Here is a synopsis of the allegations thus far:
Claimant alledges that Standard during a two year period several times used the tactic of cutting off disability payments to coerce them into signing away all privacy rights of the individual. Medical and non-medical records were sought by Standard so as to get out of paying the disability claim and NOT for the reason of determining disability. Five doctors would not release the claimant for work. This claimant signed his own authorization form of release of records under the provision that Standard would inform the claimant which records they were seeking and where Standard was sending copies of these records. Standard accepted the authorization form and then seven months later decided it was too cumbersome for them and completely cut off all disability payments to this person. Today the claimant has no income and is still not permitted by any doctor's to return to work.
Another claimant alledges that Standard forced them to take Social Security Disability through threating tactics similar to the above and more personal privacy invasion. This person also refused to sign and now Standard is insisting they owe an over-payment of $11,000 and want reimbursement. Another alledges they cut off their disability benefits without warning in November 1997. "The stress and frustration they have caused me is undescribable!"
Claimant alledges that Standard denies their claim due to opinions of "house doctors" of Standard Insurance Company whom have never examined the policyholder. Two doctors who HAVE examined the policyholder determined that the person is disabled. Standard refuses to pay the disability. Claimant alledges that "after eight months of hassle and two rejections, I am currently receiving Standard LTD benefits. Please add me to the list of the Class Action Suit against Standard. I've got a complete file and good notes."
Claimant alledges that Standard on and off during their claim has cut them off for without warning nor reason even though their doctors still say they are disabled. "I have lost my home because of them and my personal life is a mess. My life has been totally turned upside down and I am out on the street because of this Company."
Claimant alledges: I have been denied benefits several times on the same claim even though doctors will not allow me to return to work.I have kept a file, and have also contacted the State of Washington Health
Care Authority, and Insurance Commissioner and the Governor's office repeatedly to no avail. I keep copies of my correspondence, and would be willing to testify.
Claimant alledges: This Company seems to have a split personality whereby one hand doesn't know what the other is doing. Since 1994 I have had a running battle with them. In July 1998 a new mess has surfaced regarding an intolerable increase in our insurance premiums. I have found contact with Standard employees to be like talking to a blank wall. Stone-walling supplemental insurance customers and their questions appears to be the norm for the Group Policy Department of Standard Insurance Company.
Claimant alledges: I have short term disability coverage with Standard through my employer. After submitting my initial claim to Standard they
informed me that they had to do a "pre-existing condition"
investigation because I had been insured less than 24 months. All the information they needed for the subsequent investigation was already available from the initial claim information. This is a violation of Oregon Insurance
Law.
Another Disabled Person says: Please include me in the complaint against Standard Insurance Company. They have denied me for the third time using false information about my job provided by my employer -- even though I have given them a mountain of substantiating evidence to the contrary, Code from the DOT, etc. They used what was favorable to them so they could deny my claim.They have ignored the evidence presented in my doctors' reports. I have spoken to patients, physical therapists and doctors, and I get a unanimous "groan" when the name of Standard Insurance Company -- "forget it." There must be a good reason why.
I have Fibromyalgia and when it first hit, I couldn't even get out of bed. Then I had an auto accident on top of it (on the way to my Fibromyalgia doctor). My wonderful life was ripped out from under me by these malicious capitalists.
Another says:
Dear Sirs,
I am permanently dissabled due to an on the job injury, that occured 1/15/98.
At that time, I had full coverage insurance through Standard Insurance
Company, which includes dissability.
To date, all they have done is send me letter after letter. Something MUST be
done about this! I desperately need the payments that are due me, and it
doesn't seem that I will be recieving anything from this Company!
Please send me information about joining the 'class action lawsuit', that I
had about, via the Internet.
Thank you for your time.
And yet another:
My wife was clinically diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1994.
After having several severe attacks which put her in the hospital each time,
she returned to work as an LPN. About 2 years ago she suffered an attack
which has since rendered her unable to to much of anything. Standard
Insurance cut her benefits about 6 months ago. I sent them a letter of
appeal and they reopened her case and began paying her benefits again. A
few days ago they sent a letter stating that her case was now closed, that
they would no longer pay benefits, that there was no medical evidence that
she could no longer continue her material duties and on and on. One day
later a check for $1,000.00 came in from Standard "To aid her in this
transisional period". We have not cashed this check and have no intention
to. They are well aware that M.S. can take years to medically diagnose.
The worst of it is that they have an MRI that positively shows scarring of
the white matter of the brain and two of our doctors stating that there is
strong clinical suspicion of MS.
I called Standard and talked to the claims handler, she did a good job at passing the buck to her supervisor. They then went over my file again and claim. The supervisor snottily told me that THEIR Drs. review all the claims appeals.
Right now I am out money in lost wages. I, fortunately, had money in savings to cover me but I wonder how other people who don't have these resources survive.
I hate this insurance company. They have repeatedly denied me increases in my life insurance coverage also.
Please add me to your list of Standard victims. I would love to get them.It Has Come To Our Attention That Some Claimant's Of Standard Insurance Are Printing This Page And Sending It To Their Congressmen And Senators. You have our permission to do so. You may also send a copy to Senator Orrin Hatch who is currently expected to keynote a meeting with Standard and other insurance company lawyers and management on How To Repel The Coming Lawsuits and Class Actions Suits Against Insurance Companies Using The ERISA Laws.