How Will the Sale of Cigna’s Disability Division to New York Life Affect Claimants?
On December 18, 2019 Cigna entered into an agreement to sell their disability insurance and life insurance division for $6.3 billion. This is a monster deal in the disability insurance world as Cigna was one of the top five largest disability insurance companies in the world prior to the sale. With the purchase, NY Life Insurance company will instantly go from being a small disability insurance company to one of the biggest. We don’t expect this sale to have a big impact on Cigna disability policy holders, as we expect that NY Life will transition over the Cigna disability team. NY Life could not possibly absorb all of the Cigna disability claims without continuing with the majority of Cigna’s employees. In a recent press release about the sale, NY Life insurance company’s CEO stated,
“This transaction increases the value we can deliver to our policy owners, strengthens our well-defined business model, and adds millions of customers to the New York Life family,” said New York Life Chairman and CEO Ted Mathas. “Cigna’s group life and disability business enhances our portfolio of strategic businesses and is led by an experienced management team and high-quality workforce, who we look forward to welcoming to our company. We are fully committed to making this transition as seamless as possible for employees and clients alike.”
The sale is not expected to be completed until the Fall of 2020 so Cigna policy holders should not see any changes until then. Once the transition is complete we expect that there will be some changes in the way the Cigna claims are handled. Our law firm has handled hundreds of NY Life disability claims and thousands of Cigna claims. These companies handle claims in different manners and we think that NY life will want Cigna to start doing things the NY life way. NY Life is a company that has been around since 1845, but their disability insurance experience is minimal compared to Cigna. Regardless of how NY Life decides manage the long term disability claims, claimants should expect that their claims will be reviewed as part of the sale. Claimants should make sure their medical support is up to date and be very diligent in 2020 with frequent medical visits. Our disability insurance lawyers have noticed increased claim denials and delays develop shortly after the consolidation of two insurance companies.
If you have questions about a NY LIFE or Cigna disability insurance claim, our lawyers always offer a free initial phone consultation. We represent claimants nationwide and we look forward to discussing your claim.
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New York Life Reviews
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Policy Holder Rating
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Timely Payments
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Handling Claim
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Showing 8 of 661 Reviews
New York Life
Lyme Disease Disability Claim Denial
I have had repeat claims for genuine medical leave and they have repeatedly been denied by NY Life. I have even been diagnosed with Lyme and going through treatments and t... read more >
New York Life
Disappointed with NY Life Disability Excuses
I am beyond disappointed with NY Life Disability Insurance’s handling of my father’s claim. My father, a 66-year-old man who has suffered two strokes and continues to ... read more >
New York Life
New York Life is a joke!
This company sucks when it comes to disability claims. They are slow at processing stuff, then they always say they didn't recieve the doctors information. You spend your ... read more >
New York Life
Claiming They Are Not Receiving Paperwork
After suffering from medical issues from my delivery in February, I had to have a colostomy bag placed. Now New York Life is trying to claim my condition was pre-existing ... read more >
New York Life
Keeps claiming they will not approve claim for pre existing conditions but my illness is not preexisting
I have been appealing a claim for LTD for 8 months! New York Life keeps claiming they will not approve claim for pre existing conditions but my illness is not preexisting ... read more >
New York Life
Payment delays!
I have a Long term disability claim with New York Life. Approval process did not take too long and they did start my LTD just a few days after my STD ended. First check wa... read more >
New York Life
NYL denied my claim
I’ve been an RN for 31 years. I lost 6 family members (3 of those to cancer) in 9 months and suffered a breakdown, I just couldn’t watch people die anymore. Cigna (NYL... read more >
New York Life
Hold up on payments!!!
I have had 3 people on my case since July 2021! This last person Amanda S drag her feet on my claims and payments. I literally have to go to my mom for help! When I contac... read more >
Answered Questions by Our Lawyers
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Showing 8 of 31 Answered Questions
Q: LTD canceled their request for updated med records?
A: Most Authorizations are only good for two years so depending on when you signed it, it may no longer be valid ... Read More >
Q: Why is New York Life Insurance giving me a hard time?
A: Holly, the requirements of NYL depends on the type of policy that you are inquiring about. I would need to rev... Read More >
Q: NYL LTD also have LLC
A: LLC and LTD,If you receive active income, meaning its not considered passive investment income from the LLC ... Read More >
Q: Can I submit my resignation while on STD with NY Life? I don’t know if I’ll be able to return when they want and I would rather give a 2 weeks notice.
A: Generally we do not recommend resigning from your job while on disability to avoid any potential issues with c... Read More >
Q: New York Life LTD offset my disabled adult child.
A: Yes, we have handled cases with fact patterns similar in nature. However, as you are in litigation already we ... Read More >
Q: My father has been in STD Cigna and LTD with New York Life since Jan 2021, diagnosed Pulmonary Fibrosis due to Covid-19. Can insurance and ex job make him return to work?
A: Walt, while no one can force your father back to work, NYL can certainly deny benefits if they believe there i... Read More >
Q: Do I have to sign agreement to pay back difference in LTD payment and SSDI payment?
A: You do not need to sign the agreement to pay back SSDI. Disability companies try to make you do this and you a... Read More >
Q: Can NYLG just stop payment?
A: Moe, unfortunately long term disability insurance companies can deny benefits at anytime without notice. Conta... Read More >
Helpful Videos
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Disability Benefit Tips
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Showing 8 of 331 Benefit Tips
How Will Sale of Cigna Disability Division to New York Life Insurance Co. Affect Disability Claimants?
On December 18, 2019 Cigna entered into an agreement to sell their disability insurance and life insurance division for $6.3 billion. This is a monster deal in the disability insurance world as Cigna was one of the top five largest disability insurance companies in the world prior to the sale. With the purchase, NY Life Insurance company will instantly go from being a small disability insurance company to o... Read More >
Why Must Your Disability Insurance Lawyer Understand Your Disabling Condition?
