Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

View Disability Cases With Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

Post or View Comments About Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (63 comments)

Metropolitan Life (MetLife) (NYSE: MET) was founded in 1868 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Met Life is the largest insurer in the United States. MetLife serves group benefit products and Individual benefit products. International segment serves these products to groups and individual in the Asia/Pacific region, Europe, and Latin America. The company’s reinsurance business operates as Reinsurance Group of America, but serves customers worldwide. MetLife is widely known by their mascot, Snoopy from the Peanuts cartoon.

The Company’s Institutional segment offers a range of group insurance and retirement and savings products and services to corporations and other institutions and their respective employees. Group insurance products and services include group life insurance, non-medical health insurance products and related administrative services, as well as other benefits and services, such as employer-sponsored auto and homeowners insurance provided through the Auto & Home segment and prepaid legal services plans. Non-medical health insurance consists of products, such as accidental death and dismemberment, long-term care, short and long-term disability, individual disability income, dental insurance, and prepaid legal services.

In 1996 MetLife merged with New England Mutual Life and took over all of the disability insurance policies. In 2001, MetLife was the first insurance company to establish a financial holding company with a nationally chartered bank. MetLife entered the retail-banking arena with the launch of MetLife Bank. The sale of State Street Research & Management Company to Black Rock, Inc. was announced in 2004. In May 2008, MetLife Bank, N.A., completed the acquisition of EverBank Reverse Mortgage LLC, from its parent, EverBank Financial Corp. In May 2009, the Company sold Cova Corp., which is the parent company of Texas Life Insurance Co., to a third party. GenAmerica Financial and General American Life are wholly owned subsidiaries of MetLife, Inc. New England Financial, Texas Life Insurance Company, and Walnut Street Securities, Inc. are affiliates of Met Life, Inc. Throughout the past 15 years MetLife has either merged or purchased numerous insurance companies that sold long-term disability policies and plans.

In 2008, MetLife’s revenues were $46.33 billion Most of MetLife’s individual disability policies are administered from their offices in Tampa, Florida. Florida disability Attorneys Dell & Schaefer have sued MetLife numerous times and have gained a tremendous understanding and knowledge of the internal claims handling and procedures of the MetLife disability income division.

As disability insurance attorneys, Dell & Schaefer have represented numerous clients with their long-term disability claims against MetLife 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 MetLife:

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

There are 63 comments so far. Add yours ↓

Larry Lipman:

I have a claim with UNUM. They administer my GenAm policy owned by MetLife. I filed in August. I have yet to receive an approval or denial. I feel like they’re continuing to come up with new request after new request in the hopes that something will turn up that would favor a denial. What is your process for evaluating a representation relationship with a potential claimant?

Gregory Dell:

Larry, since your claim is pending we need to review your disability policy in order to determine if we can assist you. Please call us to discuss your claim and we will provide a free consultation to discuss your claim.

David Mello:

I worked for 35 years and had Metlife thru my last employer. I became ill with Aids, Neuropathy in my feet, legs and hands, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, entiritis of the intestines, chronic nausea, shortness of breath, arthritis in my spine and right wrist, GERD, hepc, depression and panic attacks. My doctor took me out of work because the stress level was practially killing me. At that time I was put on disability for hiv with physical complications (2006). Sometime in 2008 Metlife without notifying me changed my disability status to a mental disordered. By doing this they were able to cut off my benefits in 24 months under the plan I had at work. Even with tons of documentation from several doctors and a decision from a judge for SSDI benefits approved Metlife is still cutting me off. Before getting sick I worked for 35 years, had a house, a nice car, and a 401k plan for retirement. I am 52 years old and have lost everything now living on 60% of my earnings. Metlife treated me like I was subhuman and not worthy and that just made me more sick.

Mike Woodward:

I had a disabilty policy with AMERCO (U-Haul) payable to age 65. I have received $688 a month for 11 years.Two years ago MetLife began administering the policy. Because I have a dependent child that also gets Social Security, they now claim that they want to reduce their payment by the amount of my daughters Social Security which leaves no money for me. What gives?

Gregory Dell:

Mike, you need to review the Deductible Sources of Income section of your policy to see if the disability policy allows MetLife to deduct for payments to a dependent child. I have seen Metlife disability insurance policies that allow the deduction for a dependent child.

