in June. I was diagnosed with a lifetime chronic condition (fibromyalgia) in 1995 and had various doctors complete FMLA paperwork every year so I would not loose my job due to the absences caused by my condition. Over the years I kept gaining new diagnosis related to back and neck issues as well as other health issues that are in my family.
I now have over 14 diagnoses and have been denied my LTD benefits. Im only 45, single and lost my only income in July and my house will start foreclosure in April.
I have trouble getting groceries but according to LM I can work a full time, light duty, sedentary
job. Even though I had that type of job for 13 years and could not continue to work.
In the letter that denied my appeal it states that my lumbar CT scan demonstrates multilevel annular tears which are indicative of degenerative disc disease and is not scientifically proven by evidence based literature to cause low back pain WHAT!?! It does not mean that there is not scientific evidence that many of my conditions cause pain. It means that researchers are not
able to do a double blind study, due to ethical and moral reasons, to PROVE bulging & torn disc cause pain!
1) If you have LTD through work with LM, get different insurance! Better yest put your money in a 401K. If you are not able to do this remember the following:
A) Remember that your human resource person works for the company not the employees. Get
everything in writing and save every email at home. Do not count on the HR person submitting info to insurance co. Send it yourself. I had my information at work and it was all shredded
before I was able to pick up my things!
B) The LM representatives job is to deny coverage by any means possible! Never say you are fine or OK, use the phrase as well as can be expected everything you say will be used against you!
C) Request the entire LTD policy! There are a ton of loop holes and the wording is confusing
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.
This allows the company to show corporations that they pay benefits so they can sell more policies!
E) If denied benefits payments request the entire administrative file, before you
file your appeal. This will prevent the surprises I had.
F) If denied benefits payments get a lawyer ASAP
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