Cigna Disability Insurance Reviews

He reapplied for his short term disability only to have it denied again. They kept claiming that there was not enough information to support his inability to perform his work functions. This went on through 2012 and 2013. Finally in Nov 2013, my husband went for a "functional capacity evaluation" (not covered by insurance-which really hurt since my income is half of what my husband's was). After the results of the test, Cigna actually approved his short term disability. They paid for 6 months until 06-18-14. At that time, he applied for long term disability for the same reasons. He is and has been unable to perform his job functions as described in the policy requirements, yet, Cigna denied the claim on 07-24-14.

We immediately submitted an appeal. They kept saying there was not enough information or they were waiting for a peer to peer review. Such BS! In Aug 2014, we had my husband take another "functional capacity evaluation", which results CLEARLY show that he is unable to perform his required job functions at the 20% capacity, much less the 80% that is the threshold for the disability insurance to be approved and paid. Since submitting the results of this test, they have put us off. They will not return phone calls. The only return communication we have had with them is an occasional letter stating that they need more time for this reason or that.

Today, we got a letter stating that they are standing by their original denial. They claim that there is not enough PROOF supporting his claim. I do not understand this denial. 1) Obviously they accept that he qualifies for the disability since they approved his short term disability-his situation and pain level has not improved. How can you deny a claim that you just approved? 2) There IS documentation supporting his claim both in his doctors reports as well as the results of the functional capacity evaluation. We will now be seeking an attorney. Their lack of proper care on this claim is inexcusable. He has already lost his job because the claim is being denied and he cannot physically perform his duties.

Since he lost his job, we have had to go find health insurance outside. We tried the marketplace and found a very affordable plan. Unfortunately, none of his medications covered and none of his doctors took the plan. Our income dropped to a third of what it was. I have been working a second job for the last year plus just to be able to put food on the table. With the cost of his medications, medical insurance, utilities, car payment and food, there is not enough left to make the mortgage payment, much less pay any of our unsecured debt. The attached test results clearly show he is 60% disabled. If he is 60% disabled, how can he perform 80% of his work function?

Updated on 1/23/2015: We got a message from Cigna wanting to "help". I responded to them telling them what I expected. Their response was that someone would review the file and call us. They called and said that his claim was denied because of the sedentary position of his job. They claim that the functional capacity evaluation (same testing as Nov 2013 they used to approve his short term disability) was not valid because of the sedentary position of his job. Now, keep in mind that the evaluation is performed taking in consideration the job description of the individual (which had not changed in the time between the first test in Nov 2013 and the second test in Sep 2014). This still does not make sense. We gave them a chance, now we are hiring an attorney.

On 12/16, Cigna received an invoice for the records they needed. Cigna says they paid it on 12/17, and they closed my long-term disability claim on 12/18 for lack of documentation. When I asked them if the nurse and their medical examiner who closed my claim knew the requested information will be there to them any day now, they said yes but it wasn't received by the date they needed. They advised that once they receive the information, they will reopen my claim if the information supports it. I'm not convinced this will end in my favor without legal action. I hope I have the energy to see this through. I paid for many years for this long-term disability benefit just in case I ever need it. I didn't think I'd die trying to collect it.

I also am on very strong opioids and anxiety medication which is the only thing that helped me work as long as I managed to. I finally got to the point that even the medication could not help me do my job as the chronic fatigue, as well as the fibro fog took over and I could no longer do my job effectively. I was also moved on a regular basis from one job to another because I have been working in materials so long that I know all the jobs in the department. I was then expected to do my job in "my spare time & still in a timely fashion" even if it added to the anxiety I felt on a daily basis.

I went on STD in April of this year. My sick time for my benefits were suppose to start 8 days after my first missed day of work. It is now 11/05/14, and I am now fighting with the appeal process, because of everyone elses complaint, never enough information! I also think this company should be brought up on charges for fraud! I also hope Karma kicks in and it usually will. If it doesn't happen to them it will happen to someone they love - then they will know what the rest of us are and have been going through. There is much more to this story but I will leave it at that other than to say, I was also seen by a specialist twice, and stress counseling. Good luck to the rest of you and God Bless your situations.

I was hospitalized with severe depression (which I didn't know was the law if you say you're suicidal), have been diagnosed as bipolar, had a total knee replacement (and need the other knee done), have cervical stenosis along with degenerative disc disease, arthritis in my neck, bulging discs, herniated discs, osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel, and cannot sit, stand or walk for long periods of time due to my knee replacement.

Two days before my sick leave runs out (and I will be let go by my employer as unable to return to work as exhausted my PSL), was told my LTD claim was denied...after 9 months!!! They said I could appeal the decision, but it was reviewed by two other medical teams and denied...even though my doctor told them I am unable to work and she doesn't know when I would be able to return. TWO DAYS BEFORE!!!

