For consultation:
(305) 935.1622
Caryn E. Montague and Associates
Caryn E. Montague, RHU, LUTCF, CSA became licensed and appointed to sell life and health insurance in 1978; and has been a personal producing general agent since 1980. Ms. Montague is a mediator, certified by the Supreme Court of Florida (County Court); and Diplomate, American Board of Disability Analysts. Since the mid 1980s, Ms. Montague has regularly been engaged by plaintiff and defense counsel as a consultant and expert witness in insurance claims and litigation regarding standards of practice, application, claims, and agent’s actions. Bad faith, disability insurance, and forensic field underwriting are Ms. Montague’s areas of specialty. She has lectured and written in these areas of expertise; is often featured in industry and professional periodicals; and, has been the senior moderator and lead contributor for www.disabilityinsuranceforums.com since 2002. Ms. Montague has presided over many organizations in addition to numerous appointments in community, insurance, and legislative organizations. She has held public office as Councilwoman and Chairperson of the Zoning Appeals Board of Northeast Miami-Dade County. Ms. Montague served in the quasi-judicial capacity of Administrative Hearing Officer for Miami-Dade County in order to conduct hearings, fact-find and adjudicate contested County Code Violations. Most recently, Ms. Montague was invited to join the Round Table Group, a symposium of experts from around the world. Ms. Montague maintains memberships in the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) formerly known as the National Association of Life Underwriters; National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU); National Organization of Social Security Claims Representatives (NOSSCR); National Association of Disability Representatives (NADR); Florida Association of Professional Mediators, and other local, state and professional organizations.
If incarceration "rehabilitates" the criminal, will denial of an insurance claim rehabilitate the insured?
UnumProvident Re-Assessment of Disability Claims
In December 2004, the Insurer, along with most States’ Departments of Insurance, and the Dept. of Labor entered into an agreement that affords several hundred thousand claimants a review of their claims. The “Multi-State Settlement Agreement” (MSA) is the result of a 50 State, plus jurisdictions, investigation into the claims practices of the insurer. Links to the MSA and other info are at the bottom of this page.
If your Unum, Provident Life and Accident, Paul Revere Life Insurance Company, or First Unum disability claim was denied or terminated between 1997 and 2005, you may be entitled to a review of the claim. If you received a letter from UnumProvident offering to reassess your claim, and you think you may be ineligible for benefits, think again before dismissing the letter. If your claim was paid on a residual basis when it should have been total, if you did not get the COLA and indexing benefits factored in, if your claim was treated as “self-reported” or “subjective,” or a physical disability was moved to the psych department for evaluation before termination, you may have benefits due you.
Most importantly, please seek competent guidance from an advocate or attorney concerning the most appropriate way for YOU to proceed. Whether or not you are already in suit or walked away after being terminated or denied; whether your claim is ERISA, employer sponsored, or an individual policy you purchased yourself; whether you think you received the maximum amount due you or the amount the insurer determined you were entitled to, please take the time to have a professional explain your options in your particular case. A brief call or inquiry can help you assess what your options are, what you may expect, whether you are entitled to a re-assessment of claim, and what any state or jurisdictional issues may be.
Claimants terminated or denied January 2000-2005 should have