Bankers Life & Casualty Insurance Co. Lawsuit

Bankers Life & Casualty Insurance Co. is the Target of a Class Action Lawsuit over Long-Term Care Insurance

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER

Bankers Life & Casualty Insurance Company is accused of denying legitimate claims for long-term care to elderly patients in a federal CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT filed earlier this year. Bankers Life & Casualty Insurance Co. is alleged to have committed ELDER ABUSE because it denied and delayed long-term care insurance claims and raised the prices of premiums without improving benefits to its’ elderly customers. This class action lawsuit follows years of complaints by state insurance commissioners and consumers about Bankers Life & Casualty Insurance Co. claims processing practices.

According to the attorneys who filed the case, Bankers Life & Casualty Insurance Co. wrongfully withheld payments for people who applied for assisted-living expenses, and created legal hurdles and red tape for elderly customers. The class action lawsuit also alleges breach of contract, breach of promises, fraud, negligence, and intentional misconduct. There are 9,000 members in this class action lawsuit who are unhappy with their Bankers Life & Casualty Insurance Co. policies.

LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE is intended to pay for nursing, assisted living, adult foster or home health care for elderly customers and people with disabilities. Bankers Life & Casualty Insurance Co. has been the target of multiple complaints nationwide about its long-term care claims processing and other insurance products. Bankers Life & Casualty Insurance Co. has had high rates of consumer complaints about its health insurance and annuities policies.

In 2008, the parent company to BANKERS LIFE & CASUALTY INSURANCE CO. agreed to pay out more than 6 million dollars in penalties and restitution to settle complaints brought by dozens of state insurance regulators about claims processing practices. Bankers Life & Casualty Insurance Co. also agreed to spend 26 million dollars improving their claims management processes.

Last year, Bankers Life & Casualty Insurance Co. paid more than 3 million dollars to settle allegations that it failed to live up to the 2008 settlement. Reviews by multiple states determined that Bankers Life & Casualty Insurance Co. erroneously denied maximum benefits and failed to investigate and settle claims in a timely manner.

According to the complaint filed in this lawsuit, Bankers Life & Casualty Insurance Co. stated that the adult foster home that an 87-year-old elderly customer who moved in to did not meet its policy requirements. A state insurance division reviewed the matter and forced Bankers Life & Casualty Insurance Co. to pay the claim, 19 months after it was first submitted. There are numerous elderly customers who have similar complaints. The class action lawsuit also alleges that Bankers Life & Casualty Insurance Co. violated elder abuse laws by selling policies and failing to disclose large future premium raises that come with no increase in benefits, despite rising health care costs. In some cases, the premiums were alleged to have more than doubled.

Attorneys at EVANS LAW FIRM, INC. will continue to thoroughly investigate and prosecute elder abuse and insurance fraud cases. Evans Law Firm, Inc. handles elder abuse, financial elder abuse, physical elder abuse, annuity fraud, consumer fraud class actions, insurance and banking fraud cases. If you think that you have witnessed or are the victim of elder abuse, or financial fraud by a life insurance company, bank or individual then, contact the Evans Law Firm at 415-441-8669 for a free and confidential consultation, or email us at info@evanslaw.com

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Bankers Life & Casualty Long-Term Care Insurance

HomeElder Care Long Term Care Insurance Updated on 12/03/2018

Bankers Life & Casualty Long-Term Care Insurance

Based on 49 reviews that contain star ratings

Bankers Life & Casualty Long-Term Care InsuranceConsumerAffairs Unaccredited Brand

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Rated with 1 star

Janelle of Baton Rouge, LA Verified Reviewer

Original review: Nov. 7, 2018

PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT WASTE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY ON THIS COMPANY. It is heartbreaking that my father passed away with him thinking Bankers Life was taking care of everything. I had to lie to him that all was well to give him some peace of mind as he lay dying. He put so much faith in this ridiculous company and paid in tens of thousands to them to have a secure senior life for my mother and him. Take away point: as my East Texas father would say in that slow drawl; “You would do better to stuff your money up a hog’s bottom than use Bankers Life”. Thousands of dollars paid out of pocket for long term care for my parents. Always one more document needed and zero payout from Bankers Life. Always sent requested docs posthaste. They sell not LTC, but sadly, a false sense of security.

HELPFUL 5 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

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Leslie of Manassas, VA Verified Reviewer

Original review: Sept. 6, 2018

If you’re looking for LTC insurance DO NOT CHOOSE BANKERS LIFE. If you’re in the unfortunate position of either attempting to get BL to pay on a policy or acting for someone who has a policy GET AN ATTORNEY IMMEDIATELY. I hold my father’s POA and have been representing him for 5 years and it takes monthly multiple calls to BL, monthly multiple resubmissions of documentation and frequent referrals to our attorney for BL to fulfill their policy agreements. Perhaps profitable for stockholders and CEO but appallingly poor service for policy holders.

