Disability Management Services, Inc. (“DMS”) was founded in 1995. DMS is an independent, third-party administrator and consulting firm that administers individual and group disability products, including long-term disability insurance. This means that some self-insured companies and insurance companies outsource their disability claims management to DMS.
DMS is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts, with an additional office located in Syracuse, New York. DMS employs over 200 claims management professionals. Disability Management Services works with leading long-term disability insurers and reinsurers to evaluate LTD claims.
- In 2001, DMS was retained by the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, a subsidiary of AXA Financial, Inc, (now AXA Equitable) and Centre Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Centre Group, to administer Equitable Life’s disability income business directly written during or prior to 1993.
- In 2001, DMS completed the development of its proprietary fully integrated policy and claim administration system software in preparation for the data conversion of the MONY Life Insurance Company’s (“MONY”) individual disability income policy information. The implementation of the system was significant for DMS as the company sought to further leverage its capabilities as a third party administrator of disability insurance products.
- In 2003, DMS contracted with Galveston, Texas-based American National Insurance Company (“ANICO”) to assume responsibility for the claims servicing of its in-force individual disability income insurance policies.
- In 2004, DMS assumed responsibility for the administration and claims management of Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society’s in-force individual disability income insurance policies.
- In 2005, DMS completed the conversion of all policy data from the the Massachusetts Casualty Insurance Company’s (“MCIC”) mainframe system to DMS’ fully integrated policy and claims administration system platform, (“ideas”). The system supports the daily administration of approximately 50,000 MCIC policies.
- In 2005, DMS was engaged by Jefferson Pilot Financial to assist in the design, pricing and administration of a disability product concept called “The Disability Income Rider”, “an integral component in Jefferson Pilot Financials’ strategic initiative to provide a unique insurance platform for the mass affluent market”.
- In 2006, DMS entered into agreements with ACE Tempest Life Reinsurance Ltd. (“ACE”) to assume responsibility for the administration of two Group LTD claim blocks reinsured by ACE. The claim blocks include blocks of business underwritten by five insurance carriers domiciled in Puerto Rico. In 2007, DMS entered into an agreement with ACE to assume responsibility for the administration of an additional block of Group LTD claims.
- In 2006, DMS entered into an agreement with Reliance Standard Life (“RSL”) to administer active claims under Group LTD plans underwritten in Puerto Rico and reinsured by RSL.
- In 2006, DMS entered into agreements with Employers Reinsurance Corporation (“ERC”) to assume responsibility for the administration of two disability claim blocks; one representing claims under association disability plans underwritten by UnumProvident and reinsured by ERC and the other representing claims under group LTD plans underwritten by Ohio National Insurance Company and reinsured by ERC.
- In 2007, DMS entered into an agreement with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (“NRECA”) to provide independent appeals reviews of denied or terminated claims for their self-insured Group LTD participants.
- In 2008, DMS entered into an agreement with ITT Corporate, Advanced Engineering & Sciences Division (“ITT”) to provide eligibility and claim review services for short-term disability claims filed on behalf of ITT employees. In addition, DMS was retained to provide appeals review services for select claims.
- In 2009, DMS entered into an agreement with the Zoological Society of San Diego to provide Independent Medical Exam (“IME”) services, medical record and IME reviews, and eligibility assessments for their disability pension claims.
- In 2010, DMS entered into an agreement with Columbian Mutual Life Insurance Company and Columbian Life Insurance Company to assist in the design and pricing of a series of disability income riders for their life insurance portfolios.
- In 2010, the Knights of Columbus announced the introduction of a new income protection product, “Income Armor”, for its members and their spouses in the United States and Canada. The product was introduced as “an easy-to-understand, low-cost, high-quality disability income insurance policy designed by the Knights of Columbus in collaboration with Disability Management Services, Inc. (“DMS”) and Munich Re to provide fundamental income protection in the event a policyholder is unable to work because of a sickness or injury.”
- Effective January 1, 2012, DMS was selected to provide disability claims administration, adjudication and management services in support of Zurich American Life Insurance Company’s newly launched group insurance business in North America. Zurich American Life Insurance Company is a part of the Zurich Financial Services Group, one of the largest insurance groups in the world.
- In July 2013, Government Personnel Mutual (“GPM Life”) partnered with DMS and Munich Re to offer a unique disability income protection product specifically for federal employees, GovDI. Designed to meet the unique needs of federal employees, GovDI supplements the basic disability coverage provided under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) to provide consistent income protection. DMS provides underwriting, administration and risk management for GovDI.
- In November 2013, DMS entered into a new contractual relationship with Asta Managing Agency Ltd to evaluate disability claims issued by Channel Syndicate 2015, a member of Lloyds of London. This was the second Lloyds syndicate to engage DMS to provide claims evaluation services.
- In December 2013, DMS was retained by Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. to manage claims appeals for its self-insured STD plan.
- In July 2014, MetLife engaged DMS to conduct a six-month group long-term disability claims review project. The claims management assessment project includes reviewing group long-term disability claims for decision accuracy and ongoing benefit eligibility.
- In November 2014, Zurich Global Life contracted with DMS to provide a broad range of claims management and accounting services in support of self-insured short-term disability plans.
DMS services include:
- Full-service claims administration
- Complex case review
- Appeals
- Negotiation of disputed claim settlements
- Specialized investigative resources
DMS prides itself on its “proactive involvement with every disability claim”. The DMS website proclaims:
“DMS claim professionals often interact with treating medical providers, specialized clinical experts, medical consultants, vocational specialists, forensic accountants, investigation professionals and legal advisers to gain a comprehensive understanding of each claim. DMS has access to the expertise of a national network of Independent Medical Examination providers, Peer Review experts, and Functional Capacity Evaluation professionals who help in the assessment of impairment and its impact on the claimant’s capacity to work. Our thorough, objective process ensures that new claims receive a fair assessment of benefit eligibility and active claims are appropriately managed for the duration of the disability.”
In other words, DMS will do everything it can to investigate and deny your long-term disability claim.
Attorney for Disability Management Services Denials
If you have a long-term disability claim that was managed by DMS and your benefits have been denied or terminated, you should consult with an experienced disability attorney immediately. Nick Ortiz is the founder of the Ortiz Law Firm and has extensive experience in representing disability claimants when their benefits have been wrongfully denied or terminated. Call (888) 321-8131 for a free case evaluation to discuss your legal rights.
