Question

If I drop the SSI Disability case, will Unum accept that I have been denied twice or will they make me pursue it? If I decide to cancel my Disability case will I be able to get on Medicare?

Asked on December 5th 2015 by Tina
I have a disability claim in with an Attorney and have been denied twice. I will be turning 65 in a couple months and have just found out that I may not be able to apply for Medicare and may have to wait for 2 years? This will totally bankrupt me. I am scheduled for 2 surgeries and am presently on Unum long term disability. Unum knows that I have an Attorney. My questions are: If I drop the SSI Disability case, will Unum accept that I have been denied twice or will they make me pursue it? My daughters have offered to help me financially to get over this hurdle. Can I tell Unum not to send me anymore payments. Will they make me pay them back since I have been denied twice? Also, they didn’t seem too happy that my surgeries aren’t until May and June. If I decide to cancel my Disability case will I be able to get on Medicare? Thank you for any help you can give me. I’m losing sleep over this.

Answer

Answered on December 6th 2015 by Attorney Alex Palamara

Tina, If the policy requires you to pursue the SSDI through all levels (which chances are it does) you will have to go through the hearing level for SSDI. You can certainly request to stop receiving benefits though I am not sure why you would surrender the benefits at this point. With respect to medicare, you will need to speak to your SSDI attorney as to how that would work.