Rated with 1 star

Donna of Tampa, FL Verified Reviewer

Original review: April 16, 2018

When submitting Whole Life policy information (application, policy, “congratulation” pay off letter) to Bankers Life & Casualty customer service 800-525-7662, they told me they have no record of existence. Just wanted to warn others that policies taken out on their newborns will most likely be “lost”. Put your money in a savings account for them. Most children are not aware of (60+ years) existing policy OR paperwork will be lost on such policies. Ultimately this is what B&CL is counting on. Either way, policy will not be paid. Policy pay off letter signed by Frank ** at Bankers Life – Oct 1975.

HELPFUL 8 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

Mary of Ocean Springs, MS Verified Reviewer Verified Buyer

Original review: March 27, 2018

My mother paid huge monthly premiums for many years, now she is dying and livening in a skilled nursing facility so I have been trying for 6 months to get them to pay on this policy but they keep finding excuses not to pay. For the last 3 months I and my Mother’s Dr. office have faxed, uploaded and called in the requested information but then every time I call they claim “they have not received any documents”!!! They gave us the fax number to use, and we verified the number (faxed it again X3) then uploaded the documents to their website – as they instructed (we did this X3). Finally the Dr. called and gave them the information & resent the forms.

Then the Nurse called the following week and was told they received the documents except 1 page, so she re-send the missing page. I then called the following week to check on status but was told that they received… NO information at all!!! The people are crooks. They just do not want to pay. People can’t be this incompetent without actually trying to be that bad. I try to speak to a supervisor and am told “someone” will call me back, which does not happen. I ask to file a complaint and told I have to “mail them a letter” — which I’m sure they will lose too! Do NOT purchase this insurance. My Mother’s Dr. office tell me they have had lots of problems with this company many other times. This should be illegal.

HELPFUL 15 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

April of Helenville, WI Verified Reviewer Verified Buyer

Original review: Feb. 8, 2018

If I could give this company zero or negative stars, I would do it. Never have I been treated so poorly by any company. They are inefficient, uncaring, disorganized and downright deceptive. I can’t believe they are still in business. If someone ever tries to sell you or your loved ones one of these policies, run away and don’t look back. I can only imagine how they treat the elderly who have one of these policies and need to file a claim but doesn’t have a child or advocate to battle for them, I can only imagine how they are treated.

My father took out one of their Long Term Care policies back in 1993 and set up the premiums to be paid directly out of his bank account. In August of last year he had a major stroke and would now be needing long term care at a local skilled nursing facility. Even though he had Medicare and supplemental through his work, I started the process of alerting Bankers that I would likely be filing a claim after the first two options ran out. I didn’t have in my possession the actual policy that he had taken out with them and couldn’t find it at his house. I alerted Bankers Life and they told me they would resend the policy to his residence and not mine since they didn’t have my existing POA papers. I said that was fine since I was having his mail forwarded to me anyway and that I would send the POA papers to them. I uploaded the POA forms and waited for the policy.

Weeks later I realized I hadn’t received them, (my bad, but life got in the way). I called again, spoke to someone else who said they had no request on file and they had no record of my POA being uploaded. OK, stuff happens, so I re-uploaded the papers. Waited another couple of weeks, no policy. I call again. They have them. They’re being processed. Several more weeks pass and I receive a confirmation letter that my POA has been recorded in the name of my mother, who had passed 5 years previous. Another phone call to the agency that now is supposed to be servicing the policy since the original agent is now long gone. Agent tells me that they didn’t receive second page of POA. I resend everything again, including my mother’s death certificate, but this time to the agent.

Weeks go by, receive another letter finally stating me as the POA. Still no policy. Call again, speak with phone rep, Unique, in of all places, their call center…in Jamaica. Still no request on file for sending me a policy. Request a policy, but they have no record of my POA. Tell her I have a letter stating me as the POA. She says it doesn’t matter, she has no record of it. I am now thoroughly pissed and not certain what to do.

On Nov. 20th, my father passes away. At the beginning of Nov. the nursing home was kind enough to fill out the majority of the claim and submit the claim. This is a service they offer to all their patients’ families. She had questions about the claim as well and calls Bankers numerous times and couldn’t get straight answers and could never talk to the same person twice because Bankers doesn’t assign a single person to handle your case, you have the misfortune of having to talk to whomever is available…in Jamaica. She tells me that they keep asking for the same information from the nursing home again and again and again. It is now well into Dec. and they keep asking for the same info yet again. They are sending me letters now, telling me what they are asking for and it’s the same thing as the time before and the time before that etc. The nursing home has now sent the information 3 times.

Oh, and Bankers also doesn’t deal with 21st century technology, everything is done by snail mail. One of the forms I received from them was dated 18 days prior to the date I received it. All of the information from the nursing home had to be snail mailed….again and again and again. The nursing home is now calling me to see if I can call Bankers, since they will give out no information to the nursing home, (and this is after I have told them twice to give the nursing home any and all information that they need), I am furious at the stall tactics and call Bankers yet again.