These people don't care about the individual...I've heard (from my doctor, no less) that the more people they deny, they get a kick back...they are compensated to deny you!!! I will appeal with my doctor's help, and will probably hire an attorney to help me (my best friend went through the same thing with them). They are ridiculous...I think a class action lawsuit needs to be filed!!!

After about two years Cigna had denied my claim and stopped my benefits due to not having enough reports or information from my doctors. I fought and won the appeal and now only six months has passed and here they go again wanting more updates and doing a review to see if they can find someway to not pay my benefits, all the time asking me to notify them of any changes. They make trying to go on with what I have of life, miserable and stressful. I hate living like this and the stress is making it worse. If I could work I would have been working a long time ago. It's been about three years now and I'm not getting better. Now, Cigna is sending me to see a Neuro psychologists. This doesn't make sense because my disability is physical not mental. Cigna is picking on me and making my life miserable and stressful. To think I've paid them for years to have Long term disability insurance and then need it, just to be treated like this. They make me feel guilty that I need the benefits.

I have suffered from this since 2001 and have been able to keep it mostly under control with medication. However, recent life events have made it extremely worse in the last 6 months. My doctor also wants me to attend Therapy which would hopefully help, but I can't afford it because I am not getting paid! I have two children at home and this is getting very hard. Why is it that my doctor is sending them all the information that they want and her medical opinion that I cannot work at this time until I can get this under control and that is not enough? I don't even know what to do at this point. How can something be sent over and over and they still need something more? Then when they get what they asked for that isn't enough? This is ridiculous and I feel as if I am being discriminated against!!!!

Cigna has lied to me multiple times. They kept sending me paperwork to fill out, then resending the same forms over and over, saying that they didn't get them. I completed them, mailed them, and faxed them each time. Some of the questions on the forms are ridiculous. (What time do you get up in the morning, what time do you go to sleep, how often do you use the computer, how much do I watch TV). One of the filing request was for a statement from Social Security on how much SS I get monthly because they will subtract this amount from any I would be getting. They filed it as SS disability and refused to correct it. They denied the claim based on a statement from the surgeon that I can sit, ignoring the statement that I cannot return to work at any job. The doctor says I'm not ready to go back to work, but no matter what he sends is enough! He finally sent a a detailed letter to them explaining it all to them and still not enough. I'm doing Physical Therapy everyday to build up the the strength as well as twice a day sonic bone healing treatments to assist in bone growth since the recent CT MRI indicates that it is not healing.

I'm in Physical Pain everyday and taking pain medicine that makes me sleepy but does not completely alleviate the pain. The surgeon is reluctant to return me to stronger narcotics because they are addictive. CIGNA closed my long Term Disability case and I filed an appeal submitting additional doctor information. They informed me that that can take up to 45 days. This week I got a letter stating that they got the results from the independent review and that it could take another 45 days for them to review the review. Recently saw my surgeon and was told that it has started healing and that I could try returning to work with restrictions that I be allowed to have a break every hour to exercise so that my legs don't swell and assuming that I can tolerate driving 37 miles to work thru downtown Austin which is the nation's 2nd worst congested traffic. I am awaiting my companies reply and filing this in hopes that someone will legally pursue CIGNA and put them out of business.

For 2 months now I have been living off of my savings which is nearly depleted. I sent them medical information dating all the way back to 2011 to support that I suffer from migraine headaches due to the 8-10 hour shifts that I work in a call center, staring at a computer for long lengths of time on a daily basis. As well as the medications to treat my migraines and neurology recommendations. Additionally, I have been medically treated for depression and anxiety as well. The representative told me that Cigna does not have enough information to make a determination regarding my claim.

When asked specifically what information Cigna requires I was told that Cigna needs to know the severity of my migraines, depression, and anxiety. How many times a week I get migraines, depression & anxiety, when did my illness start, how long I have been being treated, what medications I am taking, what labs, test, recommendations my physician has ordered, if my illness is ongoing, if I have sought second or third opinions regarding my illness, record of every doctor visit to include doctors findings, treatments, prescriptions, etc... All of this information was sent to Cigna in detail, and still they deny my claim stating they do not have enough information. How in the hell do they expect a person to pay for medical treatment, prescriptions, etc... without income. I am absolutely LIVID! This company needs to be thoroughly investigated.

Symptoms 100x worse and I had only returned to work to ensure medical coverage, not because I was feeling better. So I filed a new claim and they're taking their time responding even though the diagnosis remains unchanged and the weekly treatments exacerbate the symptoms. I do not understand how they are allowed to continue to cause problems for folks who don't want to be sick and needing their services in the first place. Years I paid into their long term plan assuming I'd be covered if needed one day. Now I'm learning that's all a hoax too! Why is there nothing that can be done to protect those with real illnesses?

