Lincoln Financial Group / Lincoln National

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Post or View Comments About Lincoln Financial Group / Lincoln National (32 comments)

Disability claimants are often seeking information about Lincoln Financial long term disability reviews. We have created this page where insurers can post reviews and comments about Lincoln Financial disability claims. Our attorneys respond to most comments posted by our visitors.

The Lincoln Financial Group (NYSE:LNC) also known as Lincoln National Group was founded in 1905 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Perry Randall, a Fort Wayne attorney and entrepreneur, suggested the name “Lincoln,” arguing that the name of Abraham Lincoln would convey a spirit of integrity. In August, 1905 Robert Todd Lincoln provided a photograph of his father for company stationery and advertising.

The company underwent the most dramatic transformation in the last 20 years. Lincoln Financial Corporation realigned its business operations, divested its property casualty and reinsurance operations, acquired Delaware Investments and added life and annuity operations from CIGNA and Aetna. Following the acquisition of Jefferson-Pilot Corporation in March 2006, Lincoln Financial acquired group life, disability, and dental insurance divisions.

Jefferson Pilot is a subsidiary of Lincoln Financial Group, Lincoln Financial Group was formerly known as Jefferson-Pilot Corporation. As a result of its acquisition by Lincoln National Corp. the name of Jefferson-Pilot Corporation was changed. Following the acquisition of Jefferson-Pilot Corporation in March 2006, Lincoln Financial acquired group life, disability, and dental insurance divisions. The two companies’ association actually dated to 1945, when Jefferson Standard bought majority control of Pilot Life. Lincoln Financial also acquired Jefferson-Pilot’s television and radio operations, which were renamed Lincoln Financial Media.

The principal Lincoln subsidiaries are Lincoln Financial Advisors and Sagemark Consulting, Lincoln Financial Distributors, Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, Lincoln Life & Annuity Company of New York, Lincoln UK|Lincoln National (UK) PLC (Lincoln UK), Delaware Investments, Delaware Management Holdings Inc. (Delaware Investments), First Penn-Pacific Life Insurance Company and Lincoln Financial Media.

As of March 31, 2011, Lincoln National reported $162 billion dollars in assets under management and a net income of $339 million.

As disability insurance attorneys, Dell & Schaefer have represented numerous clients with their long-term disability claims against Lincoln Financial and its affiliated companies. Disability Attorneys Dell & Schaefer have provided and offer the following legal services for disability claimants that have a long-term disability insurance policy or disability income policy purchased from Lincoln Financial:

• Application for long-term disability benefits with Lincoln Financial
• Application for short-term disability benefits with Lincoln Financial
• Monthly claim handling of Lincoln Financial long-term disability insurance claims
• Appeal of a Lincoln Financial denial of long-term disability benefits
• ERISA appeal of a Lincoln Financial denial of long-term disability benefits
• Lawsuit against Lincoln Financial for denial of long-term disability benefits
• Lump-sum buyout of a Lincoln Financial long-term disability insurance policy
• Department of Insurance complaints against Lincoln Financial for wrongful delay and denial of long-term disability benefits

There are 32 comments so far. Click here to post your comment ↓

Antonetta Boyd Wohl:

My brother moved to California from Indiana to help me with the death of my husband and decided to stay here permanently. Before moving, he had been terminated from his job in April of last year at Indianapolis International Airport due to suffering several heart attacks on the job and his resulting inability to perform all of the tasks necessary as a Public Safety Officer – the position for which he was hired and trained. Originally when he was terminated, their Disability Carrier – Lincoln – paid him Short Term Disability but suddenly stopped a couple of months later in June stating that he was not eligible for the benefits. Of course, he was not making any money since he could not work and has since that time lost his car, his home is in foreclosure, has lost all of his furniture and has a mountain of medical bills. He has an attorney working this case in Indiana, but the claims they have filed have been turned down – twice. There is an administrative review pending for the Long Term Disability in April, but they were recently denied the appeal of for the Short Term. Is there something that you could do?

Attorney Greg Dell:

Antonetta, at this point you need to ask you current disability lawyer to file a lawsuit based upon the denial of the short term disability benefit claim. If you have already submitted an ERISA of the long-term disability denial, then there is nothing we can do right now. If your brother was a state or government employee, then his disability policy may be exempt from ERISA. If his policy is exempt from ERISA, then he will have more legal options available. At this point you should wait until Lincoln Financial makes a decision on the long term disability Appeal you submitted.