Spoke with another rep in the Jamaican call center. Can’t understand a darn word she’s saying. They transfer me to another rep. Ann. She can only tell me that the claim is in process and they are waiting on the nursing home. I tell her she’s lying because I just got off the phone with the nursing home and that she has sent all the necessary information 3 times with the last time being 2 weeks ago. I again demand a copy of the policy, she refuses because, guess what? They don’t have me listed as POA??!! And now they don’t have to send me anything because POA ends at death! Oh, that’s right, Bankers didn’t even have that little tidbit of information in the file! I had told everyone I had spoken with after Nov 20th that my dad had passed. I got a condolence letter in Dec, but no one had recorded it in the file. How pathetic is that? And now I don’t have a leg to stand on to get a copy of the policy or any other information.

I demand to speak to her supervisor. I also now am demanding to know where the call center I am speaking to is located. She dances around the issue until she blurts out “Jamaica. We are on the island of Jamaica.” Way to go, Bankers Life. She also was not wanting to tell me her supervisor’s name, since he “was out of the office at the moment.” She finally told me his name was “Willy” and that she would have him call me. Yeah, right. No call back that day, or the next.

Finally frustrated to the point of tears, I call the union liaison that Navistar has appointed to help its retirees with insurance claims. He proceeds to tell me how much trouble he has had with them and that maybe the reason they don’t want me to see the policy is because some of their policies he has dealt with offer a refund of premium if no claim is made. I’m now righteously angry.

I now call the agent again, in Waterloo, IA. I explain the issue to her and I’m not speaking softly. She offers to call the home office if I calm down and stop yelling. I apologize and give her a synopsis of the problem. I can tell she thinks I’m exaggerating. She calls back in about 30 mins. Lo and behold, they won’t give her any information or fax her a copy of the policy. This is the AGENT THAT IS SUPPOSE TO SERVICE THE POLICY AND THEY WON’T GIVE HER ANY INFORMATION! She is stunned. Does tell me that as soon as the higher ups return from their New Year’s retreat, (yes, by now it is 2018.) I am done waiting.

I draft an email to her (although to her credit she is the only person at Bankers that actually tried to help me and showed some modicum of empathy towards me). The email stated that I wanted a copy of the policy in my hands in 2 days and that I had already contacted my attorney and was filing a bad faith lawsuit. I also stated that I had already opened a case against them in the State of Illinois with the Department of Insurance. The next call would be to my State Senator and a local Circuit Judge. I get an immediate response from the agent that she is forwarding my email to the powers that be regardless of what retreat they are on.

The next day, I get a call from Rob in the home office…in Chicago. He is stunned and amazed by how Much trouble I have had…But he still can’t send a policy directly to me!!! He assures me that he will personally oversee the rest of my claim…that it is in process and they are only waiting on the nursing home!!! He assures me that he would make sure a check is cut to the nursing home as soon as the claim is completed. He says they will overnight the policy to my father’s address, in Central Illinois, 4 hours away from me. He says they will forward it after I tell him there is no one there to receive it. No problem, he says they will definitely have it forwarded. Guess what? It wasn’t forwarded! Fed Ex left it in the freaking DOOR!!! My husband drives 8 hours round trip to retrieve the policy. Finally received a check from them for the claim on February 2nd, when I had begun the claim process on Oct. 4th. Yes, that’s 5 months.

My husband, who works for a major insurance company, was appalled by how badly this company runs its claims. The final icing on this wretched cake came with the check. In a small statement on the stub, the comment was written, and I quote this, “patient has not met the required waiting requirements. Your insurance does not pay for losses to the extent that they are covered by Medicare. However, as a valued policyholder, and to provide you with the best possible service, we are applying Medicare covered days towards your elimination period. You have met 20 of 20 days of your elimination period to date.” Yes, thank you Bankers Life for being so gracious as to afford me the finest possible customer service, you pathetic excuse for a company. If this is the best possible service, I would sorely hate to see their worst.

HELPFUL 17 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

Rick of Kingwood, TX Verified Reviewer

Original review: Feb. 6, 2018

For several years I have been paying Bankers Life monthly premiums for long term care. The day came when my wife with Alzheimer needed outside assistance. I was told our policy exempt care payments for the first 90 days of needed care. Bankers Life required a lot of paperwork which they received. More paperwork was required. I paid the two caring facilities for my wife care from June-December 2017 and have continued to pay into January 2018. I sent Bankers Life all of the weekly billing invoices with the copy of my payment check for each invoice. During late November 2017 Bankers Life called the caring Facility that caring hours and calendars daily dates for each week was needed. This was during November. I expect payment for all of my weekly paid invoices and I was surprised to learn that the caring facility had to give them calendar days for each week.

Bankers Life accepted my copies of the paid weekly invoices but never mentioned to me that more information was needed. My contact at the caring facility mentioned that this was the worst insurance company she had experience. Their system for invoicing was not set up for the week’s calendar dates and hours of care. She built a handwritten spreadsheet on one of their invoice form. I mailed this form to Bankers Life on December 5th. We didn’t hear from them so I assumed it was trashed. Three weeks later I built a Excel spreadsheet in date sequence, showing my check number, the date, the facility, total hours and check total. I mailed this on December 27, 2017 with another set of copied invoices which included the image of my payment checks.