Bob Conolty:

It has been 8 years since I was denied, but I did not know what to do, nor did I have the strength to “fight it” as you stated in the video because I have Fibromyalgia which keeps me fatigued and in sever pain ALL the time. Is it right that I will never get my disability benefits all because I was too disabled to “fight it”, plus I was trusting in Metlife (through IBM) to take care of me. Now I understand how evil they are, but I would like to try to still make them pay because I knew not what to do until recently, and even if I had known, I did not have the strength to fight it. Is it possible to get an exception of the statute of limitation (I’m in NC) since I knew nothing about it? And since I was trusting an untrustworthy company? This is so wrong! And I really cannot believe Metlife is getting away with this. btw, I was approved by SS right away.

Thanks so much!

Gregory Dell:

Bob, we are sorry to hear about your denial of long term disability insurance benefits by MetLife. Unfortunately, there is no exception to the statute of limitations that we are aware of. The statute of limitations varies in each state, and the time period could be as little as 3 years and in some state as much as 6 years.

Bert:

My wife is one hundred percent disable and she is on Social Security Disability and receives Long Term Disability Income from MetLife Ins. Metlife cut her amount of long term disability by the amount she gets each month from Social Security. Is this legal? One more question, will she receive benefits from MetLife for the rest of her life from the Long Term Disability? Thanks, Bert.

Vickie:

My husband is on long term disability. His plan was managed by Prudential until Jan of this year. We got a letter saying that MetLife will now be handling his claim. Not even a month later he gets a call from Metlife saying they are going to review his claim to see if he can work at all, at any job. My husband can barely do anything, he is always so fatigued due to the anemia, we do dialysis 5 days a week for 4 hours and now we have to fear that they are going to take the little bit of money he gets a month away. If they terminated his LTD he is going to lose his medical insurance and life insurance. I am so scared. Prudential and Social Security Disability both told me they usually do reviews every two years but because he is ESRD and on dialysis they would probably only do it like every ten years. Does anyone know what the chances are of them denying his continued claim?

Gregory Dell:

Bert, you need to review the language in your wife’s Metlife disability insurance policy in order to determine if Metlife has a right to deduct the social security disability benefits. Most disability policies obtained through an employer have a deduction for social security disability benefits. You can write Metlife and ask them to clarify in writing their right to a social security offset. There is no guarantee that your wife will receive long term disability benefits the rest of her life. The disability carriers evaluate each claim on a monthly basis and if they believe that your wife is no longer disabled, then they will deny disability benefits. Your wife’s approval of SSDI benefits makes it less likely that she would be denied, but approval of SSDI benefits is not a guarantee that disability benefits will continue. Lastly, your wife’s Metlife disability policy probably states that benefits end at age 65 or 67.

Gregory Dell:

Vickie, based upon your husband’s current medical condition it would be highly unusual for Metlife to deny his disability benefits. The forms that MetLife is requesting are routine and you should not be concerned. If you husband has been on disability for less than two years, then he may have a change in the definition of disability which takes palce after 24 months. This is another reason that Metlife may be requesting paperwork. You should anticipate that Met Life will request disability claim forms at least once every 2-3 months.

Kat:

My sister has metlife and is on SS Disability, she also has a 13 year old son that gets funds from SS. Metlife deducts his amount from her payment. She has asked for a copy of her policy from metlife so that she can read the language that allows them to deduct this amount, Metlife has NOT sent her the contract. Metlife figures they have overpaid her $48000.00 and wants her to now pay it back, they continue to call her asking for the money, she continues to ask for a copy of the policy. How can she get Metlife to send her a copy of HER policy?

Gregory Dell:

Kat, the ERISA regulation require the disability claimant to request a copy of their long term disability insurance policy from their employer and not from the disability insurance company. The request must be sent in writing and you should send it certified mail with signature confirmation. The employer has 30 days to produce a copy of the policy or they will be subject to a penalty of $110 a day.

Vincent Bochis:

After paying long term disability benefits for twelve and a half years, AT&T has started to deduct a vested pension, which AT&T claims was rolled over, in the sum of $50,000, by reducing the monthly LTD payment by $334 until the pension “overpayment” is repaid. Is the action taken by AT&T a contract claim? Does the New Jersey statute of limitations prevent AT&T from doing this? Can AT&T do this on its own without having first obtained a Court judgment?