When it comes to securing your disability insurance benefits, it's vitally important that your disability insurance lawyer thoroughly understands the symptoms and impact of your disabling condition. Doctors can help you create strong medical records, but they're not accustomed to dealing with the rigorous documentation disability insurance companies require. Lea... Read More >
Disability Benefit Denial Reason #5 – Your Medical Evidence is Weak
If you're seeking long term disability benefits from an insurance company, you may be concerned that you're facing an uphill battle. Fortunately, the stronger your medical evidence, the greater the odds that your claim will be approved. On the other side of the coin, one of the most common reasons for denial of long term disability benefits involves too-weak med... Read More >
Disability Benefit Denial Reason #4 - Your Doctor Is Misled By the Disability Company
When you're seeking disability insurance benefits, your medical records and treating physician's statement are two of the most important components of your claim. But because the insurance company has a vested interest in denying your disability insurance claim, it often will rely on tactics like ambushing your doctor with a phone call in an attempt to get them ... Read More >
Disability Benefit Denial Reason #3 - Video & Social Media Surveillance
One thing many disability insurance claimants don't know about (or expect) from the claims review process involves video and social media surveillance. Disability insurance carriers often hire people to follow claimants around with a telephoto lens - or even send social media friend requests from fake accounts - to glean whatever information they can about the c... Read More >
How Do You Fight a Long-Term Disability Denial?
Getting a denial letter from your disability insurance company is one of the ultimate insults. You are sick and not able to work, yet your disability insurance company is telling you to return to work. The disability insurance company has denied your disability benefit claim and is basically calling you a liar. When receiving a disability denial letter or a ph... Read More >
Disability Denial Reason #2 - Change of Disability Definition & Vocational Review
One of the top reasons for terminating a claimant's long term disability benefits involves the change in the disability insurance policy's definition of "disability." This definition change often happens in conjunction with a vocational review, or an analysis of a claimant's medical records that tells the insurance company which jobs the claimant should be able ... Read More >
Disability Denial Reason #1 – Paper Review & IME
At Dell Disability Lawyers, we've seen insurance companies give countless reasons to deny long term disability benefits. However, most disability benefit denials tend to fall into one of a few categories - and one of the biggest ones is the paper review and independent medical exam (IME). Learn more about what this review process entails and what your claim file... Read More >
Dell Disability Cases
(374)
Showing 8 of 374 Dell Disability Cases
New York Life Approves Disability Benefits for School Teacher With Multiple Sclerosis
Our client, a former elementary school teacher suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, contacted our office after New York Life terminated her claim for short term disability benefits and spoke with Attorney Stephen Jessup. New York Life had initially approved her claim for short term disability benefits, but in doing so awarded benefits only on account of a mental health condition, even though our client had filed... Read More >
New York Life Sued For Failing To Make A Timely Decision on Appeal
If your disability insurance claim has ever been denied you will have received a formal denial letter from your insurance carrier in which you are advised as to the basis of the denial as well as provided guidelines set forth by ERISA as to the filing of an administrative appeal to challenge the denial of benefits. The most important of these ERISA guidelines is the notification that you have 180 days from the... Read More >
NY Life Disability Benefits Reinstated on Appeal Despite Independent Medical Examination
Our client, a former high level medical sales representative, suffered from chronic pain stemming from his neck, back and hip that would eventually result in multiple surgeries to include lumbar fusion, cervical fusion and sacroiliac joint fusion. He initially filed his claim for disability benefits at age 62 due to the increasing pain he was experiencing, which... Read More >
Project Manager with Migraines Gets NY Life Disability Benefit Denial Reversed
Disability due to migraines is very common, but many disability insurance claims deny these long term disability claims because there is no objective evidence of migraines. New York Life will commonly try to limit disability benefits to 24 months and claim that your medical condition is mental and not physical.We were able to stop that from happening in this... Read More >
New York Life Overturns a Waiver of Premium for Group Life Insurance Policy
In early 2019, the widow of a decease man contacted our firm as she was troubled by the actions of New York Life. Prior to contacting our firm, the lady’s husband had died from metastatic prostate cancer in July of 2018. Through his prior employer, the decedent was covered under two insurance policies: (1) a group long term disability insurance policy that provided monthly income replacement benefits sho... Read More >
New York Life Admits Error In Denying Disability Benefits
Our client, a former school teacher, suffering from multiple severe medical conditions including autonomic nervous system damage, small fiber neuropathy, a history of prior back surgery, and severe immune conditions had been receiving long term disability benefits through New York Life for approximately two years under his school system’s group disability policy when he first contacted our office. Like the v... Read More >
New York Life Overturned Their Denial of LTD Benefits for Nevada Healthcare Coordinator
Our client, Ms. G, formerly worked as a Healthcare Coordinator for a large regional healthcare provider. For many years Ms. G suffered from chronic debilitating effects of multiple physical conditions and ailments, including, among other conditions, Intractable Pain, Chronic Venous Insufficiency, which left her with debilitating physical and cognitive impairments. Ms. G was unwilling to give up her career and ... Read More >
New York Life Denies Technology Manager under the Own Occupation Provision & Dell Disability Lawyers Wins Appeal
Our client, Mr. N, formerly worked as a Technology Manager / Vice President for a large bank. For many years Mr. N suffered from chronic debilitating effects of multiple physical conditions and ailments, including, among other conditions, Parkinson’s Disease, Parkinson’s Dementia, Dystonia and Bradykinesia, which left him with debilitating physical and cognitive impairments. Mr. N was unwilling to give up ... Read More >
Disability Lawsuit Stories
(765)
Reviews from Our Clients