Later I called them and told my Bankers Life contact that if I didn’t receive the amount due me from my spreadsheet I was going to report them to the my state and I’m thinking of getting a lawyer to take the company to court and Bankers Life will pay for all costs. My contact told me I would have priority and reimbursement checks will be mailed within a few days and he will keep me posted, which he did. I received the checks around January 20th and another check about a week later. I would not recommend Bankers Life for long term care insurance.

HELPFUL 14 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

Jeff of Magna, UT Verified Reviewer

Original review: Jan. 5, 2018

Like others have already written, Bankers Life seems to have their techniques down very well to drag the approval process out for as long as possible. We started in January of 2017 to get my father into an assisted living facility. He’d been paying on his policy for years, and from what he’d told us, Bankers was supposed to be a good company to deal with. Well, that wasn’t the case. Once we opened a claim they asked for some basic information and told us that they couldn’t do anything until he was already in a facility. We found an assisted living facility that was close to our home and moved him in, in February. Since he is on a fixed income, we had to supplement the cost of the monthly charges… hoping that Bankers Life would reimburse us. Once in the facility Bankers then asked for more documents. They were sent. They then told us that the documents would be reviewed.

We waited… and waited for about 6 weeks. They called and said that they needed additional information. We sent it… and then waited. After a few more weeks they sent out a nurse to evaluate him. She ran some basic tests and then we waited. They asked for more information. But while we were waiting for them to review the new documents… my father had a fall and broke 4 ribs. He was sent to the hospital where he stayed a week before being sent to a rehab facility. Because Bankers was dragging their feet for so long, and weren’t helping with any costs, we had to take my father out of the assisted living facility. We figured that once he was released from the rehab facility he could move back into our home again while we waited for Bankers to finally get around to approving him.

He was at the rehab facility for a month and all of the doctors and nurses told us that there should be no problem getting him approved for long-term care with his physical limitations and dementia. We moved him back home with us and we heard that Bankers Life didn’t feel that he needed any assistance and denied his long-term care. We appealed, and sent in 90 pages of documentation from doctors and nurses, stating all of his physical and mental conditions, and the doctors recommending that he be in an assisted living home… but that too was denied. Well, we decided to have help in our home while we went back and forth with Bankers Life.

So we called a home health company, who had helped out previously, and they sent a nurse out to evaluate him for home health. We also contacted Bankers Life, yet again, about home health while we could make arrangements to get him back into assisted living. They also sent out a nurse. Both nurses arrived the same day and at the same time. Both evaluated him and both agreed he was needing help. The local home health company worked through Medicare and started the next day. We heard from Bankers Life a few weeks later telling us that his claim was under review. Another month went by and they sent us another letter telling us that it was still under review.

We finally heard back today that they will approve home health assistance, but we are moving him into a nursing home next week. Hopefully they will allow the care that he gets there as proof enough to allow us to move him into an assisted living facility again. There is zero chance of us ever referring anyone to Bankers Life. They are very skilled in the art of delaying and dragging their feet to the point that people want to just give up. Horrible, horrible service and company.

Rated with 1 star

Jeanette of Corpus Christi, TX Verified Buyer

Original review: Nov. 27, 2017

It seemed impossible to collect from Bankers Life when my mother became ill and unable to care for herself. After months of trying to satisfy Bankers requirements, which I did, they just kept telling me I did not send this or that document and I proved to them I had. Finally, out of desperation, I told them they would not be hearing from me again. I was taking all documentation to my attorney.

I told them I had an attorney because I had been appointed Legal Guardian of Mom since she was unable physically and mentally to care for herself which they were fully aware of because I had sent them a copy of the guardianship papers from the court. I then told them they could pay the attorney fees, court costs AND pay my mom. I would not be contacting them again and I did not want them to contact me unless it was to send me a check for Mom. They started sending me checks. It is a shamed that you have to threaten them to get them to do what they were paid to do. I wouldn’t even give them 1 star.

HELPFUL 14 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

Clay of Aurora, CO Verified Reviewer

Original review: June 12, 2017

My parents paid this ripoff company for 10 years and they denied every claim except a partial when my mother passed away. 10 years of premiums and Bankers Life paid $1800 after 6 months of trying to get them to pay. Conseco Life Insurance is associated with them and it is the same dealing with them. Hundreds of bad reviews. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM THEM!!!

HELPFUL 23 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

Corey of Centennial, CO

Original review: June 11, 2017

I am a Financial Planner and been in the business for over 10 years. Long-term care is a big part of my business considering the majority of my clients are seniors. My experience with Bankers Life actually comes from one of my clients. I have a client in NC who has had several health issues and was declined LTCI a few times by major LTC insurance companies. Long story short, my client was contacted by a cold call from a Bankers Life agent who insisted she could still get the insurance even after she disclosed her health issues. With that said, my client consulted with me and I said if he could get her approved then get the insurance.

