Upon getting hired in 2003 with Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in Houston TX, during orientation we were informed that we would receive 50% of our salary for long-term disability.
According to the human resource rep., Memorial Hermann 100% premium to ensure every employee would receive 50% of our salary if we were on long-term disability. If employees wanted to receive 60% of their salary they would have to pay for the supplemental 10% on their on.
In February I had to apply for long-term disability with Lincoln Financial because of my health condition. According to Lincoln Financial, if I was to get Social Security Disability my 50% from them would be reduced. I informed the claims rep. That my paperwork and benefits booklet stated 50% of salary.
According to the claims rep. From Lincoln Financial whatever I received from the SSA would be added to the reduced amount from her company to equal 50% of my salary. I contacted the benefits department at Memorial Hermann and was told 50% of my salary was to be paid to me by Lincoln Financial for long-term disability not an offset amount.
Because I received disability from SSA my 50% from Lincoln Financial was reduced without me receiving any paperwork stating why. According to Kelli Thomas-claims rep. That I had at the time, someone estimated how much I would receive from SSA and that amount was subtracted. My payments went from 1780.64 to 1764.34 to 904.34 to 497.34.
According to Nick Gregor-present claims rep. My payments would go from 904.34 to 497.74. When I informed him that I could not afford that much of a reduction he stated he would speak to his supervisor so that I could make payment arrangements that were comfortable for me. When I spoke with Nick again he stated the supervisor didn't okay the arrangements.
I never received any policy from Lincoln Financial or Memorial Hermann before applying for long-term disability. According to my former co-worker neither did he, we both worked in the same department. Upon calling the benefits department again the end of 2010 at Memorial Hermann, the benefits rep.informed me that many people were calling about their long-term disability as well.
According to the rep. They were expecting to receive 50% of their salaries also. The information we received was very misleading, according to benefits coverage printout it states 50% of salary for long-term disability and nothing about an offset. We really need someone to look into this matter and give us some type of assistance regarding this situation.
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