Attorneys for Cigna Disability Insurance Claims

The attorneys at O’Ryan Law Firm frequently represent claimants whose claims for disability benefits have been denied or terminated by Cigna or its subsidiary, Life Insurance Company of North America (LINA). These claims are typically made under policies issued through a claimant’s employer, so they are usually governed by federal law – specifically the Employee Retirement Income Act of 1974 (ERISA) and related regulations issued by the United States Department of Labor.

Cigna has a well-documented history of abusive claims practices, including systematically denying and terminating claims that should have been approved for payment. In 2013, insurance regulators in five states fined Cigna $1.675 million and required it to re-evaluate hundreds of previously-denied or terminated claims and set aside $77 million to cover potential benefit payments. As part of the settlement agreement, Cigna agreed to adopt new, fairer claims processing procedures designed to ensure that claimants receive a full and fair evaluation of their disability claims. Nonetheless, numerous claimants continue to experience wrongful denial or termination of their disability claims by Cigna and LINA.

The attorneys at O’Ryan Law Firm have extensive experience dealing with Cigna and LINA at all stages of the claims, appeals, and litigation processes. If your claim for disability benefits has been denied by Cigna or LINA, call O’Ryan Law Firm for a free consultation at 855.778.5055.

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If Cigna or LINA (or any other insurance company) denies or terminates your claim, the first thing you should do is make sure you have a written explanation of their decision. This is typically sent in the form of a letter to the claimant, and should include valuable information such as an explanation of the evidence relied upon to deny or terminate your claim, and the process for appealing the decision. Make sure you carefully note any deadlines for appeals. Once you have done so, contact an attorney to determine if you would benefit from legal representation throughout the appeal process. The attorneys at O’Ryan Law Firm provide free consultations to claimants whose disability claims have been denied or terminated by Cigna or LINA.

First and foremost, you should always make sure you are aware of any deadlines to file an appeal. Typically you will be entitled to file an appeal up to 180 days after you receive written notice that your claim was denied or terminated, but this may vary in certain cases. Always confirm your appeal deadline as soon as you receive notice that your claim has been denied or terminated.

While your first instinct may be to file an appeal as soon as possible, this is not always the best choice. Cigna disability policies frequently provide only one opportunity for an appeal, so it’s important to ensure that your appeal provides a thorough explanation of why Cigna or LINA’s decision to deny or terminate your claim was wrong, and to provide as much supportive evidence as possible. If you just send a quick letter or email telling Cigna or LINA that you are appealing the denial or termination of your claim, you may never get the chance to provide additional supporting evidence. This is especially important if your appeal is denied and you need to file a lawsuit to challenge the denial, because in most cases governed by ERISA, the court can only base its decision on the evidence that was in front of the insurance company at the time it denied the appeal.

The attorneys at O’Ryan Law Firm have successfully appealed and litigated numerous claims against Cigna and LINA and can help you compile a thorough, compelling appeal package that will maximize your chances of prevailing on appeal or in litigation.

In most cases, Cigna and LINA require claimants to exhaust the formal appeals process before filing a lawsuit to challenge the denial or termination of a claim. This should be explained in any written notice of denial or termination of your claim. If you are unsure about your right to file a lawsuit, contact O’Ryan Law Firm for a free consultation.

Dealing with insurance companies like Cigna and LINA can be a difficult, intimidating process. Their processes are often designed to be confusing and difficult for claimants to navigate, and their claims representatives may not have your best interests in mind. If your claim for disability benefits has been denied or terminated, call O’Ryan Law Firm for a free consultation to see if we can put our experience dealing with Cigna and LINA to work for you.