I gave her a list of questions to ask about the policy and some pointers about what to look for. When the agent from Bankers Life arrived, he was very pushy and actually told my client to omit some health details when filling out the application. She also tried asking him the questions I gave her about the policy and he noticeably was growing very frustrated with my client and eventually told her if she doesn’t trust him then he’s not doing business with her then he packed up his things and left. These business practices are very unethical and need to be looked into.

HELPFUL 17 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

Rick of Portland, OR Verified Reviewer

Original review: Dec. 29, 2016

Customer service is not good. I always get the same greeting “NOW HOW IS THIS MY FAULT?” The world shakes and then the “nice” agent hangs up irresponsibly. It is awful. Also has a lock in contract and has worst policy and coverage. It won’t pay out what you deserve unless you get hit by a truck or something like that. A three year old would do a better job. It sucks and is the worst gibberish I saw in my life. Would not recommend.

HELPFUL 21 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

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Bill of Chicopee, MA Verified Reviewer

Original review: Oct. 7, 2016

My mother paid into a long term care plan with Bankers Life for many years. It was an automatic withdrawal of $150 @ month. Bankers Life failed to draft the monthly premium for 2 months. We contacted Bankers Life and asked why? We were told insufficient funds. THIS IS A LIE, NOT TRUE! Her balance has always been well over $5000 in her checking account. The bank confirmed the funds were NEVER requested. Bankers Life told us that my mother had to reapply as the policy she paid for all those years now lapsed? She was NOW declined due to her current health. There has never been any documentation from Bankers Life to support any insufficient funds or that the policy ever lapsed. BEWARE! My mother was contacted by phone for years after her decline by Bankers Life agents trying to sell her LTC. Even after her death they would try to set an appointment with her.

I would set an appointment with the current agent and tell her horror story about what a horrible company they work for. By having the current agent from Bankers Life come to her home even after her death, was a way to keep Bankers Life products out of someone else’s home at that time. I had to give up my full time job, take a $50,000 pay cut to take care of my mother for over 10 years due to Bankers Life’s unethical practices. Income loss total of over $500,000. I love my mother and did what I needed to do to take care of her.

I hate unethical companies like Bankers Life. BUYER BEWARE! I have since dedicated my life to helping people through the Knights of Columbus. I have become a field agent for more than 11 years now. I am an MDRT member and love helping families with an award winning Most Ethical Company. Thank you Knights of Columbus for helping me provide benefits to families that are guaranteed to be there when families need the most.

HELPFUL 32 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

Elizabeth of Charlotte, NT Verified Reviewer

Original review: Sept. 16, 2016

We paid into our long term care policy for 16 years before my husband got sick and had to go to a Assisted Living Facility. I have been trying to deal with Bankers Long Term Care customer service since then. His payments are usually wrong and it takes several telephone calls and much stress to finally get it taken care of. I feel that I have to fight them every month to make them do the right thing. Customer service stinks and a manager won’t call you back. In 10 days my October payment will be due, and I am still working on getting Bankers to settle up on the August payment. They are a very hard Co. to deal with. My advice would be to take your money and business to a more reliable company and not have the stress every month, not to mention dealing with a very sick spouse.

HELPFUL 37 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

Enzinna of San Pedro, CA

Original review: Aug. 7, 2016

We have met all of their requirements, had two nurses state that my mom cannot be left alone because of her vertigo and dementia which has her confused. They keep finding excuses to not pay, they paid for a few months and for some reason think my 86 mom’s doctors and nurses that they sent to evaluate are both not telling the truth. Mom has been paying on this policy for over 13 years and for what, she needs help now and can’t be left alone. We don’t have the means to pay out of our pockets and need to work to pay bills. Scared and frustrated, please can someone tell me what to do??? This is both wrong and evil!!

HELPFUL 38 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

Angela of Sachse, TX Verified Reviewer

Original review: June 14, 2016

I have spent 4 months trying to get Bankers Long-Term Care to pay for my 85 yr. old father’s care in a qualified care home. I have proof that all the documentation was faxed to Bankers when he was put in the care home. 4 months later they still will not assign us a representative for our claim. Customer service just bounces you from one person to the next. And all they can say is they still don’t know if he is qualified or if the facility is qualified. And every time I call they move their answer date back another 6 weeks.

I am turning them into the insurance commission and contacting my lawyer. As my parents will now have to sell their house just to afford my father’s care. Mind you they bought this policy in 1996. And Bankers won’t pay off on the claim but they still want my mom to pay them every month for a policy they won’t honor. You are better off same bagging your money to pay the care home direct when your time comes. Bankers Life and Casualty is taking advantage of senior citizens. Please don’t let it happen to you.

HELPFUL 39 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

Julie of Phoenix, AZ

Original review: May 27, 2016

My parents both took great care in their early 60’s to research and purchase long term care insurance. They both were issued policies from Bankers Life. My father paid on his policy for over 13 years before he became so ill we needed to make a claim. Bankers Life took way too long to set up payment, would send letters saying claims would not be paid (even though some were) and then finally, after we thought we had worked all the kinks out (which was like a part-time job) they sent a letter saying we were near our max claim (but would not tell us what that max was) and that my father would no longer have care. They had the audacity to write in the next line that they “were here to help.”

