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chancecadecam

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? North Carolina

I had a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm 10 years ago when I was 8 months pregnant and have been out of work since. I was on short term disability the first year and then The Hartford made me apply for SSDI to off set their payments to me every month for long term disability. I have been receiving my social security payments for over 8 years and my short term then long disability payments for 10 years (short term the 1st year then long term the last 9 years).

I received my annual claimant questionarie form and physician statement from hartford a few months ago and returned both completed. The other day out of the blue I received a phone call from a man stating he wanted to come to my home a week later to "interview me". He said he worked for the hartford and just had about 45 minutes of questions. I told him that this was new to me and in 10 years nothing like this has occured. I called and spoke to the hartford and they gave me a song and dance about the interview being a "tool" they used. After his call I remembered telling my therapist that I thought someone had been following me so now it all makes sense.

I have researched this and know I should not meet with this man for many reasons including the facts he will survey my home, pictures, movements, manners and misconstrue anything I say. In addition he may surprise me with video survellience trying to trick me into saying something I should not. He also asked for a print out from the pharmacy of all of my medications which is not a problem to get for him but just seems so intrusive.

I am sickened and terrified and do not know what to do. I am not sure what my policy says but assume if I refuse him this interview then they can use that as their "reason". I have a bad feeling about this and am trying to get ahead of them before they do cancel my payments.

I fear I have made a mistake filling out my claimant forms as I always completed them stating my worst days for fear they would not understand that sometimes with the use of several powerful medications that I must "push through the pain" to interact as I have 3 children. I have always worried even though my doctors say I am disabled and my medical records list everything I say and prescriptions I take that the Hartford would never understand how hard it is to be in pain and sick yet have to function at times. They are not with me the next day when I have tripled my med's and am crying in pain.

I called several attorney's the other day but it was the day before Thanksgiving and did not get far. I did speak to 2 different attorney's the first warned me NOT to meet with this investigator and if I did to say I had legal counsel and if I could afford it have a court reporter with me. He said the investigator would probably leave. He also said it would be $400 per hour or about $11,000-$12,000 for him to represent me. The other attorney said he would not take on my case because my ltd payments of $650 were too low for his firm to take 15% out of each month.

I feel as if this is a catch 22 and I don't know what to do. I am desperate for help and advice. I don't have much time as the investigator wanted to meet with me in 4 days!!!! I have been naive to how brutal these insurance company's can be and need to wise up quickly to stop a denial and/or fight for my benefits.

My questions are what to do I do? I know the Hartford is ruthless, should I fight them, should I meet with him, what do I say and obviously they are trying to cut my benefits so how do I proceed and is there any hope we can't go into debt for a situation where a huge corporation who doesn't play by rules will win. I hate the thought of giving up but then I hate the thought of them doing this more!

Someone please advise me I am begging. My husband is a retired Marine and we have been through so much with my health and of course the war. This $650 a month and my SSDI payments are needed to live. Please please please guide me.
Regards,
T
 


commentator

Senior Member
The company has the perfect right to check on any claim they are paying, even though they have not done it in the past. Your posturing indicates that you are worried about what they may have seen while observing you, that you fear you may have overstated your condition and degree of limitations while completing your paperwork, and they want to check on it. Who knows?

Some of your friends or family, someone who is jealous of you may have called the Hartford and reported you. Or they may just have some sort of company policy that they evaluate every so many years. But they do have the right to re-evaluate you, do an investigation of your situation. You think that they should just keep sending the money forever? If you are genuinely disabled enough to be qualified for the benefits, you should have nothing to worry about. Incidentally, SSDI will do this someday, too, do a periodic re-evalation of your condition.

I do not understand why blaming the war or your husband's being in the military or saying the company is crooked and ruthless has to do with your situation. They either will find that you still are qualified, or that you are not. It does not appear to be based on your income level, how much you need the benefit or how deserving your family may be.

