Whether you’re anxiously awaiting a decision on your claim for Cigna or NY Life long term disability insurance benefits or have already received a disappointing notice that your disability insurance claim was denied, you may be wondering about your next steps. Cigna sends out hundreds of thousands of disability insurance claim denial letters each year, and many of these denials tend to fall into just a few categories. Learn more about the top five reasons claims for Cigna long term disability insurance benefits tend to be denied, as well as what claimants can do to fight back.

Disability Insurance

Almost everyone should seriously consider purchasing a disability insurance policy if they haven’t already. When it comes to financial planning, disability insurance is just as important as life or health insurance. Many people find themselves in a position of not being able to work and regret not purchasing disability insurance. If you, through no fault of your own, become partially or totally disabled, it could spell financial disaster for you and your family. But what happens if you have protected yourself and find out that you still aren’t covered because of a limitation in the policy?

Disability lawyers Gregory Dell and Alex Palamara talk about Mr. Palamara’s recent appeal victory against Cigna for a nurse employed by Trinity Health Care. She had been on claim for two years as disabled from working in her own occupation due to her spinal stenosis, degenerative disk disease, and other thoracic/lumbar spine issues.
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In Brasseur v. Life Insurance Company of America (LINA), Plaintiff Wilfred Brasseur, a computer engineer, worked in the Houston office of Chicago Bridge & Iron Company when he became disabled. LINA denied his application for long term disability benefits on the grounds that he “was not disabled as defined by the Plan’s terms.” Ultimately, Brasseur filed an ERISA lawsuit in Houston. He filed a motion for summary judgment limited to the issue of what standard of review should apply to the court’s evaluation of his claim. He argued that since the Plan was issued in Chicago, Illinois, Illinois law should apply. This would subject his claim to do novo review instead of the abuse of discretion standard. The Texas District Court agreed with the plaintiff, holding that it would review Brasseur’s claim using the plaintiff preferred de novo standard instead of the defendant preferred abuse of discretion standard.
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Watch nationwide disability attorneys Gregory Dell and Stephen Jessup discuss about CIGNA and share some tips which may help you to secure disability benefits.