Karen:

Almost two years ago, my husband was taken out of work and deemed disabled by Metlife under his longterm disability insurance that he purchased through his job. He was required to apply for Social Security Disabilty which he did. First he was denied, then recently approved for Social Security Disability. Under the order, Metlife was supposed to supplement the SS to match his current disability payment. Within days of receiving notification of approval, Metlife decided that my husband was not sending in the paperwork properly and discontinued his claim until further paperwork could be submitted. The representative was told that he was approved for SSD, and information was sent to Metlife as requested. Now he gets a call stating that their (Metlife) nurse has reviewed his records and concluded that he was no longer disabled by their definitions. We are dumbfounded! Nothing has changed since day one except his condition has worsened and he has been diagnosed with several other issues. Is there Any recourse? Are we just screwed?

Gregory Dell:

Karen, you may have recourse against MetLife, but we must review the denial letter sent by Metlife. If your husband’s disability policy is governed by ERISA then you must be aware that there are strict appeal deadlines that must be followed. Contact us and we will provide you with a free consultation to discuss your husband’s options.

Nancy:

My husband signed up for 1000.00 a week for short term disability from Metlife and he only received 400.00. They said he could not get more money on disability then when he worked. He paid for the 1000.00 a week premium. We have requested information from Metlife and they refuse to send us the contract or the original paper work that my husband filled out showing this amount and will not explain why he only received the 400.00 a week. How do we get this information? They keep telling us to go to his employer which he was let go from while on disability after working there for 13 years – or go to the Niagara Partnership Company which was the company who set up all the insurance from his employer. We have done all of thee above and are still refused this information. Now he is on long term disability, was denied SSDI and we are affraid they will stop his long term claim. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Gregory Dell:

Vincent, AT&T’s ability to deduct for your pension will depend on the language contained in your Long term disability policy. Your question is very specific and it can only be answered after a detailed review of your disability policy. The action taken by AT&T is a right they are exercising pursuant to the terms of your disability contract.

Gregory Dell:

Nancy, if the disability benefits were offered through the employer, then you must send a request in writing to the employer. According to ERISA regulations, the employer has 30 days to respond or they could be subject to a $110 per a day penalty.

Laurie Tilden:

My husband has fought a panic disorder for 12 years with short periods of disability. He was approved for LTD folowing the term of STD through METLife. He attempted to return to work never really accepting that he was permanently disabled but it exacerbated his condition dramatically and he was placed off work permanently by two treating MD’s. MetLife cancelled and has refused thus far to reinstate his LTD despite letters and MetLife forms from both doctors stating he was permanently and totally disabled. Of course their MD who never had a conversation with my husband feels he can work. Is there any way to fight this and win? And why is a mental disability only given 24 months and any other disability is for five years? Isn’t that discriminatory?

Gregory Dell:

Laurie, if you husband’s policy is governed by ERISA, then he must submit an appeal within 180 days. I would recommend that you call us to discuss the claim denial and we will discuss his options. Most MetLife group disability policies limit mental nervous conditions to 24 months. These limited pay period are usually valid.

Jay from Louisville, KY:

I am currently receiving monthly payments from Metlife, as well as SSDI. When I received the SSDI back pay, there was a deduction from my checking account to pay Metlife – It was almost the complete amount that I received.

Now, I was granted a settlement award from the car insurance company of the wreck that started all of my pain. And, Metlife now wants 100% of this award. They have recently sent statements listing amounts that I have been “overpaid”. The totals on these statements do not total to the amount they have listed as the total in the cover letter, as I have tried to understand. They are still paying me, but I fear that they could stop at any time. I need advice, and quick.

How is it that they can demand this money from the auto settlement? Do I have to pay them? How can I fight this?

Gregory Dell:

Jay, some MetLife disability policies provide for an offset if your disability is caused by a third party. In your case a third party would be the person that caused your injury. You need to look at the offset provisions of you policy. MetLife should only be entitled to an offset for the compensation you received for lost wages only. Your auto accident attorney needs to let you know what portion recovered was lost wages versus pain and suffering or medical bills.

Marcy:

Please help. I have recieved LT disability through MetLife for 2 1/2 years due to severe osteoarthritis, knee surgeries and knee replacement. Just recently I was approved for SSDI. My SSDI has me disabled due to “mental” issues (I have chronic depression and anxiety – everything went wrong with me mentally and physically after I got West Nile Virus 3 1/2 years ago).