Linda Kelley:

Lincoln Financial Insurance Company must be ran by a real creep. I hope the CEO enjoys the money he rips off from the policy holders. I’m sure he or she needs it. They are expertise at doing what they call “slow walking”. They someway manage to screw up your benefit payment about once every 4 months. Then you go without a check for two to three month. Their hope are that this breaks you down due to the fact that you cannot keep current with your most basic financial responsibilities, you know, utilites, mortgage, vehicle etc… Now this is not how they sell your policy and they are wonderful when you are putting in a percentage of your earnings year after year as I did. When you have a claim they are good for about three months then the tactics start. Good job Lincoln. It’s a shame for them to use the word integrity in their mission statement or use the name “Lincoln” to compare the company to. Pathetic.

Randy T.T.:

Greg,

(ERISA governed policy) If the plan documents of LTD policy define a benefit calculation determined using BASIC monthly earning or HOURLY pay and the determination date is the LAST DAY worked prior to disability. The insured earned xx dollars per hour and was RFT employee, but misstated by former employer to be VFT (less then 40 hours a week) to insurance company. Then this was corrected and statement from employer notified the insurance company the employee was a RFT. However, the insured raised the issue of incorrect benefit amount in an appeal (no attorney) the findings of appeal were revealed and stated the insured had been overpaid, this finding was based on reviewing 6 months of employee earnings from determination date and a showing that insured had earned less then originally thought, thus reducing the already reduced benefit amount.

At the inception of the policy contract STD/LTD employee paid full cost of STD and employer full cost of LTD. A chart was given showing how much the benefit would cost employee and what the employees wages were and the premium to be paid for insurance. The employee paid an insurance premium calculated as a RFT 40 hour employee x hourly pay. 60k yearly. After this appeal regarding the incorrect benefit amount, insurance company comes back to say they reviewed 6 months past earnings and reducing insureds benefit amount.

The insured had lost many hours of work in that preceding 6 month time they used to re-calculate benefits (also no where in policy does it state they go back 6 months or use a weekly average wage, only that benefits are based on basic monthly earning or hourly pay. Understandably the insured had been having serious medical issues in that 6 month time frame used to re-determine benefit amount, having been on STD for 6 weeks (receiving % of regular pay) having been on workers comp during same time frame reducing regular pay as well missing many many hours of work due to all the disabilities that escalated and disabled the insured to be employed at all.

If an insured is covered under a policy and paying insurance premiums on a RATE of pay and salary 60k, should they be able to reduce the benefit amount and use 6 months past wages to re-determine a new benefit amount, when also the premiums for the policy were never reduced and they continued to receive payments covering same insured for the 60k salary as determined by 40 hours RFT x hourly wage.

It seems very wrong, hence anyone struggling to remain gainfully employed before becoming totally disabled would be a in a fix if they used this calculation, some would end up with a 0.00 benefit, as they may have missed so much work that their wages were non existent.

Please offer your expert opinion.

Attorney Greg Dell:

Randy, since I have not seen your policy I cannot provide an opinion on your specific issue. If a disability insurance policy states that the pre-disability earnings will be based on the 6 months before disability, then this cannot be changed. The key in this situation is to select the appropriate date of disability. In most cases, it is possible to select a date of disability that a includes a period of time when the person may have still been gainfully employed. The factual scenario you have described is rare. It is possible that you may want to reconsider your date of disability. When selecting a date of disability it is also essential to take into consideration the notice requirements in the policy.

Dustin Johnson:

I have been on FMLA since June 27th. I am set to go back to work on */1/2011. It has taken Lincoln Financial Group 30 days so far just to process my paper work. They denied me originally, before even receiving my doctor records. At this point I have gone a month without pay, I am not sure what to do anymore. Should I retain an attorney, since I have a chiropractor and a medical doctor who state work was acerbating my situation and I needed time off?

Attorney Greg Dell:

Dustin, our disability attorneys regularly work with individuals throughout the application process. Please take a look at the disability application section of our site and watch our disability application video. It is to your advantage to have legal representation at all stage of a disability insurance claim. Call us at your convenience for a free consultation and review of your disability policy.