I have never denied my ability to ride on a bike or in a car, as long as it was 15 minutes or less. They also failed to honor the writings in my records, that I am cognitively unable to work as a nurse, due to the administration of morphine three times a day combined with the documented effects of chronic pain syndrome and chronic fatigue. Thus, their termination letter was full of lies, exaggerations, inconsistencies and disrespect. I wish I could rate them less than one star. I cannot believe how they take the monthly payments from my employer for over 5000 people and return such poor service.

This is a pattern which leads me to believe that I am pretty much screwed. I chose to pay through my employer's benefits for this insurance to protect me from financial hardships in the event of an illness. I am beginning to question if there is any real benefit when I am compromising my health battling against Cigna for my short term disability payments. I believe that this pattern is a ploy to avoid paying the claim at all. I haven't been denied, just held in suspension! It is a nightmare that doesn't end when I awaken!

I sit at a desk job and quite often travel long distances in a company car. Cigna thinks from doctor's notes (the same doctors that have said I can not return to work) that I have no viable claim that I can't return to work. This is even with a physical capacity test that states what I am unable to do. My neurosurgeon has been in practice for over 40 years and my other physicians are the best in their fields in my area. Really Cigna!! They are a joke and I think the government should do some type of audit and shut them down for taking advantage of the American Public!!

I faxed her information 2 days before due date. I called again to check the status and Ms. ** stated that I needed to fax her something in writing stating it is okay to begin the appeal. I have never heard of such BS so I asked her to send me a copy of this from their company policy manual stating this. I have never received the copy yet. It has been 5 weeks and still no copy. I am a single mom of 2 young kids who thought that I cannot trust Cigna disability insurance. I have lost my car insurance and will be possibly having surgery soon. Still no letter and no money.

Please, everyone take the time to read about this insensitive and lying staff who we employ for Cigna disability insurance. I won't stop praying until Almighty God steps in and show these people who we give jobs to, who is really in control. Please do not waste your time and money arguing with a company who does not keep up with faxed documents or always lying and saying they do not have enough findings. They don't want to pay us, but in Jesus' name, they will someday answer to every lie and hidden paperwork. Help people who trust this lying company. Treat others as you would like to be treated.

When they read back what the MD wrote, "patient doing fine, no problems" when I called the MD angry, the notes did not reflect what CIGNA read me as the cause for the denial. Having no money for co-pays, prescriptions or groceries, I am getting worse due to the stress and anguish this has placed me. I am contacting Wash State Insurance.gov and lodging a complaint and seeking legal counsel. I have paid into this provider for over 7 years and will likely never have to use this again. This is very sad when this company is preying upon the very people they are supposed to be serving; preying upon those who are too ill and exhausted to fight to the end.

A few months later, a rheumatologist in Manhattan finally diagnosed me with Behcet's Syndrome, a rare auto-immune disease with no known cause and cure. CIGNA picked up my LTD monthly payments after my 6-month salary continuance by Pfizer ended. Being relatively young at the time (40 years old), I aspired to return to work should my condition improve and with my doctor's blessing/approval. However, my symptoms persisted and I remained on LTD for approximately 16 months, at which time CIGNA abruptly discontinued my monthly payments.

Upon inquiring, I was told that a review of my dental records (from a visit to my dentist; these records are actively shared with insurance companies) had revealed that I could lift 20 lbs (I had filled out a simple questionnaire at the dentist office). Consequently, CIGNA decided that I could do my previous job and stopped my LTD benefit. So, I was stuck with a rare disease and no income! Fortunately, a few colleagues at Pfizer were able to secure a sales position for me which I assumed in June of 2003, after barely surviving a few months without any income.

Between 2004 and 2007, I worked for approximately 18 months but was unable to continue working courtesy of a series of heart-attacks, stent placements, Behcet's flares, cardiac aneurysm and finally a triple-bypass procedure. So, I'm weak and sick as a fish, and back on monthly CIGNA LTD benefits, which like clockwork, were suddenly discontinued after approximately 12 months.

Despite my weakened state, I appealed, submitting all of the requested records and statements from my doctors. My appeal was successful and CIGNA resumed paying the benefit. NOTE, I contacted Pfizer for assistance but was extremely surprised to find out there were no advocates for sick employees with legitimate complaints against CIGNA! How could one of the top pharmaceutical firms in the world with billions in annual revenues, NOT CARE ABOUT ITS OWN EMPLOYEES WHO WERE SIDELINED BY MEDICAL ILLNESSES and lacked the resources to actively appeal and file legal proceedings against CIGNA? Surely, there has to be some office or individual at Pfizer Inc. with the direct responsibility of managing its LTD program. Sadly, none was revealed to me.