Anyway, can Metlife now change my disability status to a mental diagnosis and decline benefits according to their “mental” clause of 24 month maximum beneifit period? If so, can they go back and demand to be repaid for anything paid over the 24 months? I still have the orthopedic issues and other medical issues due to West Nile. I am involved in Metlife’s rehabilitation program and they were going to begin paying for additional education starting in August. There is a plan in place with MetLife for me to eventually return to work in about 2 1/2 years.

Is everything on the line now due to the SSDI’s ruling? Am I at risk for losing my Metlife benefits?

Chuck:

I am currently receiving LTD benefits from MetLife, and have just been approved for SSDI benefits, so my payments form MetLife are now being offset by the amount I receive from Social Security. Since I also qualify for family benefits, this means my Met Life benefit has been substantially reduced. The problem is that My MetLife benefits were not taxable, but my SSDI benefits ARE. Since my wife is still working and earning it looks like my SSDI benefits could be taxed at up to 85%! I assumed that MetLife would have to reduce the offset by any amount of tax I had to pay but MetLife say they are NOT responsible for this difference. Is this legal? If so, it seems to me that I would be better off not receiving the SSDI.

Gregory Dell:

Marcy, if the primary disabling condition is physical and your mental illness is secondary then the 2 year limitation should not be a concern. If you continue to be disabled by orthopedic issues then the findings of social security will not have any retroactive implications. If you are accepted to the Rehab program I have never heard of a situation where MetLife revoked approval.

Gregory Dell:

Chuck, in the scenario you described it is true that you may be better off without the SSDI. We are currently researching pursuing a lawsuit against MetLife for people that are in your exact position.

Steve:

What is the “rule of thumb” cost for an insurance company to defend against an ERISA lawsuit?

Gregory Dell:

Steve, there is no rule of thumb cost for an insurance company to defend a disability denial case. Insurance defense firms usually work by the hour and charge anywhere from 175 hour to 450 hour. I have seen defense attorney fee bills from as low as 15000 to over one million dollars for defending an ERISA disability denial. The facts and issues are different in every case so there is no rule of thumb on defense cost.

Sherry DeLeo:

My husband purchase MetLife Short Term disability through his employer, Home Depot. He injured his shoulder and had to have extensive surgery to repair the injury. MetLife was sending us a weekly check until he turned 62 and applied for Social Security. Not SSID – just regular SS. MetLife now says we owe them money because they deduct his SS payments from his MetLife payments. I could understand if it was SS disability, but not regular SS. We have asked Home Depot and MetLife for a copy of our policy and have not received one yet. Any comment or help would be greatly appreciated. Thank You!

Gregory Dell:

Sherry, unfortunately, most MetLife disability insurance policies provide for a set off for any social security disability payments. Please check the FAQ section of our website for additional information on overpayments.

Kristine Endres:

I have appealed and just found out my appeal was denied after 180 days and now have to file a civil action against Metlife, for the following Illnesses: Multiple levels of Severe DDD in my lumbar and theoratic areas of my spine and issues with my cervical, Fibromyalgia, Severe Rhuematoid Arthiritis, Degenerative Disease in both shoulders and both knees, severe chronic pain, Generalized depression disorder, Anxiety disorder and Post tramatic disorder and an asthmatic in dealing with all this, how much can a person handle. I have 4 doctors states that I am disabled and cannot work and Metlife still denies my claim due to their Independent physican’s opinion. I am laying down most of the time as I cannot sit, walk, stand for any length of time without being in crucial pain all due to an accident because a stupid farmer refused to have lights or reflectors on his farm equipment and using it when it was pitch dark out, almost lost my life over it as I crashed into the manuer spreader at 50-55 miles per hour then have to deal with an total dishonest Insurance company as Metlife is! I really need help! I am only 43 years old, I have 2 teenagers and a husband and all they want is their wife and mom back.

Jerry:

Hi, I am 54 years old. I have severe Fibromyalgia. I had been on LTD from my job via MetLife. After two denials MetLife assigned me an attorney and I was awarded disability in Sept 2010. MetLife had said in Nov 2009 that I was approved thru 2023 as long as medical supported. Immediately upon informing MetLife of the favorable decision from SSDI (two weeks), they initiated a “review” with their “independent consultant”, who has never examined me. Even though my Doctor stated I could not hold gainful long term employment , they said I could work eight hours sedentary and closed my claim immediately. It was also determined by Met that they still owed me a monthly benefit, then came the “review”. I am currently in an appeal but even though my Doctors have disagreed with their findings I have learned that there is very slim chance for me. I live in NC. Do I have a civil case possibly?

