Our team of long term disability insurance lawyers at Dabdoub Law Firm recently managed an unusual appeals case for our client, and with resounding success. After she underwent numerous back surgeries to address chronic back pain and other complications, CIGNA, the responding insurance company, denied her long term disability benefits but somehow reasoned in its own words that she was both disabled and not disabled. After digging into the evidence of her medical records and the unspoken reasoning behind CIGNA’s unusual explanation of her disability, we were able to secure the reinstatement of her long term disability benefits. All along, it seemed CIGNA was intent on manipulating the description of her disability as her coverage periods varied in order to save its own bottom line.
Details of the Back Injury & Disability Case
Our client worked as a financial services specialist with Regions Bank before multiple surgeries rendered her unable to complete any work without significant pain and discomfort. In particular, she underwent an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in November of 2017 and a lumbar decompression surgery the next month. It is worth noting she also had two previous lumbar surgeries decades ago, which indicates her history of back complications. All of her medical records and physicians attest to the fact that she cannot reasonably return to work given her medical conditions.
CIGNA jumped back and forth in its own decisions and assessments of our client’s disability status. Between September 2017 and February 2018, CIGNA alternated her status several times, switching among “no work restrictions,” “no work is medically supported,” and “some work restrictions.” Furthermore, CIGNA actually provided our client short term disability benefits up to March 2018 with no interruptions. This line of assessments and decisions indicates CIGNA found our client to somehow be disabled and not at the same time, yet eligible for disability benefits all the while.
However, CIGNA initially chose to deny her long term disability benefits. Given that medical records clearly reinforced that our client could not return to regular work without suffering significantly, our long term disability attorneys of Dabdoub Law Firm turned our focus to why CIGNA would be so unpredictable in its assessments and response. As it would be revealed through our investigation, the insurance company altered her disability status assessment in a pattern that coincided with a benefit schedule to provide them the most opportunities to deny her benefits and save themselves money.
After discovering the evidence of potential insurance company wrongdoing, we compiled it carefully into an appeals letter, readying our case for trial, if need be. In the face of our powerful representation, CIGNA conceded and provided our client with much deserved LTD benefits.
Having an Experienced Disability Attorney Matters
Disability insurance law is complicated. If your claim for long term disability benefits was denied or delayed by an insurance company, it is important to get legal help from a lawyer who focuses on disability law. As a law firm built to focus disability insurance law and nothing else, all our disability attorneys spend every day working to get our clients disability benefits from insurance companies. Because federal law applies to most disability insurance claims, we do not have to be located in your state to help you.
Dabdoub Law Firm represents clients nationwide with:
- Submitting a disability insurance claim
- Appealing a long-term disability denial
- Negotiating a lump-sum settlement
- Filing a lawsuit against your disability insurance company
Call (800) 969-0488 to speak with a disability insurance attorney today.