Tamara J. Bloomhuff:

My Doctor took put me on restrictions, on 4/30/2011, my employer would not comply, and said I could not come to work like that, they sent paperwork to Lincoln Financial, I qualified for 2 months through a plan with Unum, for $800.00 a month, I paid for this plan, payroll deduction. My doctor then extended my restrictions to 7/30/2011, and said I needed surgery that he did not do, and basically cut me loose. I did ask him to extend my offwork note, to 8/29/2011, to give me time to find another doctor.

I received a letter from Lincoln, that I did not qualify for benefits until I had been out till 8/29/2011. I talked to a supervisor, Jan Brown, and she said all she needed was a note faxed to her and I would qualify for $1,800.00 a month, that would pay out the first week of August. I called Lincoln to see if they got the note and talked to another claim rep, that said the note wasn’t enough, and they needed my medical records, which I sent. I thought the Doctor was sending these.

I get a call from Lincoln last week and this claim rep. actually accused me of demanding surgery from my doctor, and told me I hadn’t talked to anyone there, he had no record about me talking to anyone and now I have to file an appeal. So I pulled my phone records and show an incoming call from Jan Brown, and also another call to LIncoln for 15 minutes. I send a letter to Risk Services, giving them another copy of my doctor’s note and the phone records and the fax no. I was given to the Supervisor Jan Brown.

Today I get another call from Lisa Kirk, saying she needs all my medical records and that my doctor saying I need surgery is not enough, and why hadn’t I seen a Doctor from 6/29/2011 till now. I went to a Doctor last week and she is trying to get me a referral to a surgeon, to address the problems she suspects are going on.

I don’t know how long this is going to go on, this did start as a workmen’s comp. issue last October, he cut me loose and said there was nothing wrong, so I had to go on my own insurance. This is my first go-around with disability insurance and didn’t catch on this is a scam just to get you back to work. This is also aggravating the anxiety I have been diagnosed with, result of workplace harassment. Any advice would be helpful.

Thank You,
Tamara J. Bloomhuff

Attorney Greg Dell:

Tamara,

I am sorry to hear about your situation with Lincoln Financial. Your experience is unfortunately identical to what most claimants go through.

You need to have good medical documentation form your doctors and everything needs to be in writing. I have not seen your disability policy so I don’t know your policies definition of disability. You should not be discussing your medical treatment with the disability carrier as your doctors are the ones that know your medical conditions.

If the carrier does not approve your claim, or continues to drag your feet, then please contact us.

A. Visitor:

I was told by my doctor on May 9, 2011 that I had to quit working because of my disability. I have been paying Lincoln Financial Group for 4 1/2 years for short term and long term disability insurance. I have had to struggle to get paid from LFG every step and then they quit paying as of July 21, 2011. I have 2 doctors stating I cannot work and I have even gone through the appeal process and I have still been denied. When I did get paid with LGF May 9 – July 21 the checks were never consistent and there were periods of 4 weeks before I would receive a check. This company is horrible.

Tom:

I have had the same issue with LFG I have been diagnosed with a very rare intestinal disease where I can not control my bowls and they still cut me off. I have a lawyer working on my my ERISA case but it has been almost 2 years with no end in sight. They used a nurse to close my claim which is against federal law. Medical science knows very little about my disease the one thing the Mayo does know is there is no cure and no certain way to treat it.

D. Haywood:

Myself and one of my former co-workers both had to go long-term disability. According to the hospital we both worked for we were to receive 50% of our salary for long-term benefits. The benefits booklet and employee benefits coverage sheet states the same thing. If a person wanted to receive 60% of their salary they could pay for the additional 10% supplemental. Upon applying for LTD we were then told that we would not receive 50% of our salary. We never received a policy about coverage until you first receive the initial paperwork from Lincoln Financial. According to a benefits rep. with the hospital we were to receive 50% of our salary. My monthly amount went from a little over $1700 to $497.74. I called back to the benefits dept. again and was told that many people were calling in because they were upset about the outcome of receiving LTD. According to the benefits rep. they were expecting to receive 50% of their salaries also. What can we as LTD recipients do about this situation?

The people that paid to receive the 10% supplemental will not get 60% of their salaries. They are very unprofessional and stressing. They reduced my check without sending me paperwork stating why or when it was to be reduced. My former co-worker is being stressed to mail in paperwork even though he recently had open heart surgery. Please let me know how we take this matter further.