CIGNA's coup-de-gras occurred a few years later, after they had utilized the services of a third-party company to finally get me approved for SSID benefits, thus shifting half of my monthly LTD payment over to the government retroactive to the first day of my most recent disabling event. All was well for approximately 13 to 15 months, then CIGNA abruptly discontinued paying their half of my monthly payment, claiming that video surveillance had shown me lifting boxes from a van. They sent copies of the video to my doctors who did not support their position and basis for benefit discontinuation. My doctors opined that my condition had no cure and was recurring with unpredictable periods of relapses.

Ironically, CIGNA actively fought to get me approved by the government as being permanently disabled, THEN PROMPTLY AND SURREPTITIOUSLY FOUGHT TO SHOW THAT I WAS NOT DISABLED and was capable of working, thus arbitrarily justifying their decision to stop paying me. I am in the process on appealing and seeking legal counsel.

By the way, I made one final attempt to return to work at Pfizer and an appointment was scheduled for me to meet with a Pfizer-appointed cardiologist for medical clearance. I was examined by the doctor in November, 2013 and Pfizer subsequently told me that based on the doctor's report I was "medically incapable of performing the essential (driving) functions of the sales representative position". In conclusion: 1) My former employer says I am medically incapable of doing my previous job; 2.)The Government says I'm permanently disabled; 3) CIGNA helps me secure Government approval for permanent disability benefits (SSID) then promptly declares that I am capable of doing my previous job, and stops paying their portion of my monthly benefit (since 2010).

Surely, they can't all be right! I am so disgusted by the ongoing arrogance and criminal actions of CIGNA against disabled people like me with little or no resources and energy to fight back. Where is CNN when you need them? Anderson Cooper? Wolf Blitzer? Soledad O'Brien? America needs to know about these Criminals Intentionally Giving No Assistance!

April 2 I received a check from Cigna in the mail. It was an odd amount and for an odd time period, so I called my case worker (who had changed twice since the initial claim and was now back to the original incompetent boob). He said the check beat the letter of explanation to me, but my case was closed due to not enough supporting evidence and I was fine to report back to my job as a nurse’s aide. Now, being as I don't work as a nurse’s aide, I had a couple of questions. He started reading me a compilation paragraph constructed from 5 months of post-surgical visits I had. Cigna actually cut and pasted sentences from different visits I had with 2 different doctors and arranged them so it looks like I have a clean bill of health. How is this not criminal?

Also, he claims to not be receiving faxed documentation again. He is the only case worker I have had that cannot keep track of these elusive faxes. Also, it seems in Texas, where he operates, telephones do not work, as I got no calls requesting documentation. Truly a bizarre phenomenon. I am facing another scheduled procedure 4/28/14 as ongoing treatment but they had no documentation mentioning this, even though all paperwork my physician and I have since 1/14 from all the office visits mention this procedure at length. I again visited my physician 4/8/14 and more, clearer documentation has been sent. I called prior to this visit to let him know about the visit and to expect paperwork. I have left 4 phone messages since my visit with no response. I have no income as of 3/27/14. So as of today, my case is in a closed status and I have been cleared to return to work to an occupation that I have never done. Who regulates these big companies?

I am disappointed that it took 2 appeals, hundreds of pages, hundreds of hours of my time and occurrence of more life-threatening heart episodes, to get CIGNA to finally correct a bad decision. But it would not be fair to let my initial comments go without an update. I hope CIGNA will similarly reconsider the other cases reported here.

Original Review: Feb. 15, 2014

CIGNA POCKETS 6 MONTHS DISABILITY PAY ($10,500+) OFF A DISABLED VETERAN... not your biggest complaint but similar to others. CIGNA has closed my Short Term Disability case at the end of FMLA claim after 3 of a total 9 months of forced leave of absence from work. The employer will not allow me back with restrictions, while CIGNA refuses to pay disability, leaving me with no primary income for 6 of 9 months until my work restriction ends.

MEDICAL CALAMITY - I was hospitalized Oct 24, 2013 after occurrence of lethal Ventricular Tachycardia and received an Implanted Cardio-Defibrillator (ICD) on Oct 31, 2013 at the local hospital. I am an assistant store manager (ASM). I have been off of work since Oct 25, 2013. Short Term Disability (STD) was initially approved through Jan 23, 2014. CIGNA inc. is my Employer's STD insurer and also is the long term disability (LTD) insurer which employees pay into. STD is maximum 26 weeks, at which time additional leave of absence becomes LTD. After 8 weeks restriction to lifting less than 5lb, my VA doctor revised my restriction to lifting less than 20lb (with my left arm) in order to allow heal-in of the ICD and cable, with no return to work date specified.

SHORT TERM DISABILITY (CIGNA Incident # **) - On Jan 23, my VA doctor determined my work limitation (no lifting more than 20lb with left arm) would continue for an additional 6 months in order to not harm the ICD installation as it heals in. My employer will not allow my return to work with the lifting limitation, based on their judgment that my restrictions prevent me from performing primary ASM tasks of deploying and merchandising stock. They also notified me I will be assumed to resign Apr 23 if I am not back to work. (My FMLA is expired).

