Complaint Review: Lincoln Financial Group

My mother went into the hospital and has end stage CHF, not able to drive a 18 wheeler anymore due to a 15% ejection fraction, CAD, Diabetes, COPD, PAD, kidney failure, edema, etc. So we file for her STD that she has paid for with Lincoln.

Nightmare! First, lets start with the hipaa violations from 8/28/2016-11/18/2016, They released all her information to a family member, without a consent being signed, I called and the guy who we spoke with was fired all of a sudden, learned this through via a secretaary who answered the phone and proceeded to tell me.

They dont give you any information that you need, never return phone calls, do not send letters, So from the second you deal with them they avoid you from day one. By the way, they also will not give us a copy of my mothers policy. There is no procedures by which they go by, its you call them, they tell you a form, you send it in, then its another form, etc.

They do not try to get records, so I faxed all 1300 pages of records to them, by which the doctor put in more than once that she did not have a pre-existing condition, and had not seen a physician in 10 years, and was on no medication. How do they think she got to this point? So they try claiming that she had a pre-existing condition, and now needed a form filled out saying she had not seen a doctor prior. Fill out the form. Now we need a letter from the doctor saying the same thing, even though they have 1300 pages of the same information. We get the letter from the doctor, and this goes on and on.

Finally, recieved her STD, then right in the middle of it, cut it off. Called and called, Why? We didnt send in a form that we were never notified that we even needed. Filled out form, sent in, checks came. 

The doctors letter states, she will never return to work again, and could not drive a 18 wheeler. Her condition is terminal, and barely does ADL's, all of this in the notes also. We file for LTD.

I call and call, write down everyone I spoke with, time, dates, etc. No one calls me back, until I just get mad and call and refuse to be put on hold. Well, we got the records and we have to make a decision, the medical examiner had no clue about her conditions, diagnosis, and tried to say she can go back to work. I told them, find a doctor that will release her back to work. 

This is everyday, calling and calling, never telling you what they need. Then finally a approval letter, all the information was wrong, amounts, they said she was receiving SSDI, and she is not. I call and call, email, and call. Oh we made mistakes, I want another letter with the right information, still have yet to receive.

Then they want you to file for SSDI, which just states they want you to file, but not required. Then tell them so they can come back and take the money they gave you for LTD. Another words, you pay this montly premium for what you think will be there for you if you get sick. No, you pay for it, fight them tooth and nail, they deduct your social security, want you to file SSDI, then you owe them for the months they paid you. What exactly are you paying for then? 

Thats not including you have to know what you are doing, they have no procedures, and get it in email or writing. They lied numerous times saying they sent letters that we never received. No one knows what they are doing, I pointed out that my mother met every listing under the heart issues and grid out due to age, automatic qualification.

This company is hired by your employer to offer you STD, and LTD that you have to fight them for, and pay back. The company pays them basically to screw you in the end. 

Advice, know the disability rules, your rights, write everything down and hire a lawyer, you will need it.