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Former Worker: Insurance Co. Pays Claims When Pigs Fly
Channel 7 ABC News, Denver ^ | February 13, 2006 | Newsroom

Posted on 02/14/2006 10:59:15 AM PST by forsnax5

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This sort of stuff really hacks me off. I don't have an American Family Insurance policy, but I'd be looking for another carrier if I did...
1 posted on 02/14/2006 10:59:17 AM PST by forsnax5
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To: forsnax5
American Family Insurance has removed the pink pig with wings from its offices.

It's still there.....you just can't see it with the dark, starlit sky superimposed over it. Very appropriate for a "fly-by-night" organization.

2 posted on 02/14/2006 11:05:30 AM PST by edpc
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To: forsnax5

American Family insures a lot of Wisconsin drivers and has a good reputation here. They pay and do it promptly.

The Colorado claims office must have been an aberration and overlooked by the head office.


3 posted on 02/14/2006 11:07:12 AM PST by RicocheT
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To: forsnax5
This sort of stuff really hacks me off. I don't have an American Family Insurance policy, but I'd be looking for another carrier if I did...

Do you really think any of them are different or do you think you'd be jumping from the frying pan into the fire?
4 posted on 02/14/2006 11:09:17 AM PST by Filo (Darwin was right!)
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To: forsnax5

The article never gets around to saying what the company's reasons were for denying the claim. They surely didn't deny it on paper by saying well we're over our claims paying limit for this month...


5 posted on 02/14/2006 11:09:17 AM PST by arthurus (Better to fight them OVER THERE than over here.)
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To: RicocheT

Well, the HQ is in Wisconsin. I haven't heard any complaints about them either. Progressive and State Farm are another story around here.


6 posted on 02/14/2006 11:09:46 AM PST by July 4th (A vacant lot cancelled out my vote for Bush.)
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To: forsnax5
This will do far more than $3,000,000 in damage to their reputation. The longer they fight the verdict with appeals, the longer it will stay in the news and the more damage it will do. If they were smart, they'd settle out of court for something over a million just to make it go away. Oh yeah, if they're not paying claims that they should, then they need to start doing so ASAP. Too bad I'm not a class action lawyer -- this one looks like it might be ripe for the picking.
7 posted on 02/14/2006 11:10:22 AM PST by piytar
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To: forsnax5

American Family Insurance, eh? They're the ones doing all the radio spots in my area. Sounds like I'll stick with my company, then.

I hate insurance companies, generally, but we have to have insurance. They sure don't like to pay what's due, though.


8 posted on 02/14/2006 11:10:23 AM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: MineralMan

ping


9 posted on 02/14/2006 11:12:57 AM PST by vrwc0915 ("Necessity is the plea of every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants,)
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To: forsnax5

I'm ready for regulation. It's a frigging theft by deception today when you consider health insurance companies (the one or two that are left) have finally gotten around to copying the fire and casualty people - deny everything and hope the consumer falls asleep and pays.


10 posted on 02/14/2006 11:15:48 AM PST by kinghorse
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To: forsnax5
Look Out
Here come the hoard of attorneys.
Bend over American Family and forget everything you know about that PIG.
If you have any AF stock dump it NOW! ! !
11 posted on 02/14/2006 11:16:11 AM PST by DeaconRed (IF . . . . . . . . . . . . . .)
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To: piytar

Not really. State Farm, at least in Texas, has literally hundreds of reported cases against them for statutory violations out of failure to pay claims, yet they are still going strong. The fact is most consumers don't know anything about how insurance companies work and don't find out until they are on the bottom side of a claim problem.


12 posted on 02/14/2006 11:16:54 AM PST by 1L
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To: Filo
Do you really think any of them are different... ?

Actually, I'd assume that they're all different to a degree. Corporate cultures can get screwed up in any type of industry, but they can't *all* be bad apples.

13 posted on 02/14/2006 11:17:45 AM PST by forsnax5 (The greatest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.)
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To: forsnax5

I had the same type of experience with Grange Insurance when one of their insured totalled one of our cars.

Once I sent them a packet with 40 digital pictures and notorized statements from three wittnesses along with a copy of the police report they decided to pay.

Always keep a disposable camera or two in the glove box. It can make your life very easy when dealing with these slimeballs.


14 posted on 02/14/2006 11:21:30 AM PST by Bikers4Bush (Flood waters rising, heading for more conservative ground. Vote for true conservatives!)
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To: forsnax5
Reminds me of those Capital One credit card commercials.

NO!

15 posted on 02/14/2006 11:25:19 AM PST by colorado tanker (We need more "chicken-bleep Democrats" in the Senate!)
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To: kinghorse

Insurance is intensely regulated. Every state has an Insurance Commission and state laws on doing business in the state. If you have a complaint, the first step is to contact your state's Insurance Commission.


16 posted on 02/14/2006 11:25:27 AM PST by RicocheT
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To: forsnax5

I can really sympathise with this guy. I live in South Florida and hope that I never have to go through this after a hurricane. I would not have the patience that he does to let them drag it out for 3 years.


17 posted on 02/14/2006 11:31:18 AM PST by Buffettfan
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To: July 4th
Progressive and State Farm are another story around here.

Gasp. Communist insurance company not looking out for the little guy? Big shock.

18 posted on 02/14/2006 11:32:15 AM PST by armymarinemom (My sons freed Iraqi and Afghanistan Honor Roll students.)
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To: forsnax5

Just make sure your new comapny isn't Cigna. You could have a diasability claim invalidated because your case worker neglects to get a report from a doctor whose number, address, and fax he's had for a month before it was needed.

Of course, when you complain about that, they'll tell you "Well, you're entitled to a review of your claim", which they claim will take 45 days, but really takes 62, and in the end, they'll forget about the information they previously had and find something else to use to deny your claim.

They'll then inform you that you are entitled to another review of your claim. Another 45 (60+ day) process. And, you're entitled to a copy of your file.

When you receive the file and find a piece of paper, with a date on it, and the case worker's handwriting (which is anote on the date of the office visit for which they have no report because they neglected to send the doc the paperwork, and with the doctor's contact information), and question how a claim can be denied for a lack of information when the case worker HAD THE INFORMATION ON FILE, the person performing the review and appeal will tell you: I don't klnow.

When you ask "Well, if you know the information was on file and that all you had to do was to send a fax or make a phone call, why didn't you do that during the first review process?". The answer you get: That's not my job.

"Is it your job to ensure that Cigna had all releavnt information before reviewing the claim and made every good faith effort to get such information before hand?" Answer: that's not my job. But we did find another 10 reasons to invalidate your claim today. My boss was impressed.

As soon as I can find a lawyer worth his salt (meaning he won't take more than 25%) I'm going to sue the hell out of Cigna.


19 posted on 02/14/2006 11:38:45 AM PST by Wombat101 (Islam: Turning everything it touches to Shi'ite since 632 AD...)
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To: FOG724
Ping RE: "I had the same type of experience with Grange Insurance when one of their insured totalled one of our cars."
20 posted on 02/14/2006 11:42:17 AM PST by Seadog Bytes (OPM - The Liberal 'solution' to every societal problem. (...Other People's Money))
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