Gregory Dell:

Jerry, your chances of winning your disability claim are not slim if it is handled correctly. If your appeal is denied, then you definitely have a civil case against Metlife. It is to your advantage and important to have legal representation during the appeal process. Please contact us confidentially via telephone or through our free consultation page in order to discuss your Metlife disability claim denial. You should also take a look at our ERISA appeal and Metlife videos.

Nathan:

I recently had surgery to try to fix a problem with my plumbing so that my wife and I can have a child. The hospital wrote me out of work for only two days but my doctor who did the procedure placed me out longer. I was out of work for two weeks and was informed by employer to file for short term disability. I can’t understand how or who would think that I could’ve worked when I couldn’t but a pair of underwear on for 4 days and was on 500 mg of antibiotics 4 times a day which kept me in the bathroom all day long plus I work on my feet for 8 to 9 hours a day. I was so swollen that I had to walk like a duck and very slow for the first week. I think that it is wrong and would like to find out what I can do can I file an appeal or seek legal action against metlife and my employer.

Brian Garfield:

When I first went on long term disability back in 1999, MetLife would send me a form to fill out, as well as one for my doctor to fill out. At first, these came at two year intervals. It has only been 10 months since the last one we filled out, and they are sending me yet another set to fill out (me and my doctor).

It has always been very clear that my disability is a permanent one, which is getting worse, not better. I was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, and with this type of MS there is NO remission period. In addition to my MS, I also suffer from incomplete quadriplegia resulting from a car accident back in 1982. Seeing that by now, they must have at least 10 or 12 of these reports on file, I would like to request that the neccessity of these forms be stopped. Please respond to let me know if this would be satisfactory to Metlife Claims Dept.. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
Brian Garfield

Gregory Dell:

Nathan,

If your claim was denied by MetLife, then they are required to send you a letter explaining their reason and your rights to file an appeal. You must file an Appeal within the time frame they give you. You cannot file a lawsuit until you complete all of your appeals.

Please watch our video on ERISA Appeals.

Since you are seeking benefits for a very short period of time, this is a claim that would not be cost effective for you to hire an attorney.

Gregory Dell:

Brian,

MetLife can request the forms as often as they like. In your case MetLife is probably requesting the forms again as you have a new claims examiner and the claims examiner did not bother to do a detailed review of your file.

You should send a letter explaining that it is a burden for you to get these forms and ask them to reduce the requirement for an APS. Most carriers will require the form at least one time a year, but in some cases they can eliminate the need to send an APS completely.

Kathi:

I am on disability with MetLife and also social security. I just got married. Will that marriage effect my amount I get from MetLife?

Gregory Dell:

Kathi,

Congratulations on your marriage. A marriage should have no impact on your disability benefits from MetLife. If you have kids, then social security may pay you a benefit for your child and MetLife will deduct the benefit you receive from Social Security disability.

Ari:

I’ve been on Total and Permanent Disability for almost 18 years with many auto-immune diseases. My employer happens to be MetLife. Can they turn around and deny me benefits after receiving it so long? I’m a few years from retirement and I thought you might want to know that MetLife employees under their LTD plan benefit – if MetLife deems me able for gainful employment in this economy that the job must be able to give me at least 80% of my MetLife pre-disability earnings if not then I am still considered disable. Are you aware of this?

Gregory Dell:

Ari,

MetLife has the right to deny your disability claim at any time. If you continue to have strong medical support, then it is unlikely that you will have any problems.

Frank:

I have been on an employer sponsored MetLife LTD plan for 16 months. I have had 4 different case managers during this period. I just received a call to advise me that MetLife is requesting another set of documents from myself and my doctors. During this conversation I was able to find out that I now have no case manager. It appears that the turn over at MetLife for case managers is high. The problem is I have to go through this with every case manager change. MetLife must retain these files, can I request a copy of all the files they have regarding my case? If so, who do I submit the request to?

Gregory Dell:

Frank,

You can send your request in writing to MetLife, but they may not give you anything since your claim has not been denied.

