UNUM

I have severe Rheumatoid Arthritis as well as other illness's and was medically retired by my employer three years ago.
I had an income protection policy with UNUM which covered me if I was unable to work or had to reduce my working hours.. After reports from my doctor, consultant and lots of form filling they made their award and have been paying me three years. They dont pay me that much as UNUM deduct from their payment to me standard rate Employment and Support allowance - they deduct this automatically whether I receive ESA or not, but I am lucky I do receive ESA having gone through a not very nice Atos medical I was granted ESA

Today ~I received a letter from UNUM asking me to update them on my condition, the form they sent has so many questions and the way they are worded I really cannot believe they are from anyone with medical training but I am told to return my form to their chief medical officer! Additionally they ask me questions such as what do I think is the cause of my disease - which I cannot answer as despite many years of research no doctor or scientist has been able to say what the cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis in anyone is and no one has been able to find a cure. Additionally they have sent me a rather cheeky daily activity sheet to complete which basically asks what I do all day which I find humiliating. They also want me to sign a form allowing them to share my information with my employer - I find this strange as they are well aware I have no employer as I have not worked since my medical retirement. They have also asked for consent to obtain my recent medical records from my GP (not a GP report) They have now been paying me for three years and they tell me they need all this information for their records. Anyone else had this experience or any advice

thanks

lizzie

Hi Lizzie

I am in receipt of personal health insurance from UNUM. This came as part of my employment package and I am still (technically) on my employer's books. I normally receive a yearly review form which basically asks if my condition has stayed the same, improved or deteriorated.

I am wondering if this is similar to your insurance (i.e. did you pay for it as an individual, or was it a company-based scheme?). Also, were you subjected to the more simple review in the past?

As a final point, does anyone know the difference between personal health insurance and income protection insurance (if any)?.

Why hasn’t my post appeared?

Gordon

Hi InDespair, Yeh it sounds similar and yes until now I have received a yearly renewal form basically asking if my condition has changes, stayed the same etc,which sounds like what you receive but what I have received today is nothing like what I normally receive. Its more complicated and prying than the first application form that we filled in.