My father will now have to pay for care out of pocket for 6 months before they will review another claim. “Customer service rep” when asked if he would likely be covered if he had to have a foot amputated or had a stroke replied “probably not.” This company just plays games with people. Your loved one may die waiting for their care. If you want to pay for years to only get a year of coverage then you might not think it’s so bad. Buyer beware.

HELPFUL 35 people found this review helpful

Rated with 4 stars

Tiffani of Pocatello, ID Verified Reviewer

Original review: April 20, 2016

When I set up my account they were able to answer all of my questions and accurately. I don’t remember the policy options due to I was in the navy when I signed up for the policy. But it was easy to set up at the time which was about ten years ago. It is to cover my expenses when I pass away and leave it to my kids. I remember that the plan that I chose was a high amount of pay out for so little of a price that I pay monthly. The value of the plan that I chose I felt was best for me at the time of purchase of the plan. I feel that my family will be in the best interest of my family.

HELPFUL 6 people found this review helpful

Rated with 5 stars

Susan of Dayton, OH Verified Reviewer

Original review: April 16, 2016

Coverage is easy to choose and select because you can choose what policy is best for you and what will cover for you or your family and their options are great. They are helpful and informative because they answer any and all questions you may have concerning your policy and coverage. The customer service is always friendly and nice and wonderful.

HELPFUL 9 people found this review helpful

Rated with 3 stars

Abby of Olympia, WA Verified Reviewer

Original review: April 12, 2016

I did call to verify I was paying the right amount and they seemed nice enough. It was offered through my work and I only had 2 options so I can’t really say that much about them other than I took the one that costs the most in hopes when I need this it will provide the best. I have heard from others that Bankers Life is very good but I have no personal experience with them. I hope that when the time comes they will provide what they are suppose to. It is much more reasonable than what I was paying at my last job and as I have stated others seem to think it is one of the better companies that provide long term ins.

HELPFUL 5 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

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Kathryn of Laguna Woods, CA Verified Reviewer

Original review: March 12, 2016

I signed up. Got add to Ins for long time care. Had surgery & started getting bills. Told no worries medicare will review & delay. After several bills I paid it. Never got a refund. Had to cancel my checking account & debit card. I have all my paperwork. I have called and been to office in Laguna Hills 3 times now, phoned left messages, faxed info as required, now they need one more thing. Searching the companies on my computer reflects similar comments. Taking advantage of seniors.

HELPFUL 34 people found this review helpful

Rated with 5 stars

Luanne of Memphis, TN Verified Reviewer

Original review: Feb. 29, 2016

After all the horror stories about BLC in consumer reviews and in the media, I was about ready to hire an attorney before we ever filed the first claim in late December 2015 (for assisted living) for my 91-year old cognitively impaired mother who entered an assisted living facility in mid-April 2015. I sent a copy of her POA with the claim, but they contacted her for information anyway.

I wrote a blunt letter in late January of 2016 telling them not to contact her again and sent another copy of the POA. I then heard nothing else until last week. It was a letter dated mid-February stating that she qualified under the terms of her coverage as of mid-April 2015 (the beginning.) The next day I got a $12,000 check in the mail for October 15 – January 16 bills.

I called today to check on the other months and refund of the premiums for the retroactive months during which we had paid the $400 per month in premiums. The customer service representative said the check for mid-July – September of 2015 has been processed and mailed out and a separate one is in process for the refund of eight months of premium payments. The total of the payments for the retroactive coverage is $26,000. This miracle has occurred without any intervention on my part beyond the one letter I sent.

My brother and I were hoping they would start paying as of now, but figured we would have to fight for it. We certainly had not dared to hope they would backdate her eligibility (even though the policy said they might). After this unbelievably positive experience with Bankers Life, I felt I owed it to that company to write this review.

HELPFUL 44 people found this review helpful

Rated with 2 stars

Mary of Bridgewater, MA Verified Reviewer

Original review: Feb. 13, 2016

Twenty five years ago when my parents retired they set about making out their will, pre-paying funeral expenses, etc. They met a salesman from Bankers Life who told them about their amazing long term care plan for only $110 a month! The clause my parents liked the best was that it would pay a family member up to $100 a day to provide care for one of them should they need help at home. Well, who know if this is true or not! We have been sending forms, claims, medical records, documentation, for over 18 months and Bankers Life always has a reason to refuse the claim or close it out due to “insufficient information” then we need to file another application and open the claim again. Now my 89-year-old mother is at home with me in the final stages of lung cancer with hospice support. Those of you who have gone through it can attest to the emotional and physical toll it takes on the caretaker – so let’s add Banker’s Life to the mix.

We live in a suburb of Boston – the latest letter regarding our application for reimbursement for home care services provided states “we were unable to locate a Licensed Home Health Care Agency near your address.” Are you kidding me? They’re all over the place being so close to a metropolitan area with numerous world known hospitals!!! The consequences are that I’m paying out of pocket for home health care support because any “Licensed Home Health Care Provider” that I spoke to would not work with Bankers Life and requires private pay.