Minmin:

I am currently receiving LTD benefits from MetLife through my employer, and have just been approved for SSDI benefits. The MetLife LTD benefit will be running out in Oct 2012 according to their “mental” clause of 24 month maximum benefit period. Do you think I will have chance to win the case if I decide to fight with them since I’m still taking medication to reduce my anxiety/depression? Thank you very much!

Gregory Dell:

Minmin,

If you are disabled exclusively by a mental disabling condition that is clearly limited to 24 months, then there is no basis to challenge the MetLife 24 month mental nervous limitation. If you have other physical conditions that prevent you from working, then you would want to challenge the 24 month limitation.

Steve:

I was approved for benefits and paid for a number of months before my insurance company terminated benefits. I submitted a timely appeal which they have had for 71 days. They have neither provided me disposition nor advisement of extension. My claim is low dollar value so I can’t engage an attorney. Any thoughts on what to do next?

Gregory Dell:

Steve,

You need to sit tight right now and wait for a decision. They should make a decision any day now. It is no unusual for MetLife to blow the appeal deadlines. If your appeal is denied, you should contact us and we will see if we can help you to recover benefits.

John Doe:

MetLife is happier than a tick on a fat dog because they are busier than a one legged cat in a sand box doing everything in their power to thwart my efforts of getting disability insurance benefits.

I am more confused than a hungry baby in a topless bar as to how they can justify this humiliating and degrading treatment of a disabled person.

I would rather have jumped naked off of a 12-foot step ladder into a 5-gallon bucket of porcupines than to do business with the perfect example of an evil empire called MetLife.

I know sure as there is a hell and it’s not freezing over that I am not the only MetLife client madder than mosquitoes in a mannequin factory about their shady questionable business tactics.

This has taken a toll on my nerves, tested what little patience I have left, raised my blood pressure, and taken my stress to an entirely new level. I just want them to pay me my disability benefits.

Greg:

My question is similar to Brian’s above.

I’ve been on LTD for 10 years (high level SCI) and would receive forms every year around Nov. I also receive forms from a different carrier at the same time for a DIP. This year I didn’t receive forms from either company, so I called them. The DIP Co. said they sent me the forms in late Oct. so they resent them. MET said they had no record of sending them but looked like they would go out in a couple weeks. So I made a doctor appointment for early Dec. and took the DIP Co. and a blank MET physcian statement (I make copies, because there usually same form every year) to the doctor to fill out. In mid Dec. I still hadn’t received anything from MET, so I called and the Case Manager said they would be going out 12/21. Last week I still hadn’t received them, so I called them and the CSR said they were on hold but he would request release on them. This is also the fourth PCP (three different locations) I’ve had with the same diagnosis/prognosis.

The question is, does the LTD Co. ever stop sending forms?

Sheila Lowe:

I was approved for Social Security, MetLife has been paying me $1700.00 a month. I was awarded @1180.00 a month, they sent me a W-4 in 2010, so I am actually claiming the money they want me to pay back. For the last two years they have overwhelming me with signing paperwork, not knowing what I am signing. I got it for stress and anxiety, my medicine has been changed about 10 times, so half the time I did not know where I was at. In 2010 they reported my disability as wages, so now they have to send a letter to social security to prove I did not work. Why should I pay back money I claimed on taxes? My rep. said today I could amend them 2011 too, which cost $400.00, they claim they wont pay. I am so lost in the process, I dont know what to do?

Gregory Dell:

Greg,

Most disability carriers send forms at a minimum of once a year. If the carrier does not ask you for any documentation once you are on claim, then you usually not obligated to send them anything. MetLife does a lot of their disability claim handling out of India so it is not unusual to see long periods of time go by with a request for anything. You don’t need to chase them for claim forms. You need to make sure you continue treating with your doctor at least 3-4 times a year.

Gregory Dell:

Sheila,

Your MetLife disability policy may have language requiring you to pay back any funds received from SSDI. With regard to tax implications you need to consult with an accountant.

Tony:

I was on LTD for 11 months, then my benefits were terminated. I submitted a timely appeal which the insurance company has now had for 130 days. I have received no formal communication from the insurance company except acknowledgement of receipt of my appeal. Any idea why they would delay so long? Is this normal? What would you suggest at this point? Thanks.

