by slavery » Thu Jan 12, 2012 07:28 am
My wife, who has stage 3 brain cancer was diagnosed in 6/10. She was approved for her Long Term DI in 9/10 with Aetna, as well as Social Security disability in 10/10. At that time, her group term life policy also with Aetna, had a WOP rider that we were unaware of, and did not file for it. In 2/11, this group term life policy was changed through her employer to MetLife, which also has the WOP rider. Since we were still unaware of this benefit we did not apply for the WOP with MetLife either.
In 11/11 her status changed at her employer from Active to Inactive, which triggered the notice to either convert or port the life policy. This is when we learned of the WOP provision in the group term policy. MetLife is now telling us that she is not eligible to port her term policy but can only convert it to a whole life policy, which by the way , does not have a WOP, critical or terminal illness riders.
My questions are:
1. Can we and should we try to file a WOP claim with either Aetna and or MetLife retroactively before we convert, which time is running out to do within 31 days. Aetna was the carrier at the time of approved disability, but MetLife also has been collecting the premiums for 11 months as well.
2. Will converting the policy before the deadline to do so jeopardize or attempt to retroactively apply for the WOP with either Aetna and or MetLife on the term policies?
3. More importantly, if we would have applied for the WOP when she was first approved by both Aetna Long Term disability and Social Security disability, as clearly she meets the requirement outlined in her employer Plan description, would that WOP benefit have continued through and stayed effective regardless of her status change from Active to Inactive at her employer and prevented us from receiving the conversion or port options which we now know porting is not an option? Obviously the whole life policy premiums are significantly higher than what the term policy premiums were.
Any clarification or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as this maze is quite frustrating during a very difficult time.
In 11/11 her status changed at her employer from Active to Inactive, which triggered the notice to either convert or port the life policy. This is when we learned of the WOP provision in the group term policy. MetLife is now telling us that she is not eligible to port her term policy but can only convert it to a whole life policy, which by the way , does not have a WOP, critical or terminal illness riders.
My questions are:
1. Can we and should we try to file a WOP claim with either Aetna and or MetLife retroactively before we convert, which time is running out to do within 31 days. Aetna was the carrier at the time of approved disability, but MetLife also has been collecting the premiums for 11 months as well.
2. Will converting the policy before the deadline to do so jeopardize or attempt to retroactively apply for the WOP with either Aetna and or MetLife on the term policies?
3. More importantly, if we would have applied for the WOP when she was first approved by both Aetna Long Term disability and Social Security disability, as clearly she meets the requirement outlined in her employer Plan description, would that WOP benefit have continued through and stayed effective regardless of her status change from Active to Inactive at her employer and prevented us from receiving the conversion or port options which we now know porting is not an option? Obviously the whole life policy premiums are significantly higher than what the term policy premiums were.
Any clarification or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as this maze is quite frustrating during a very difficult time.
Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 04:53 pm Post Subject:
Please check your Waiver of Premium rider for the exclusionary clauses. It might give you a clue. Present proof of disability to Aetna and WoP should become function retroactively.
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