The New York Disability Law Blog
Good Morning America Reports on CIGNA Disability Insurance Claim Denials
Good Morning America continues to report on the horrors that claimants experience fighting long term disability insurance companies throughout the country. The video in this report is a must see for all members of Congress, and should at least give other disabled claimants comfort in knowing they are not alone. Despite the positive Supreme Court ERISA ruling in Glenn v. MetLife last week, Congress still needs to address both the delays and the harassment claimants must go through to get the disability benefits they deserve.
The two breast cancer cases where the claimants were denied benefits are both heartbreaking and maddening. A young woman with breast cancer and children should not have to spend the last year of her life fighting a disability insurance claim. It is just plain cruel.
Thanks to my South Florida colleague, Alicia Paulino-Grisham, for her great work on bringing these injustices to the attention of ABC News and Congress. Last month I attended a disability insurance lawyer conference in Boston and had a chance to speak with Alicia and her partners. With fighters like Alicia on our side, at least claimants stand a chance against the likes of CIGNA, MetLife and The Hartford.
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Suffolk County
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Nassau County
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Queens
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Manhattan
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YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT TRACKING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. MY HUSBAND HAS SEVER DIABETES AND SHOULD WATCHED 24 HOURS A DAY, DUE TO THE COMPLICATIONS. HE IS ASYMPTOMATIC AND DOES NOT NOT WHEN HE IS GOING TO GO LOW AND COULD PASS OUT OR GO INTO A DIABETIC SEIZURE. ALTHOUGH, THROUGH THE WORLDS EYES HE MAY SEEM TO BE NORMAL, MOST OF THE THE TIME, AT ANY MOMENT HE COULD GO INTO ONE OF THESE CONDITIONS. HE NEEDS 24 HOUR MONETARY, BUT HOW CAN WE AFFORD THIS, WHEN HE IS CRITICIZED WITH TRACKING AN AN ALMOST NONE CONSISTANT ELLGHMENT THAT KILL HIM?
I am currently going through a battle with Cigna insurance. My claim stated on 10/23/2009 Cigna had me submit information to them each time I went to the DR's office on 12/11/2009 I had l5 S1 Fusion procedure performed and was given a bone stimulator and brace, komodol, walker, wheelchair, cane and told not to start getting physicial therapy until 4 weeks after 03/4/2010 I also have aquatic theraphy. This is my second surgery since 8/2008 L5S1 dicesomtomy/laminectomy. I am in a lot of muscle atropy pain, gut wrenching pan in my back, to my head, down my legs to my feet on both sides tingleling burning going numb and loosing my balance not able to walk for long periods of time and not enjoing any aspect of life. and I just started PT 4/21/2010 2 times weekly even with this knowledge CIGNA refuses to release my short term money. It is outrageous because I can not pay my bills, car note, rent, electric. My long term did not take effect until 04/07/2010. Today I recieved a letter stating they Cigna needed one more information from DR LEVI I have ot seen Dr. Levi since last visit on 03/04/2010 to determine what my limitation are??? How can He determine (limitations)if He is not who I have been seeing for the ending of March/nor April. And When I did call his office he said I should see another DR it was not related to my back when all of the pain radiates from my back. I should have recieved my short term disabilities and been allowed to rehabilitate then questioned as to what my limitation are. Cigna I vountartily sign for this beefit and I wish they had a better carrier one who could determine the facts right infornt of them I had to work harder explaining my own case reference my own material then both caseworkers have who have held my case. Who can help me as I go down mentally and physicially.