Attorney Greg Dell:

D. Haywood,

In order answer your question we would need to see the plan documents and summary plan description for your policy. The Lincoln Financial must explain in writing why they redcued your disability benefits and your employer must provide you with a copy of the plan documents. Send your request in writing.

Janey:

A family member on claim with this company has several disabling conditions all documented by proper objective medical tests (MRI, CT scans, EMG and more). This company has refused to allow the family member to send treating Doctor’s medical records, much has gone on since inception of claim for LTD, it’s been a battle and I mean battle for them to continue to receive benefits.

The Company has not requested ANY updated medical records in 6 months, yet scheduled an IME with their chosen providers through examworks, whom bought out MES in January I believe or the reciprocal of.

Exam works has language on their website stating things like “expertly coordinated and scheduled”, “authoritative resolution of medical claims”, “resolution of disputed claims”.

They also have claim forms for adjusters that have a section for special instructions, however nothing stopping them form just verbally dictating what the carrier wants and needs and verifying this verbally so no record exists.

Would you not find it odd LFG would schedule the party for an IME, yet request no records from treating Doctor for 6 months, have refused to let the IME be videographered? The claim is 6 months shy of 24 month duration, not even the own occupation portion tolled yet and a huge battle as said since inception.

Attorney Greg Dell:

Janey,

It is somewhat unusual that Lincoln Financial Group has not requested any medical records, but they may just rely on the IME exam and then request medical records if they want them. Depending on the state you live in, they may be violating the insured’s right to have the IME exam videotaped. You can be assured that they are videotaping the claimant without permission. Most disability carriers conduct a change of disability definition within 6-8 months of the change of definition. Your doctors need to contact you if they are contacted by the disability company. You may want to send the medical records to Lincoln Financial and force them to look at the records.

Jeffrey Stefani:

Lincoln Financial Group is, by far, the worst company I’ve ever dealt with. Very poor customer service, never return calls, delay benefit checks, etc. I am a dentist who developed hand tremors about one and a half years ago. I had an “own occupation” long term disability policy that I paid for myself (through Northwestern Mutual Life), and the employer I worked for had a group “own occupation” long term disability policy through LFG. I have had absolutely no problems with NML, but nothing but problems with LFG. I received my first disability check on time through NML and LFG delayed my first checks 4 months. Since then, my checks from LFG are typically 1-2 weeks late. Most recently they sent me a check and before I received it in the mail they called me saying the amount was incorrect and I need to shred it when I receive it. I expect that the “corrected” check will arrive 1-2 weeks late, if not later. Finally, I believe LFG misrepresents their “own occupation” policy. My understanding is that an”own occupation” disability policy will pay benefits if you are unable to perform the material and substantial duties of your occupation. A couple of months ago I began teaching at a dental school. I am not performing the duties of a dentist – ie doing fillings, root canals, crowns, etc., but LFG is deducting my benefits from my earnings at the dental school. I highly recommend not doing business with KFG.

Carolyn:

Lincoln insurance short term disability is the worst insurance company, it’s through my job, I work at a nursing home. I have been off work for twelve weeks and have receive two payments and the payments are only eighty dollars a week. The woman over my claim is named Patrica Harris, she orders medical records every two weeks. I have a rotator cuff tear and I need surgery. The doctor have faxed everything that she ask for. She still found a way to denied the claim. I don’t know what’s next. If you are thinking about buying insurance for your family please don’t buy from this company, you may really need it and trust me it won’t be there for you.

Concerned Daughter:

I have a family member who has been out of work since July 2010. She had been receiving STD and is now receiving LTD benefits from Lincoln. She had 3 episodes of septic shock in a 6 month time frame and since has had numerous health issues arise as a result of the septic shock. She has been under the constant care of her primary physician, an infectious disease physician, an internal medical physician at John’s Hopkins, an endocrinologist and a therapist. All of these individuals have indicated that she is not about to return to work and have provided numerous letters/evidence to support their findings.