Forced on disability by this incident, my primary income was STD pay from CIGNA. I am dependent on that pay as I have no savings or significant assets, and owe about $225K in medical bills from this incident. (VA refused to cover any of my medical expense since I had not used them previous 24 months).

INSURING FOR DISABILITY OR JUST ENSURING MY FINANCIAL CALAMITY? CIGNA cut off my disability payment on Feb 4 retroactively to Jan 23, only 3 months into the total 9 months of restrictions causing my work disability. Leaves me with 6 months disability - with no disability pay on the policies that supposedly provided that as an employment benefit.

CIGNA did so knowing that I am not allowed back to work any earlier than July 23. So they are pocketing for themselves my main income during this period. They refuse to pay the final 3 months STD pay ($6300), which would be followed by 3+ months of LTD pay ($4200+) that would be due if I was not returnable to work until Jul 23. CIGNA did not even inform me of their unilateral closing of my claim, until two weeks past the original time to renew that claim. They claimed each week to not have 'enough information' from my VA doctor and nurse. CIGNA slow-rolled disability payments despite knowing that I am in financial difficulty with a chronically ill wife. Several days in advance of their deadline to process a payment, they would claim to need more information from my busy VA doctor. This allowed them to miss Friday deadlines to process my payroll payment to my employer, and deny me reliable weekly payments.

CIGNA cut off my payments on Jan 23 despite having been made aware that it was my primary income while on disability. CIGNA reps were also aware I had no savings and medical bills of $70K (now rebilled at $225K). CIGNA pretended to solicit additional information in a letter of Jan 27 received Feb 4 with suspense of Feb 7th THEN on Feb 4 I received a fax letter that the claim was 'closed' Feb 4th. Not too interested in feedback!! CIGNA's denial letter to me, claims my ICD-cable heal-in, despite doctor's work restriction and employer refusal to accommodate, is not a disability, since 'no heart abnormalities were detected'. HELLO - got a cable in there! How is an ICD heal-in and VT diagnosed NOT a disability when it is a disability in federal SSI, ADA, and motor vehicles law?

CIGNA TACTICS - STANDARD PRACTICE OR JUST BY CHANCE? Discontinuing legitimate disability payments to employees still on forced disability from their employer. Disregarding the federal definition of disability to jack their profits and cut off out-of-work victims they ensure for employers, contrary to the federal concept of disability as set forth by the ADA law. Circle-jerking disability victims by delaying payment approvals, claiming there's not enough information, or saying a request was sent, then no one at your doctor can find it; then retroactively denying payments - with a doctor’s note right under their nose. How do I know they are doing this? It is happening to me. It is an OUTRAGE that a company who profits richly off the disabled could consciously avoid their obligations to pay, and cause suffering by denial and delay of payments to those such as myself who are on forced disability leave. How would they NOT know- they're the pros, are they THAT IGNORANT? Would they want to be on the other end of the above practices?

DEFINITION OF DISABILITY ADA Sec 12102 includes both my ICD and heart episode as disability. Sec 12201 Construction allows federal prosecution of violations. In harming the disabled who were supposed to be insured, CIGNA seems to be violating ADA, regardless of the ERISA law they hide behind.

I do not have $2,500 for a lawyer to go after them, but a lawyer is essential with an adversary like this. So I will let everyone know about my experience as a disabled vet at the hands of CIGNA. THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE OUTRAGED AT THEIR PRACTICES.

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TO CIGNA, CHRIS THE NURSE, ADELINA ** AND YOUR BOSSES: You are apparently powerless and/or not interested to do the right thing. Please understand the effects of your actions in my case. YOU ARE NOT ONLY SHORTING ME $10,500+... (short term thru Apr 23, long term thru Jul 23), you are causing financial havoc for me - unpredictable/no payment for 3 previous weeks, none since Jan 23 period. Your failure to timely pay caused me loss of fees using large payday loans at least 3 times in 12 weeks so far, not to mention the next 3-5 months you have refused to pay at all. You are disabling my efforts to pay on $270,000 in medical bills, for which I will need higher income. You withheld my legitimate disability income knowing I am not allowed back by the employer with limitations (cannot work). Your actions have crippled my efforts to search or prepare for jobs I could do with my additional disabilities.

You did this KNOWING I would not be eligible for unemployment, as I am still employed. Your actions have stressed my sick wife to the breaking point as she fights cancer and autoimmune diseases. I FEEL BAD FOR THE CHOICES THAT YOU AND YOUR CIGNA BOSSES HAVE MADE, WHICH HAVE TRAPPED YOU IN A WEB OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SUFFERING OF THE DISABLED. I don't appreciate getting circle jerked by CIGNA staff weenies in plush offices. WE VETERANS SERVED OUR COUNTRY, WHAT OR WHOM DO YOU SERVE???

