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.

Tips for Applying for NY Life / Cigna Disability Benefits

New York Life recently acquired the long term disability division of Cigna; however, because New York Life didn’t already have an established long term disability section, Cigna is likely going to continue to administer these claims, as they have been, on behalf of both companies.

Always Be Aware of Pre-Existing Condition Provisions to Prevent Claim Denial

Though short term disability insurance policies don’t generally have pre-existing condition provisions, long-term disability insurance policies do. If your disability stems from an issue you’ve sought medical attention for before you began claiming disability insurance benefits, you may find it challenging to prove that this condition wasn’t pre-existing and you’re therefore entitled to benefits under the disability insurance policy. Read your disability insurance policy carefully (or, better yet, consult a disability attorney like the team at Dell & Schaefer) to determine whether a pre-existing condition provision applies; if it does, you’ll need to document your medical visits and treatments even more carefully to differentiate your current disability from any conditions for which you’ve sought treatment in the past.

Medical Support is Essential for a Cigna / NY Life Disability Benefit Approval

If you haven’t been visiting your doctor regularly, or if your doctor takes minimal or incomplete notes about your condition, prognosis, and treatment plan, you’re unlikely to be approved for Cigna long term disability insurance benefits. Filing for disability insurance benefits before you see the doctor can also be risky; without contemporaneous information on file, the disability insurance carrier has no data on what may be wrong with you, how long it has lasted, or when you first began to notice it.

Tips for Completing the Cigna / NY Life Disability Claim Forms

You or your attorney will need to fill out some abbreviated disability insurance claim forms. Because these disability insurance forms generally allow for just a couple of handwritten lines for each question, it’s often beneficial to use attachments or addendums to set the facts out in greater detail and provide a more complete picture. After receiving the forms, the insurance carrier may reach out to the claimant, the doctor, or anyone else who is involved in the matter to confirm or clarify information in the disability claim form.

How to Prepare Your Doctor for a Phone Call from a Cigna / NY Life Doctor

Doctors often have incredibly hectic schedules, and obtaining a physician’s statement that meets your disability insurance carrier’s needs can sometimes be a challenge. It’s worth having a conversation with your doctor to make clear what type of documentation Cigna will need to approve a disability insurance claim. The more you can do to make this process easier on your doctor, the better.

Traversing a long term disability claim with New York Life/ Cigna can be a challenge for anyone. The experienced legal minds at Dell & Schaefer can help. We’ve handled hundreds of New York Life/ Cigna claims and know what they’re looking for when it comes to approving benefits. Call 888-208-3858 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your Cigna claim with Dell & Disability Lawyers.