Thrivent disability claim denial, My second experience 2009 on, Letter to Thrivent president & CEO Bradford L. Hewitt, Refund request Feb. 3, 2011

Until a letter was received by the NC Insurance Commission dated August 10, 2018 from a senior claims examiner at Thrivent, I did not know the definitive reason why Thrivent personnel responded in such a bizarre “Alice in Wonderland” manner to the disability contract requirements. I have the letter and will reveal it at the appropriate time.

Below is a letter I sent to Thrivent President & CEO Bradford L. Hewitt on February 3, 2011.

“Bradford L. Hewitt                        February 3, 2011
President and CEO
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
4321 N Ballard Road
Appleton, WI 54919

Dear Sir:
I have been a disability insurance policy holder of Thrivent, formerly Aid Association for Lutherans,
for 25 years. At one time I also had major medical and life insurance with Thrivent. Many years ago
Aid Association for Lutherans dropped the major medical in NC. My experiences with Thrivent have been far less than satisfactory, including, but not limited to, my interaction with Thrivent in 2001 and 2002, at which time multiple employees/agents of Thrivent slandered and libeled me. These incidents are documented, but for the time being will not be addressed in order to focus on the last and most severe interaction with Thrivent. Due to the hostile and/or unprofessional conduct of Thrivent employees in the past, it has become necessary for me to get the attention of higher level personnel in your organization.
Before I continue, Dale Kopplin, the Thrivent agent in the Triad of NC has been most cooperative and I have no grievance with him. See letter to Dale Kopplin dated August 5, 2009 (Schedule A).
At the time I took out the disability insurance policy, 25 years ago, I was involved in Computer software and systems. I spent over 30 years in Information Technology beginning in 1970 and into the early 2000’s. In the late 1990’s I began transitioning into real estate investments and obtained a real estate salesperson license while I continued my software business. A few years later I obtained a real estate broker license, primarily for the knowledge and power it afforded me. My right knee failed me early in 2001 and I had a knee replacement in December 2001. This affected my ability to walk through warehouses and even offices, a requirement of my consulting business. Three of my last customers had extensive warehouse systems requiring much walking for projects like bar coding.
At one time I owned 2 houses in Greensboro, one at the Outer Banks of NC and was involved in investments with my daughter in Charlotte. I had a contract on another house at the Outer Banks about 7 years ago. At that time property was skyrocketing there and I would have easily made $ 60,000 (in a few months) to approx. $ 150,000 in 2 years. A federal tax lien was discovered just before closing and I did not get the property. The point being, I was actively involved in income producing activities. The main point is that when I obtained the disability policy, I was not told that I could not change professions or that I had to have traditional income verified (Schedule B).

From the medical information provided here and in prior submittals to Thrivent, it is clear that I have spine damage as well as nerve issues between my spine and previously injured and operated on right foot. It is further evident that this did not happen overnight. I was raised with a strong work ethic and despite enduring back pain prior to my hospital stay, it never occurred to me to file for insurance. It was only after being taken to the emergency room, being evaluated by specialists and dealing with a much higher level of pain and numbness that I was required to cease my normal activities. (Schedule C).

The medical records sent to Thrivent on 2 occasions in 2009 clearly indicate that I was to do no work. Despite this fact, and in clear violation of my contract with Thrivent, my claim was denied twice. I have enclosed a copy of a letter from my attorney to your office in 2009 (Schedule D) .

There are only 2 conclusions that can be derived from this experience.
1. The policy was misrepresented to me 25 years ago.
And/or
2. Thrivent has breached its contract with me.

The past 2 years have been challenging. Not long after my hospital stay, when I was trying to cope with my physical condition, confined to bed or sitting with my right foot propped up, my son’s marriage came apart in a disastrous manner. I was trying to pay bills with savings and borrowed money. One of the houses I owned in Greensboro went into foreclosure. I was unable to do work on the house or prepare it for sale. Early in 2010, the lady I was with in Charlotte ended our 5 year relationship and I moved back to Greensboro. I spent an excessive amount of time in 2009 gathering information, preparing responses and interacting with Thrivent. (Schedule E). Since then I have tried to “stop the bleeding”
in the physical, emotional and financial aspects of my life. I will begin collecting Social Security soon. Now it is time to right a wrong.
Based on the above, I am requesting the refund of all premiums paid to Thrivent and Aid Association for Lutherans for disability insurance for the past 25 years. Furthermore, I am requesting that compound interest be paid on those premiums at the rate of 8 %. This is less than I would have received from a mediocre mutual fund over the same period. Based on what I now know, I
would have invested that money rather than purchase the disbility insurance that does not pay.
Sincerely,”