Complaint Review: Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

In 2004, I,  the Insured, purchased a Long Term Disability (LTD) Insurance Policy from MetLife Insurance Company through my employer, Sears.  This type of policy is covered under ERISA and is considered an Employer Goup Insurance Policy.

I became disabled in 2007 while working for Sears.  My premiums with MetLife were current. After fulfilling MetLife's 140 days mandatory waiting period, I began receiving my disability payments.

However, each month, MetLife sent me less than 1/2 of my disability payment.

Three years and eight major operations later, two more to go, including spine surgery,  loss of home, new car, and other lifetime accumulations, I continue to fight with MetLife for my full disability payments.

According to the "Policy Statement Agreement" on Page 6-2 of the 2004 Sears Benefit Handbook I must receive 60% of the first $20,833 of the Monthly LTD Covered Earnings less (a) any Other Income Benefits to which I am entitled and (b) 50% of any Rehabilitation Earnings, if any. 

MetLife has not honored any part of the above stated elements of our contract, and, according to my research, this is business as usual with MetLife. 

MetLife has pulled out of the LTD market, however, it has aggressively entered other markets focused on retirees, Seniors, and Reverse Mortgages to Seniors.

Sadly, the only way to get what I'm owed from MetLife is to file a lawsuit in court for "bad faith dealing by a long term disability insurer." 

If any others are facing similar issues, contact the FTC, FCC, your State Attorney General, and, this is a longshot, but maybe Michael Astrue of the Social Security Administration might have an interest in filing a 'friendly brief' supporting the interests of insureds like us, which might take a little pressure off of the SSI/SSDI departments, while Social Security review pending cases for disability.