Complaint Review: Combined Insurance Co. - boston Massachusetts

At first, the timing of this commentary seems ironic, but it is an example of the divine order of the universe.

For today is the very last day of teaching in an over 40 year teaching career, and I am commenting on my first job out of college- an employee of the Hearthstone Insurance Company.

My teaching career has been a rich and rewarding experience.  I have taught every grade from 6th grade to graduate school inclusive.  I have earned many teaching awards and honored to be a National Endowment for the Humanities fellow.

All of this in contrast to the alienating experience as an agent of the Hearthstone Insurance Company: fresh out of college in 1973, I met Chuck O Laughlin in a hotel room in Syracuse,NY.  Despite twisting the concept of elenchus/Socratic method, I made a terrible choice to return for training 3-weeks later. 

Again, I made a mistake and remained after my initial concerns including other trainees allegedly seducing representatives of the New York State Dairy Land Princess contest at the Electronics Parkway hotel in Syracuse, New York..  I completed my training and began selling door-to-door policies under sales manager named Jerry Dente in Utica, NY.  I felt manipulated when selling the product because of the deceptive sales techniques, questionable quality of the product, and rapid turn over of sales agents when soliciting sales. 

I ended my employment by October but carried deep emotional scars for many years.  Ethical behavior, high moral standards, genuine altruism served me well in my teaching career, but I felt bitter when reflecting upon my few months with Hearthstone because of the alienating experience.  W. Clement Stone's subsequent involvement with the Nixon campaign may be one reflection of the emptiness.

Today I read some warm messages from fellow teachers and administrators on my last day.  High school students honored me with gifts and simple but meaningful parties.  The genuineness and authenticity of  my teaching career and this day stands in stark contrast to my first job out of college.

 Three college degrees huh? You have two misspellings, one abbreviation that is incorrect, and one run on sentence. The spell check is in the upper right hand corner of this screen. Ok, for the rest of us, Combined doesn't pay for massages unless it is the direct result of an accident or disability. I can also tell you that too many times they have denied benefits for various reasons. This is why they have been kicked out of Ireland due to lawsuits. If you don't believe me, Google it under Combined Insurance Ireland. Now as for Clement Stone, yes he stole sayings from others including Confucius who said, "Do the right thing because it is the right thing." I don't believe Stone was the evil monster that some people have made him out to be, especially on this site, but one of the sayings I believe Stone adhered to was uttered by the famous PT Barnum, "There is a sucker born every minute." So in conclusion, I give my standard advice.....STAY AWAY FROM COMBINED!!!

I had a supplement accident policy from Combined for several years. I used it almost monthly for reimbursement for chiropratic, physical therapy and true treatment massage therapy. The company never failed to reimburse me and within two weeks.

When I moved from WA to CA I continued to use it for massage monthly. They paid the first two times I turened in a claim and then informed me that they did not cover massage or chiropratic in CA (they paid me anyway for those two). I had employer coverage for all other things so no longer needed this policy.

I just moved back to WA and wanted to have coverage again for chiropratic and treatment massage therapy as well as to be able to have my patients in my sports enhancement/rehab clinic I am starting have the benefit of this very cheap coverage. I called the company but they no longer offer this accident policy. This was the best policy of any kind I have ever seen. I wish I still had it and could rec. it to m y patients.

As to W. Clement Stone being a con man, I have three college/university degrees and during the process and later in business I came across hid writings several times. I also had times when listening to internationally recognized motivational speakers to hear them quote Mr. Stone. He was quite highly regarded as a motivational speaker. Some people seem to think that anyone who tries to get others to think and be positive and to believe they can succeed are con men. As a former basketball coach, I did just this and also in business. I dont think anyone considers former coach , John Wooden, a con artist and he quoted and applied some of Mr. Stone's material. I find this site lacking if this site subscribes to the idea that Mr. Stone was some kind of crook.

Might want to use spell check before you publish it. Clement Stone was an egostical maniac who to this day has inspired a generation of chanters who can't think for themselves. Go to the headquarters in Chicago and see what I mean.

Now I have been told they have hired people to change their corporate culture...or rather ACE has since  they figured out they got sold swamp land in Florida.  ACE, some advice...you can't fix stupid nor change a culture that's too stupid to figure out the defintion of insanity. To the non Kool-Aid drinkers keep publishing your reports...to the chanters...well I guess you'll keep on chanting!!!!