The agency is being great providing me with documentation every week to try to meet the requirements. I’m going into debt so I can go to work part-time to avoid too much FMLA unpaid time. These stories would make good fodder for a John Grisham novel. 5 red stars in all areas (the system would only allow 2 for dissatisfied) – my parents’ money went down the drain $110 a month for 25 years – now nothing but stress and possibly attorney’s fees to show for it.

HELPFUL 36 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

Sherrie of Sumter, SC

Original review: Dec. 30, 2015

I have struggled with Bankers Life long term care insurance for 4 months now concerning my 80 year old mother’s claim. This company uses a phone bank for correspondence and you never get the same person. I mailed, faxed, and uploaded to their website all forms needed and for two months they lied and said never received correspondence. I finally got a employees email and scanned to her. So then I had proof of items sent. Took another month for approval and now they saying September is not her 30 day grace period and November is so avoiding to pay us thousands we paid the nurse.

I have contacted the SC insurance commissioner and launched an investigation for Bankers purposely prolonging claims and cheating the ill elderly. This company will do anything not to pay. Worst company I have ever in my lifetime dealt with. It’s a shame they don’t pay what people have paid for all their life. It’s stressed and upset my mom to the point she has lost too much weight so I had to tell them not to contact her. My mother is in her last stage of renal kidney disease and is on dialysis 9 hours a day to stay alive. I cannot believe we have a company like this in operation. It’s a total nightmare.

HELPFUL 34 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

Dorman of Rocky Mt Nc , NC

Original review: Dec. 3, 2015

We have Bankers Long-Term Care for 15 years. Lived in Mo. at time. Has been nothing less than a nightmare. Started with 5 years, just got a new $1000.00 rate increase. Will now have only about 30% of what we started with. Bankers agent told us any rate increase must be approved by state insurance dept. This was not true. What a waste of money.

28 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

Delcina of Atlanta, GA

Original review: Dec. 1, 2015

I signed with one of your agents Sheppy. I already had Colonial Penn but I needed home health care. I signed up. She deposited my check too early and I started the month over 100.00 in the hole. Tried to explaining it to her but she would not listen. Secondly I told her I was in immediate need of home health care. First I was told I had to wait two months. During that time I had to pay someone for the help I needed. Then I was told they needed proof I paid her which she supplied. Now they are saying if I filed a claim within two years I needed a referral from a doctor, medical records for five years, and when they received all of that it would take at least ten more days to get it approved and another 45 days to start payments.

In the meantime I have spend all of my savings paying someone. At the rate this be handled I might be dead before you people do what you said. I have a policy and have read it three or four time looking for the information you said you needed. If my claim is not processed and paid by 12/10/2015, I am filing a claim with the Better Business Bureau and writing the Insurance Commission about shady business practices. Who would do a sick senior citizen like this?

HELPFUL 28 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

Mary of Wauwatosa, WI

Original review: Nov. 18, 2015

My parents purchased a long-term care policy from this company years ago and automatically deducted premiums for that entire time. My mother, suffers from dementia and Parkinsons and was placed in a long-term care facility. We filed a claim with Bankers Life and I sent them a stack of documentation from the facility and her doctors, they than said they needed “more documentation” from the facility and her doctors. It took over 60 days for them to finally certify and send a check.

Once we had that taken care of, we were told to send the monthly invoices we received from the facility (after they were paid, of course) to Bankers Life claims department and they would reimburse us. We did, and we have received nothing but stall tactics, headaches and frustration. This company will try ANY trick in the book to deny the monthly claim. I have begun documenting EVERY representative that I speak with and my mothers long term care facility has as well.

My experience has been nothing but frustrating and full of headaches. Today the representative told me that they STILL need more information and I was happy to be calling from home and not my desk at work because I let loose and after almost 10 minutes on hold and me providing the date, time, and name of the person the nurse spoke with and the last check magically went out yesterday. I told her… “I’m in Wisconsin and you’re in Indiana and if that check isn’t here in 5 business days I will be calling again!”

HELPFUL 32 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

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Laurie of Orlando, FL Verified Reviewer

Original review: Sept. 29, 2015

When my mother was 85 and my father was 88, a Bankers Life agent, John developed a friendly relationship with my small town parents. He would drop in time to time just to visit and check on them. The other times when his sales numbers were low, he would sell them annuities, home healthcare policies, life insurance. This guy was a repeat offender. He even had my 89 year old father with Alzheimer’s “witness” a document. This is just to give you an idea of how shady this company is.

We left a lot of the benefits in place because Mom like John and she didn’t suffer from acute Alzheimer’s like my father, but she did have mild dementia and when the insurance company gave her the runaround she was not equipped to stand her ground or meet their redundant requests. That’s when my sisters and I took charge. It is the same story that many of you share here. Refused claims even when paperwork is in order, loopholes, rude customer service agents, endless transfers and excuses. It took us almost a year of constant battling to get their claim approved and benefits in place.