Gregory Dell:

Tony,

130 days is an unacceptable long time, even for MetLife. Your only option at this point would be to sue them. Otherwise you need to wait. We have sued MetLife if they take longer than 45 days. At this point you should wait another few days and then decide how you would like to proceed. Give us a call and we can discuss your options.

Arnold:

Gregory, I had worked for Home Depot. In 2010, I received short term disability from MetLife. Six months later, I went on LTD through MetLife. They required me to apply for SSD, which I did. I was granted this 3 months later. I received back money from SSD. At that point, MetLife wanted ALL of the money they had paid me from the LTD policy, which was around $5,000. While my policy says that “some incomes” are offset, it does not specify SSD. What about all the premiums I had paid to MetLife for many years? Was it worth nothing since I will get nothing from them? If this is the case, shouldn’t all employees from Home Depot be advised against taking this policy since they will receive next to nothing if they qualify for SSD?

Michelle:

My husband became disabled through a motorcycle accident (amputation), however he had MetLife. After a two year argument with MetLife he finally began receiving his Long Term Disability payments (and back pay). After about 9 months they began reducing the amount by a thousand dollars, now they have put a “Rehabilitation” charge on the check stub, without any explanation of what this is. His claims Rep. has changed six times, they are always asking for new “annual” paperwork (every two months). It’s harassing and the reality is, my husbands leg isn’t going to grow back. He can no longer do the job he did prior to the accident (construction), and they have yet to offer him a rehabilitation program. But we’ve put in to the Rehab program over $18,000.00. Is there a cap? Is there something they should be doing with this dollar amount? Has anyone heard of a rehabilitation charge? Thanks.

Gregory Dell:

Michelle,

Some MetLife disability policies have a rehabilitation clause, which is MetLife’s attempt to retrain a disabled person and then say they can go back to work. Participation in this Rehab program must be approved. Regardless of how a claimant does in the program, MetLife will usually deny disability benefits at the end of the program. We would need to see your husband’s policy to determine what MetLife is trying to do to him now.

Tim:

All I can say is that I will never use MetLife ever again. My short term disability checks are so messed up. Saying that they mailed them…

In Dec 2011 I got 4 checks on the 30th. Amazing isn’t it. Two of them were dated the same day, and the other two were different dates. None of the dates were the correct weeks. I am not waiting on the last week of Dec. 2011 check. Was told that it was mailed 1-3-2012. Didn’t get it, said I had to wait until the 18th and if it didn’t show up that they would cancel it and mail another one. Told today, 1-20-2012, that in 7 to 10 days that they would mail another one.

I would love for the ones that are doing their job at MetLife to not get their check either. This is so sorry. I am having to pay late charges on everything, electricity, water, house, etc. There should be a law. This is the reason that they don’t use direct deposit. They wouldn’t be able to mess with your money if they did.

Kari:

My brother has a history of anxiety due to stress. He is on one daily medication and is well controlled. He opened his own business and wants to protect himself/family with disability insurance, but was told if he applies he will be denied because he is on a medication for anxiety. Is this true?

Gregory Dell:

Kari,

He may not be denied, but if he is looking to buy disability insurance, then MetLife will likely exclude any claims for anxiety.

Bobby:

I received LTD benefits from MetLife due to depression and anxiety. A little over a month before my claim ended due to a mental limited benefit condition clause of 24 months, I was diagnosed with manic depression which is an exception.

I sent the medical information as required by the insurance company. The medical info was reviewed by an independent medical examiner and I was interviewed by a mental health nurse whom found it weird that the manic episode would happen so close to my claim end date.

My doctor advised me that there was not much she could do because although she responded to the examiner’s report they gave her the impression that they thought I was clever and was trying to continue benefits or it could just be side effects of medications.

Can they really just end my benefits without verifying it is not manic depression? I am currently perusing SSDI benefits. I feel they are doing this on purpose to stop my benefits.

Gregory Dell:

Bobby,

You need to file an appeal of your denial within the timeline that MetLife has given you. You have the right to fight MetLife’s disability denial. Contact us if you would like assistance.

Please share your thoughts:

Your message:

Your name:

Your email: (will not be displayed)

Please note: This is a moderated blog.
Your comment will need to be approved by our staff before it will appear on this page. The name you provided will be displayed with your comment. The email you provided will not be dispalyed.

Send me an email each time there's a new comment on this page

Subscribe without commenting:

Please enter your email to be notified each time there's a new comment on this page: