View this article online: https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2005/03/14/52553.htm
Frank Darras, a disability litigator, is reminding entitled policyholders denied since Jan. 1, 2000 by Unum Life Insurance Co. of America, Paul Revere Life Insurance Co., Unum National Insurance Co., and Provident Life and Accident Insurance Co., that with their 60-day clock ticking, there is now less than 45 days for claimants to get on the reassessment list to have their claims reviewed under new claim objectives.
UnumProvident has already reportedly begun to send out letter notices to entitled claimants denied after Jan. 1, 2000. This group of noticed insureds have 60 days to return their formal “Request to Participate Form,” use the Internet address on their notice to register with their claim number or call in to the company at the number specified in their notice to be eligible for reassessment.
It is reportedly crucial claimants realize this 60-day time frame is short
and with time ticking away, only 45 days or less are left to be included in the reassessment process.
Submitting the “Request to Participate Form” in the reassessment process is the first step claimants must take, in a series of steps that will hopefully lead toward the resolution of denied claims with the company.
If there is any confusion or if there are any questions about signing the
conditional waiver and release and giving up one’s rights to legal action
against the company, claimants are encouraged to call 800-458-3386 for clarification.
Once the “Request to Participate Form” is returned, all claims will be
staged for review with the oldest denials reviewed first. “We are finding
most of our claimants need our encouragement, steady direction and a healthy dose of emotional penicillin to ready themselves for the process,” said Darras.
The course of the reassessment process includes:
* Preparing exacting medical, occupational and financial information that will be required;
* Meeting the second 180-day deadline of assembling voluminous evidentiary information;
* Filling out the reassessment information forms including a detailed
claimant’s statement, an employer’s statement showing work activity from the date the claim was closed through the present;
* Demonstrating a clear loss of functional duties and/or a loss of income
* Claimants must assemble their comprehensive medical information
including all treatment, visits, prescription records, including their
restrictions and limitations that have prevented them from returning to work
* These insureds must also provide all other income benefits that he/she has received or is currently receiving.
“This is a difficult course for these disabled to embark upon, but it is a
necessary undertaking and it may positively impact their lives forever,” said Darras. “I know that facing the reassessment process will take its toll on many of these disabled, in fact, just thinking about having to prove their disability all over again is down right paralyzing. Rebuilding these disabled lives requires paving the reassessment highway with hope and exacting guidance on how this process can work for them.”