My father died before he could use all his benefits, but mom exhausted her care allowance and has to pay premiums again for six months before she can make another claim. We knew this ahead of time and called to make arrangements to restart policy premiums and to start we did not want to risk losing this policy. It is all that stands between her and a nursing home. We faxed the documents. I have the fax log confirmation. I faxed it again requesting information. Nothing came in the mail, and honestly I forgot to get back with them. I thought I would be reminded by something arriving in the mail. I should have known better. I already know their tricks.

Four months later we are getting close to making another claim. I’m getting ready with doctor’s evaluations, statement of receipt, certified CNA’s, daily care logs and proof of care. I am meticulous because I have learned what they want. I looked in her bank to count how many ACH withdrawals have been made from Bankers Life- ZERO. No evidence of any activity from Bankers Life in the checking account. I call their customer service dept to learn the policy had been cancelled due to non-payment. Wait, what?

They said they never rec’d the fax. Even though I said I have the fax confirmation, the reps response was “that only proves you sent it, it does not prove we rec’d it.” It is past the deadline now and the policy has been cancelled. I could submit a letter requesting reinstatement was the response I received when asked what I needed to do to fix this situation and get things back on track. This information was not freely given. I had to ask several times. So now, I am sending the fax confirmations, the ACH paperwork and a request to reinstate via fax, upload and snail mail to be sure they received the info. I am also sharing this with my Senator Bill Nelson who was key in expediting VA spousal benefits for my mother when the VA was taking a year to process her claim. I am hopeful for good results.

You have to understand their goal is to make it SO difficult to submit a claim that most older people just give up. Get involved with your parents care, document every fax, phone call, email. Save everything. Record the phone calls and tell them that you are doing it. If you have done everything you’re supposed to and you still feel cheated please email your senator. Involve your local politicians, that’s what they are there for, to help you when situations seem hopeless or unfair. I wish I had an ending for this story, we are still engaged in a battle.

HELPFUL 47 people found this review helpful

Rated with 2 stars

Michael of Grove City, OH Verified Reviewer Verified Buyer

Original review: Aug. 11, 2015

I have made monthly payments since 1992 for 2 policies. One for nursing home care and one for in-home care for my wife and myself. During mid 2014 I initiated a request for in-home care for my wife and selected a local caregiver company. After complying with Bankers Life application requirements we were finally approved for benefits but were told that we had to pay the caregiver for the first 14 days of care, (an elimination fee). We did that and then stopped care to go to Florida from 01-13-15 to 03-26-15. When we returned to Ohio and asked to re-start care, we were told we would have to apply all over again and pay another 14 day elimination fee. I protested, to no avail because of a clause in my policy requiring this any time care was stopped for 6 months or more. Is this fair or justifiable when it’s my money they are using?

HELPFUL 18 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

Cynthia of Simpsonville, SC Verified Reviewer

Original review: July 21, 2015

I am now in the process of trying to get Bankers Life to pay for the long term care that my parents purchased years ago. My mother is in an assisted living facility as of June 4, 2015. I have submitted, FedExed and called the company once a week since her admittance. I have yet to receive a check for her two months that my dad has paid out of pocket. I have read nothing but negative reviews. You have to have them in the facility in order to submit the claim, however after they are admitted, you can’t get the claims paid. I was told it takes 25 days after receipt of everything they request.

Well 25 days has come and gone and we have yet to receive an answer or check. I will not give up. My dad has paid on this policy for 20 years and he will receive the benefits promised. I am up for a class action suit or a private suit. But I will not give up. I will call the agent and the claims department everyday if I have to. This is ridiculous. They promise the moon when they are selling the policy but won’t give you a light bulb when the time comes to cash in on the need.

HELPFUL 39 people found this review helpful

Rated with 1 star

Shelley of Great Falls, Other Verified Reviewer

Original review: July 2, 2015

We have been frustrated with Bankers Life/Transamerica for a claim we file for my 94 year old mother who needs full time care. They are good at stalling on the claim and come up with all these things they have to do before they will make a decision. My mother needed Home Health Care first and that was a nightmare also. After 6 months, they denied the claim. I turned it into the Insurance Commissions office and they got them to pay the claim. I think they are hoping people will give up and then they will not have to pay the claim. My mom pays 10,000.00 per year and this is how they treat her. Not a company I would recommend.

HELPFUL 35 people found this review helpful

Bankers Life & Casualty Life Insurance expert review by Matthew Brodsky

Doing business since 1879, Bankers Life and Casualty has long been a trusted name in life insurance. With a core value of creating affordable insurance, it is no surprise that this company has branched out to include long-term care insurance and Medicare supplemental plans.

Bankers Life & Casualty Long-Term Care Insurance Company Information

Company Name:Bankers Life & Casualty Life InsuranceYear Founded:1879Address:111 E Wacker Dr Suite 2100,City:ChicagoState/Province:ILPostal Code:60601Country:United StatesPhone:(800) 231-9150Website: www.bankers.com

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