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(5) Disregarding or claiming to not have received doctor's information on disability duration & restrictions.

CIGNA BUSINESS 'ETHICS' IN ONE SENTENCE: DID NOT HESITATE TO PROFIT OFF THEIR MISTREATMENT OF A DISABLED VETERAN.

Doesn't denial of genuine disability claims represent fraud on consumers? Profiting from mistreatment of disabled claimants must stop!!!

CIGNA has refused me twice during that period, giving multiple excuses along the way, ranging from one doctor's handwriting being too messy, to a family GP's inability to fully diagnose brain disease, to admitting they have received everything they've asked my health care team while still insisting it isn't enough. We're talking 10 yrs of history, checkups every 3 months, and multiple evaluations from 2 globally recognized specialists in my disease. Several linear feet of records, but not enough... My job was DOT safety-related. Both my job and medical records showed a clear progression of the disease and it's consequences to my work ability.

TODAY, 12 months on, was the first time I was told I had *only* 3 appeals, and this one would be my last. That information is in NONE of the written policy material, emails or letters they have sent me. Nada. Whether that was an oversight of my employer, I do not know... My policy promised up to 60% of my pay until my 65th birthday. I am 53. They are no doubt looking at the numbers... My symptoms are easily triggered by stress, so this paper chase has made things so much worse for me. Had it not been for my husband of 30 years, I don't know how I could have coped with this. We are now looking for an attorney. CIGNA is down there with AETNA on refusing legitimate claims. Good luck to you all!

Cigna has seen fit to deny my short term disability benefits. I have appealed and they still have denied even though I have 3 medical professionals that state I can't work at this moment. I don't know where to turn to now. All I do know is that Cigna has done nothing to help me out with anything. In my opinion, they have been infuriating to work with and are the worst insurance company I have ever dealt with.

So it became my responsibility to get my records and then send them all to Cigna. I got them all and mailed them to Cigna, also faxing the most relevant ones. Then someone called me and asked me about my hands and told me that since I am able to hold a phone and feed myself, then I should be able to work, but that she was calling me to obtain more information so they could make the final decision. While I do have medical issues with my hands, it was not my reason for filing for LTD. She became angry when she learned that I had sent my medical records to them. She even called my doctor and told her that since I can use my hand, then I can work! My doctor was shocked.

I am a Registered Nurse and my job requires very long hours of standing/walking/lifting when I worked the hospital and long hours of driving/lifting/stooping when I worked in homehealth (both jobs were with same employer and same Cigna policy). All jobs as a nurse are very physical and require critical-thinking and making decisions related to other people's lives. I take strong medications to help control the pain; this affects my ability to think clearly. My pain causes me to be very limited in physical activity. It is not safe for me to have the responsibility of another person's life when I can’t even take care of myself! My health has been declining for about 5 years but I continued to work and I worked as long as I could.

But I now cannot work, barely even able to get out of bed in the mornings. I have multiple injuries to my lumbar and cervical spine, having spinal fusion surgery when one cervical disc "exploded" that deviated my spinal cord, causing loss of use of my right hand (which was numb) and I am right handed, loss of reflexes in that arm, and I could not move my neck. Since that surgery, I’ve had multiple procedures - epidurals, facet blocks, neurotomies, physical therapy, etc. I am in excruciating pain and it’s degenerative and getting worse. Along with spine issues, I’ve had to have my colon removed, hysterectomy due to pelvic adhesions from endometriosis and cysts, chronic migraines (the kind where you feel like you are dying), carpal tunnel syndrome with stenosing tenosynovitis (trigger finger), tachycardia (heart beats too fast), etc. (too many to list them all). I’ve had injections in my hands and finally had to have surgery, still have to have another surgery. My hands are stiff and numb. I have MANY reasons I can’t work.

My Cigna policy states that benefits paid for the first 3 years is for "inability to do CURRENT job," then at the end of the 3 years, it changes to "inability to do ANY job." They don’t even feel I’m entitled to the 3-year length of benefit so I can at least have my surgeries and injections and procedures and not have to worry about having money to feed my child. I have a friend who worked at my same place of employment, with the same Cigna policy, who got hers approved immediately based on her spine issues, which are very minimal, with no surgeries and doing nothing to improve her condition, not even physical therapy. While I am actively trying to get better. Her medical records reflect barely anything wrong and with no surgery... nothing like mine. How do they approve someone with minimal health problems and then deny the ones who are truly unable to work and are truly sick and in pain? They are a very bad company.

