Momentum Disability Insurance a COMPLETE *******

Momentum Disability Insurance a COMPLETE *******:

In 2006 on the advice of on Lynn Haffner my Momentum financial advisor I was sold a policy that I even later upgraded to cover me for: 1. Elevated Comprehensive critical Illness plus benefit 2. Comprehensive Disability Benefit 3. Death Benefit

The reason I took this out was to cover me and my family should I be disabled or develop a critical illness.

The years roll on with me treating these premiums as a must pay even when money was short in the expectation that I was comprehensively covered in the event of something going wrong.

On Friday 26 October 2018 I wake up with what I think is a stroke. Half my face is paralyzed. I go and see the doctor and I am diagnosed with a condition called Bells Palsy. That’s the good news as most patients recover in 2 weeks to 9 months from this condition but some like my father who has had it for 53 years with multiple complications don’t. It’s not a fun condition as you cannot control half your face, you can’t blink, your speech is impaired, smile, blow you nose, half your face is lopsided, your taste buds don’t work on that side. In short, it’s highly debilitating. What causes it the doctors don’t know but what happens is, the nerves on affected side come through a hole in your cheek bone and for some reason this area becomes inflamed and the nerves on the affected side die. Treatment is massive doses of Cortisone.

On 30 October I write to my agent informing them of the disabling event and enquiring what I am covered for under my comprehensive policy in summary these are the responses I got back:

1. You are not covered at all. 2. You are not covered because Bells Palsy is not on the list of conditions, we cover. The word comprehensive clearly does not count. They also sent me a unsigned and never seen policy document with a minimum list of conditions they may pay for. FYI they don’t cover thousands of known conditions. 3. Momentum may be able to consider a claim provided the condition is permanent. 4. I must pay for and provide medical reports for a possible claim that they may consider. 5. I must wait for year for the condition to stabilise and must undertake all remedial treatment available (without telling me what treatments I should have, despite asking) before bothering to claim. 6. Claims are assessed on the percentage disability in the body i.e. despite your face being affected and being roughly the size of butt cheek you would only be entitled to a small amount of pay-out. 7. At my expense I must consult with specialists to provide Momentum with reports.

I sit here writing this with a half-paralyzed face. My disability insurer is saying “so sad so bad” we may cover you in the event of you being permanently disabled and we will find any reason we can not to pay you. Even if I do get something it will be only when I have waited at a least a year and potentially spent thousands on my own recovery. My simple expectation of help when a disability occurs lies in tattered ruins. I remember with pain the months over the many years that I took the decision when money was short to rather pay Momentum premiums than for food or some nice things for my kids. I can kick myself for paying a fortune in premiums that will return nothing even when things that it was supposed to cover happen. I also remember with a pang of massive regret that I could be so stupid to believe that the company I trusted to have my back had covered and actually cared. I remember the convincing arguments and assurance and advice Lynn gave me that I was doing the right thing taking the insurance and sin of sins elevating my cover to ensure I was comprehensively covered. I note with regret never receiving my policy documents from Momentum and not reading or counter signing these. I trusted Momentum. Essentially not signing the policy documents has handed Momentum the ability to make the rules up as they go along. I can’t even read these documents online.

What does this mean for me: 1. Momentums policy is useless to me and I have ZERO benefits 2. ZERO benefits for a year while I struggle with this Disability and its complications 3. I will Pay for all consultations and complications that may occur while I wait the stipulated year 4. In all Probability, if I wait a year, I will get nothing anyway 5. Factually the very reason for having a Comprehensive Disability and Critical cover policy is moot as Momentum will cover nothing anyway and then fight any claim you make

As to my value as Momentum customer: 1. My only value historically seems to be the more than R200 000 in premiums I have paid 2. There is as demonstrated by this case ZERO benefits for me regardless of ant disability I may develop. 3. The future premiums you expect me to pay for the next 9 years for what? Good money after bad as your product is clearly a rip-off and does not provide any compressive cover at all.

As to the advice given: 1. I asked for and was told that Momentum provided Comprehensive Disability and Critical cover – this incident tells me that was a lie. 2. When advised that it would be good to increase my cover to an Elevated level, I took Momentums consultants word that this would be of benefit to me should something happen – clearly from the above that was a lie as well.

Remember I am the customer is sitting here with a half-paralysed face facing bills and believe this is not nice condition with ZERO assistance from my insurer. Think of that when you drink your next cup of coffee – for me that’s a dribble out the side of my mouth exercise.

Your highly dissatisfied client…..