"I have been naive to how brutal these insurance company's can be and need to wise up quickly to stop a denial and/or fight for my benefits." Brutal? After paying you for ten years without excessive complaint, they want to re-evaluate your situation and you think that's brutal? Quite frankly, you sound like you've seen one too many of those television lawyer advertisements, which reek of "make sure those *******s don't cheat you out of benefits you deserve!" Yeah, give us your money, instead!

That both these two attorneys you spoke to want to charge you a really large amount of money, (more than a year's benefits would be in the first case) and even one of them was not willing to take the risk of taking 15% of your benefits, that's probably a sign that they think your days of receiving benefits from the insurance company may be over.
 
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chancecadecam

Junior Member
WOW, not what I expected at all.

Not that I feel as if I need to defend myself but I posted this very late last night when I could not sleep only because I was looking for help. Constructive critism is welcome this post was not.

The company has the perfect right to check on any claim they are paying, even though they have not done it in the past. Your posturing indicates that you are worried about what they may have seen while observing you, that you fear you may have overstated your condition and degree of limitations while completing your paperwork, and they want to check on it. Who knows? I AGREE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT THEY HAVE CHECKED ON ME EVERY YEAR FOR 10 YEARS JUST NOT A HOME INTERVIEW. i WAS SEEKING HELP ON HOW TO HANDLE IT. I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE.

Some of your friends or family, someone who is jealous of you may have called the Hartford and reported you. Or they may just have some sort of company policy that they evaluate every so many years. But they do have the right to re-evaluate you, do an investigation of your situation. You think that they should just keep sending the money forever? NO I DO NOT THINK I AM OWED SOMETHING FOR NOTHING. ONCE AGAIN I AM NOT QUESTIONING THEIR RIGHTS TO DO THIS BUT ON HOW TO HANDLE IT SINCE MY RESEARCH SHOWS THEY DO NOT ALWAYS PLAY BY THE RULES. NO REASON FOR YOU TO BE SO RUDE.



If you are genuinely disabled enough to be qualified for the benefits, you should have nothing to worry about. Incidentally, SSDI will do this someday, too, do a periodic re-evalation of your condition. ONCE AGAIN I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE AND HAVE PASSED MY SSDI EACH TIME.

I do not understand why blaming the war or your husband's being in the military or saying the company is crooked and ruthless has to do with your situation. I DID NOT BLAME THE WAR I SAID IT HAS BEEN A HARD 10 YEARS WITH MY ANEURSYM AND MY HUSBAND GONE. SORRY TO COMPLAIN EVERY ONE HAS THEIR ISSUES, I SAID THEY WERE RUTHLESS BECAUSE OF THE STORIES I HAVE READ AND INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS. CALL ME BAMBI BUT IT IS SAD THAT THEY RESORT TO SOME OF THE TACTICS THEY DO I WAS NOT REFERRING TO MYSELF. ONLY THE FEAR IT COULD HAPPEN,

They either will find that you still are qualified, or that you are not. It does not appear to be based on your income level, how much you need the benefit or how deserving your family may be. ONCE AGAIN I NEVER SAID WE ARE MOST DESERVING WHY TAKE THIS TONE WITH ME? IT IS A BASIC FACT THAT PEOPLE ON SSDI AND LTD RELY ON IT.

"I have been naive to how brutal these insurance company's can be and need to wise up quickly to stop a denial and/or fight for my benefits." ONCE AGAIN I SAID "I have been naive to how brutal these insurance company's can be and need to wise up quickly to stop a denial and/or fight for my benefits".

YOU MISSED MY POINT I SAID I WAS NOT AWARE OF HOW BRUTAL THEY CAN BE UNTIL I RESEARCHED NUMEROUS STORIES AND ARTICLES.
I DID NOT SAY THEY HAVE BEEN TO ME ONLY I FEAR THEY COULD BE,






Brutal? After paying you for ten years without excessive complaint, they want to re-evaluate your situation and you think that's brutal? Quite frankly, you sound like you've seen one too many of those television lawyer advertisements, which reek of "make sure those *******s don't cheat you out of benefits you deserve!" Yeah, give us your money, instead!

