Cancelled policy

I had a portable life policy for both myself and my wife thru work that I paid 56.00 every 2 weeks for and could take with me when I retired. All premiums were paid on time and after I retired 17 months after paying for the policy was told would get info how to keep policy within 30 days. Never got any info. Called former employer to find out that policy was cancelled 2 months before I retired but employer was not notified. Unum ins. Co finally after a month said they would only reimburse me for the 2 months after the policy was canceled. They said it was canceled for lack of participation, but like I said earlier they did not inform anyone. In fact when employer got to checking into it Unum was still charging the the premiums. I am out over 1500.00 . How do I get my money back?