Lincoln Financial

Lincoln denied my claim because my doctor wasn't in the office – on his day off!!! – to answer their call

Reviewed by Nancy A. on August 17th 2016   Verified Policyholder
This is the worse, most incompetent company I have ever dealt with. I have a condition, that if I fall, it could cause my death. I can no longer walk without the aid of a walker or cane. I have to spend most of the time sitting with my leg propped up. I can’t walk long distances, I can’t stoop, stand too long, sit too long without elevating my leg and so on. This condition continues to worsen and because of this, my doctor has taken me off work. It’s called Osteogenesis Imperfecta (brittle bone disease) and there is NO cure, No treatment, No testing to do, it is basically living in a bubble as you age. Lincoln drug their heals for 3 months, then told me another 30 days. After the 30 days, they said they didn’t get the information from my doctor. The thing is, they called my doctor on Friday, which it is on my records, my doctors office is closed on Fridays. The doctor called the following Monday morning, not long after the doctor got in the office and had a chance to listen to the message, and were told my case had already been closed. The doctor asked them how they could close it without giving him the time to respond. They told him he should have been in the office to take their call. Excuse me???? I guess the doctor can’t take a day off and needs to be there 7 days a week 24 hours a day to wait for their call. The letter they sent me, was totally opposite of what they told me. They said my claim was denied because the doctor never called them back and the letter would contain appeal information. The guy I talked to was rude and said I needed to suck it up and get another job because there was nothing wrong with me. Said he was sending the denial letter. The letter I got says they need another 30 days. But the website, and the claims officer I talked to say it was denied. Now they won’t send me information on how to file an appeal. I’ve made 2 requests, but no response. I also left a message for the department director and still nothing. I really don’t know how these people can sleep at night knowing they are screwing people over.
Reply
Sent on August 17th 2016 by Attorney Gregory Dell

Nancy, please feel free to contact our office to discuss your claim further. ERISA provides an insurance carrier a finite amount of time to conduct its review of an application for benefits.