DO YOU FEEL BETTER NOW AFTER TYPING THIS. HAS PUTTING ME DOWN MADE YOU FEEL BETTER. I DO NOT THINK IT IS UNDER HANDED TO SEEK REAL LEGAL ADVICE TO ENSURE MY BENEFITS ARE NOT DENIED. I THINK THAT IS THE SMART THING TO DO. WHY MUST YOU REACT THIS WAY. WHERE DO I SAY GIVE ME MONEY, I AM OWED EVERYTHING, I AM BETTER, WE ARE MORE DISERVING

That both these two attorneys you spoke to want to charge you a really large amount of money, (more than a year's benefits would be in the first case) and even one of them was not willing to take the risk of taking 15% of your benefits, that's probably a sign that they think your days of receiving benefits from the insurance company may be over.

One told me he only takes cases where the claimant makes $1000 or higher per month. The other was quite informative and nice.

I hope you feel better, I re read my post and in no way do I think I stated me, me, me. If you are having a bad Monday then I am sorry. I posted this question because I am worried and should not have to defend myself for being worried. You state, "If you are genuinely disabled enough to be qualified for the benefits, you should have nothing to worry about. Incidentally, SSDI will do this someday, too, do a periodic re-evalation of your condition." From my research I was under the impression that insurance companies do not play "fair" they will do anything to get out of paying benefits. I have read over 50 articles stating this which led to my post and my worries. For you not to understand that makes me wonder who you are. you believe that they will do the right thing where as it seems as if they don't.

I made a horrible mistake posting this question. I hoped for help not a verbal lashing, making fun of me and basically calling me out as a liar-fraud and someone who believes I deserve special treatment.

I have no idea why I just took the time to reply to you but I can see you are not a nice person nor a person who wants to give needed advice only someone who wants to judge and hurt.

Congratulations you achieved your goal I hope you have a good day. I also hope you are never in my shoes as I don't want to judge you but your response left me little choice but to wonder why?
 

Zigner

Senior Member, Non-Attorney
I started to read but suddenly a loud whining noise came from my monitor.

In any case, the OP doesn't have to cooperate...she can just let them discontinue benefits...
 

chancecadecam

Junior Member
All I can say now is wow**************..... I did not think I was whining I was asking for advice on meeting with this man alone. I then defended myself to someone who may be a commentator but who was way off base. I hope you all have had a good laugh at my expense. Best wishes and maybe "pay it forward" next time instead of attacking and making fun of someone. Thank you for reminding me the world is full of some real jerks who like to put others down to build themselves up. Happy holidays.
 

commentator

Senior Member
I have had quite a bit of experience dealing with this particular company on Worker's comp issues. I have never noticed their being brutal. But I have never heard of them failing to check up on a called in complaint or not doing due dilligence if they have any indication that the client may be telling it like it is on the very worst day, that the client may be out doing things they are stating they are too disabled to do. If they did not do so, they would not stay in business very long. But as far as this being brutal or hard hearted, I don't see it. There is a definite tone of defensiveness and entitlement here that will not serve the OP well in dealing with the Hartford representative.

I do not see how obtaining an attorney and paying them large sums is going to "ensure" that the benefits are not discontinued, or help this person change things that have already happened, as far as the taping, or checking out of her activities, this has doubtless already happened if it is going to. They don't tell you you're going to be watched before they start watching you. If they question you or show you videotape, and you blurt out something, that's just what they do. Of course they'd like you to give them incriminating testimony, if it's there to be said.

If the company has been following this OP or having her watched and has seen some evidence that leads them to believe she is not as disabled as they have been paying for, the evidence can perhaps be explained reasonably, but it won't be possible to make it go away. I always feel that being honest and frank is the way to deal with any sort of investigation of this type, but this person is hyperventilating in all capitals just from what we are saying to her here. I cannot imagine how she is going to handle herself when she is asked hard questions by the Hartford representative. What an attorney would do for her is keep her from talking for herself and taking this particular tone with them. It might be worth it.
 
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