On Sept. 14 my family member received a call from Lincoln stating that as of Sept. 13 (yes the day before the call was made) her LTD benefits were no longer being paid and her claim had been denied. It then took Lincoln another 2 1/2 weeks to send out the official denial letter/appeal package. The denial letter indicated her case had been reviewed by a RN, not a physician familiar with her particular issues. In her appeal she has submitted additional letters, medical records, etc. indicating the issues she is still having and the reasons why returning to work is not an option at this time. Each physician has also requested that a physician review the case, not a RN, given the complex nature of her issues.

She has no other income at this time and is struggling every day just to keep up. She is very scared that this appeal is going to be denied and has not other source of income. Help Please!

Attorney Greg Dell:

Concerned Daughter,

I am sorry to hear about the claim denial by Lincoln Financial. It is not surprising that they relied on a nurse and did not have a physician review her file. Your mom need to be very strategic in the way she handles her appeal. You should watch some of the videos on our website about ERISA appeals (see here and here). If you would like for our law firm to review the claim, then please send us the denial letter and we will provide a free phone consultation. If you have already submitted the appeal, there may still be time to add additional information before Lincoln closes the administrative record.

Katie:

LFG is a joke. I have been paying for short/long term disability for the last 3 years. My OB doctor put me on bed-rest at 22 weeks due to premature contractions. I have had 6 miscarriages and my son was delivered premature. I am starting to experience severe vertigo and constant headaches. LFG denied my claim as well. I am the sole provider, now 7 months pregnant with a 2.5y old to feed. They continue to drag their feet and do not return calls. I call twice a day. I have not received my denial letter but rather a verbal by phone. I know a RN reviewed my case… How is it possible for my doctor to put me on bed-rest to prevent further complications with my pregnancy, yet a RN can say “Nope, you can work.”?

Frustrated Wife:

I think all the cases posted are valid. I have another problem. My husband had a hip replacement in July. He recuperated and is doing great. He now runs and is in the gym at least two hours every day. Lincoln keeps extending his benefits. I do not understand why people who really need the benefit cannot receive it and people who clearly do not need the benefit receive extended benefits.

Suzanne:

My question is about portability. I became ill and went on STD. I was terminated from my job. At the time my claim was being processed. I was told that LTD was portable but STD was not. Since I had a claim in process I was then told, that because of that my LTD was not portable and sent a refund for payment for LTD. I do not have anything in writing that states this. What I had stated that LTD was portable when leaving a job.

My STD was approved and I am now maxed out at 26 weeks. To me, it doesn’t seem fair that they can denied my LTD when I obviously need it. I had been paying 150.00 a month for LTD for years.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Thank you!
Suzanne

Attorney Greg Dell:

Suzanne,

If you were disabled and not working at the time you were terminated, then you still may be entitled to long term disability coverage. We need to review your long term disability policy and obtain more facts from you in order to determine if you have a claim. Give us a call.

Leslie:

Lincoln Financial is a joke, no doubt about that. My company, Bioreliance, had my policy through them. When they put me on STD, my job told me that once the paperwork was with Lincoln Financial, it was out of their hands. So daily I had to call about my claim, and all the while they kept saying “Oh, your paperwork is in review”. After months of not getting paid, I was evicted from my apartment, forced to move out of state and in with family. Finally, after 6 months, I received a denial letter stating that I do not work in harsh weather or climb ladders so they didn’t pay me. None of that was in my working job description that Lincoln Financial demanded. My medical documentation states I can not work, so I don’t understand how they denied me.

Candi:

I was let go of my job (RN) because I could not perform the duties of my occupation. I was paid for 2 years and then they stopped the payments. I appealed and it was denied. I have many health problems and I have just had major surgery. After looking at the posted list of health conditions used for disability, I meet 20 plus another 2 that weren’t listed. They even used me being able to make my own appeal with the denial. I don’t know what else to do. I did speak to an attorney, but he does not know whether or not he will take the case. Any additional recommendations?

Attorney Greg Dell:

Candi,

If you have exhausted all your appeals then your only option is to file an appeal. Please contact us if you would like for us to consider filing your lawsuit.

Lisa:

I have been seeing a psychiatrist for 13 years for major depressive disorder, panic and OCD. I worked at the same company for 13 years and Lincoln Financial was the LTD carrier. Over the summer I was on FMLA with my son who is autistic and had major surgery. During this time my employer cut my job due to a funding cut, the employer offered me another job, with double the work and about 4 dollars less pay per hour. I had a major set back and was crippled with anxiety and panic, I ended up quitting my job when I was ready to go back after the FMLA was up because I was throwing up from the anxiety, I wasn’t sleeping etc.. I was humiliated about the job change and all of my symptoms from my conditions came racing to the forefront.

I quit my job on the 11th of August, I saw my Dr. on the 12th of August because that was the soonest he could get me in. He changed my meds and agreed that I was unable to work. I applied for LTD through them after calling them, explaining my situation and was told it was within my right to apply based on the 13 years of coverage. After 3-4 months and my ex-employer dragging their feet on getting the paperwork in, I was approved on February 9 for 2 years at 60 percent of my salary. They sent me a retroactive check for two months and approx. one week after getting the approval letter and the check, they called me and told me that they made an error and they were denying my claim, because I quit on the 11th and I did not become disabled until the 12.

I am devastated and scared to death. Why would they do this? I was so relieved to get some help and they even offered to help me with my SSD claim. They have records that I had pre-existing conditions but they claim my disability didn’t officially start until I had the emergency appointment with my Doctor who could not see me until the day after I was to return to work. This has set me back miles with my mental health. It seems like a cruel joke someone has played on me, dangled an approval letter sent me a check and called me and said oops we made an error, so forget it, you are denied. I can’t stop crying, I am riddled with panic and anxiety. I would have rathered they denied me from the start because this is just too much for me to handle.

Is this a common practice, they said it was done during a routine audit. Do they do a routine audit on a claim that was only approved for a week. I am back to square one, no money, no way to work and humiliation at thinking I was approved. I called all of my bill collectors and let them know, I would be OK financially and that my bills would be payed on time etc.. Can you help?

Attorney Greg Dell:

Lisa,

There is a good chance that we would be able to assist you with your Lincoln Financial disability claim denial. The reason that Lincoln denied your claim is because your long term disability coverage probably requires you to be employed on the date you became disabled. From the facts you describe, you were obviously employed at the time you were suffering from your medical issues. We will need to prove that you were disabled while still employed. We have handled numerous cases with your same fact pattern have been successful in obtaining a claim reversal. Please submit our Free Consultation form and upon receipt we will contact you. We will need you to send us a copy of your denial letter and disability policy.

Chronic Patient:

I have been getting disability benefits from Lincoln for about a year. My understanding is that after two years they make you get an evaluation and if they decide you can do any type of work, you lose your benefits. Are there things that can be done proactively to ensure this evaluation does not disqualify an insured? I have a chronic condition, but to a casual observer I seem fine. The medical treatments I have received are all well documented and my doctor finally seems to understand that there is no way I can work. My case manager always talks to me like I am some kind of malingerer, and that makes me very nervous. Compared to some of the horror stories on this site, I feel blessed by the treatment I have received thus far – and I want to keep it that way.

Attorney Greg Dell:

Chronic Patient,

If your definition of disability changes from own occupation to any occupation than Lincoln will definitely take a very close look at your claim. You should watch our video on the Top Five Reasons That Disability Claims Are Denied. You need to make sure that your treating doctors are aware of the change of the definition. You need to continue treating with your doctors regularly and document that you cannot do any work as a reliable employee. If your definition changes at two years, then the disability company will usually begin their change of definition evaluation at 18 months. We regularly represent clients on a monthly basis in order to prepare for changes in definition and dealing with the carrier on a daily basis.

Stephanie:

I had a baby on Feb. 1st. I filed a claim with Lincoln Financial for Short Term Disability on Feb. 2nd. It was approved and I received a check about a week later. Problem is, the check was short by about $1,100. Last year my disability claim would have got me about $1,150 per week. This year it was upped to $1500 per week. However, they processed my claim at last year’s rate.

They say that they are aware of it and that they still owe me almost $1,200 but say that because it’s the beginning of the year they are “busy” and the broker and National Account Manager have not updated my companies account yet.

It’s now almost 8 weeks later and I still don’t have the money that they owe me. What should I do? When I call, they won’t let me speak to a supervisor, yet the girl I talk with typically calls me back – but just to tell me she has no updates yet.

Attorney Greg Dell:

Stephanie,

You need to deal with Lincoln Financial in writing and demand that they pay you interest on the money they owe you. Send your letter certified and via fax.