And my caseworker there seemed like she really wanted to help me, wanted me to be approved. I later found out she was involved in the decision process and she was the one lying to me and sending me all those forms! They have really made my life very difficult and more painful and stressful. If I didn’t have my husband and his income, I would have lost my home and literally been in a homeless shelter with my child. I will continue to fight them with my attorneys. They want to receive those monthly premiums but then don’t want to honor them when/if the time ever comes. They are very unethical, untrustworthy, unfair. After reading online at multiple sites, it’s sad how many people have suffered because of them.

Since 2009 Cigna has denied my claim three times. First time they denied my claim after they helped me get SSDI. My doctors could not believe they were denying my claim. I waited almost a year before Cigna paid me. In 2010 Cigna denied my claim and again I appealed and waited almost a year to get paid my benefit. In 2011 they denied my claim again and I hired an attorney to appeal my case. Cigna again waited almost a year to pay me, but the attorney got more than half my benefit payment for representing me. Now in 2013 Cigna has again denied me my earned benefits. I am 60 years old now and cannot do much of anything without taking a lot of pain medications.

I worked 38 years for (PPL) a very large international electric utilities company and always thought I had great benefits. Cigna now tells me that I am not cooperative because I could not finish Cigna's work function test without taking pain medications. The second schedule work function test I cancel two days before and ask Cigna to reschedule because I sprained my ankle doing water therapy for my spine surgery. I am currently taking multiple medications for major depression, blood pressure, thyroid, cholesterol and prostate gland. Again they are denying my earned benefits because I am not cooperating. Cigna has created a real financial hardship for me over the last four years. CIGNA - A BAD FAITH COMPANY, you be the judge.

I'm in Physical Pain every day and taking pain medicine that makes me sleepy. I've called the United States Dept. of Labor Board. The man I've been talking with the last 3 days has been great. Hopefully, this will help out. I'm in Physical Pain everyday and I have to deal with all the stress of not having a paycheck and jumping through hoops for CIGNA. I take medicine for Depression and Anxiety and this doesn't help out with that! I could go on and on, but I'll stop at this point. Anyway it's an awful position for people to be in to have to fight for what we pay for and they don't want to trust our Doctors who see us in person!

Then I lifted some various weights in a box, then pushed a sled. Then she takes me back in room and measures again. My legs had swelled by 1/2 inch in that short time. Then they call me at 9 am a couple weeks later and say they are closing my claim and I should have letter in mail. Well, mail arrives and they have surveillance videos of me one day moving a dumpster with my backhoe, picking up a hose reel, and riding in my Rhino UTV around my property, which I am dumbfounded because I am not claiming I can't do little errands that I have to do. I just can't be on my feet or sit for a day working a job. My legs swell to three times normal size. I am really shocked that their doctor cannot get this through his head. I have had L4-5 fusion and rods put in my back but this has nothing to do with my lymphedema. I just appealed it but I am pretty sure it will be denied until I get a lawyer and take them to court.

Can anyone tell me why they feel like since I have lymphedema I should just sit in my house with my feet above my head? I might as well not have life if that is what I got to look forward to. I think they are totally shady and I feel like they harass my doctors constantly making them fill out more and more paperwork over and over and over. My doctor even wrote on his report in exclamations that "my lymphedema is a severe chronic condition that has no treatment and will never get better". I am not sure what my next move is but by reading everyone else's responses, I guess I will lose my house and car because it will take them so long and they will continue to drag it out until I take them to court. And what is really funny on their surveillance you can see me showing up for my setup appointment then me leaving and I went to Sam's Club since I was over 100 miles from home. As I am leaving on their video, you can see how much my legs were swollen and glossy from skin being tight. I guess they missed that one. They are jerks.

My husband works for an insurance company, & we both can tell that they are looking for any reason to NOT pay me what I am owed! I understand that it has only been 10 days, but with all the information that I have provided them with, it shouldn't take this long. The person that is handling my claim will not email me ANYTHING! She will only supposedly send things through fax to my doc office. They claim that they are not getting any response from my doc office. But if I go over there, & watch them fax all the paperwork, I KNOW they are getting a response. They need to get off their ** & do what is right!

When my claim was not transferred to the LTD team in a timely manner (and after speaking to a rude and unhelpful supervisor), I went out on LinkedIn and searched for people that worked for Cigna looking for titles/location that might be over the team I was dealing with. I phoned the person that looked most promising. Her admin found a manager (over the supervisor role) who called me back in about 10 minutes. I was then able to ensure they did process the claim in a reasonable time -- I continued to call the managers. That didn't ensure approval but might help folks who just can't reach anyone. Last, my attorney wrote a letter accompanying my appeal. It cost me $350. I don't know yet whether it will help but I felt having her cite the laws they were breaking in the review process up to that point could put some pressure on them to abide by the law and policy.

After a few weeks, I was finally contacted by the Cigna claim manager stating my claim was denied due to not having sufficient medical evidence. My doctor sent all medical records including a letter personally written by him explaining my symptoms, etc... Cigna claimed that self-reported symptoms aren't sufficient medical evidence. If Cigna knew anything about mental illness, they would know there isn't any blood tests or X-rays that can find and prove a mental illness. I have been psychologically tested approximately 3 years ago which concluded that my diagnosis is Bipolar, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Adhd.

During my leave of absence and Cigna's incompetence, I suffered extreme financial hardship due to not getting my disability pay. My electricity was disconnected, checking account was overdrawn, etc. So pretty much being forced back to work because I had no income and have children to support, I returned to work and was not ready. Now comes present time. Starting September 30, 2013, I was again put on medical leave by my psychiatrist due to severe depression which is all a part of Bipolar Disorder.

I submitted the claim with Cigna on or around October 1, 2013 and have yet to have my claim approved. It is now 11 pm October 16, 2013. I spoke with my Doctor's office medical records department on Monday ,October 14, 2013. The doctor's offices stated they had only received a request from Cigna within the past few days. Yet, the Cigna claims manager told me she had requested and followed up with the doctor's office a few different times. I've called my claims manager asking for updates a few times and either get the runaround or no answer and no call back.

Here's my major concern. I have filed 5 claims for medical problems/surgeries in the past 6 years with Cigna and have never had the problems I have had with the medical claims as I have had with the mental health problems claims. I have gotten a claim 2 other mental health claims approved approximately 3 1/2 years ago. Which I was under the care of my family physician and Cigna kept harping on me to get a psychiatrist. Which also took quite a while to get into due to there being a shortage of them in my area. After finally getting a psychiatrist, now, they want to deny my claims and take excessive amounts of time to even request or look at medical records.

I feel as though I am getting discriminated against due to the fact it is a Behavioral Health claim and not a medical claim. I have complained to the head of benefits at my employer and they just said to file an appeal. Which involves sending all medical records from the treating doctor, which all records and documents were already sent before. So, now I sit without pay again, having my water shut off yesterday and having to borrow money from family members. Also, both times, the past 2 claims I submitted to Cigna for mental health claims, I was questioned by their nurse medical reviewer and asked the most ridiculous and unrelated questions about my mental health problems I am having. The nurse acted as if they had no clue about the symptoms or anything about mental illness. So honestly, I feel discriminated against. I also don't understand why they are trying so hard to deny a claim that they are not even funding, since my employer is self-funding for the short term disability insurance. I do understand they're trying to save the company money. But, they are also putting the company's employees and family in a very bad financial hardship.

I had a c4-c6 fusion on July 10th. The same ltd crew would not overturn my claim. I complained quite a bit to Nokia hr. I told Nokia that they should be aware of how Cigna treats Nokia employees and to keep that in mind when it comes time to renew their contract. On Aug 14th I was notified that my ltd decision would be overturned. This was after I contacted the State of CA Insurance Commission, surprise! On the same day the same crew who had been completely dishonest said that they still needed documentation before they overturned my case. The same crew then stated that since my overturn letter already went out it was too late.

So, here I am 2 months and two weeks after a c4-c6 fusion. I am still in pain management and recovering and the harassment has begun again. This time my current case worker refuses to acknowledge email (a common practice used in business and personal communication) from me. She has stated she doesn't like using email and prefers phone calls. Thank God I am not dying of cancer. I want my story out there and if there is any way I can help others please let me know.

This is a policy that I have paid through Nokia who I have been employed with since 2003. I would have never thought I would have had to use a ltd plan but I fractured my neck surfing. I was an extremely active surfer, musician, cyclist, 40 to 50 hour a week worker. Bottom line, extremely active. Cigna told me that I don't need to be able to move to do my job as it was a sedentary job. I don't need to move to sit in my chair was her exact words. Pretty funny actually. Again, please let me know if I can help anyone. Stay healthy because you are in America and people don't care here anymore. Insurance companies like CIGNA are sure not going to give you what you pay for.

I am now accomplishing some headway with the negligence and medication usage comments. I also have discovered I am able to sue in MN for emotional duress and mental anguish as well as violation of MN Human Rights Act Laws. They are violating my human rights by knowingly placing me in a situation of reckless disregard of safety of another. Meaning me or the person I care for. Also they are placing me in to a negligent risk of my personal safety and others. I also use a cane, have fall 8 times in the past year and a half.

Let me know if you have questions. Maybe I can share some of what I have learned. All I know is it sucks to fight and bust our butts to get what we legally have a right to and they are in the business of NOT PAYING. Just don't give up fight. Call them - local media, local government, look up your state's human rights act and emotional mental duress. I lost my home, my car pulled, my Eyre out of her senior year of high school. Packed up our home into a storage locker and moved in with my parents at 38. I lost everything I built for my daughter and I during the appeal process of 6 months the first time. Oh and I maxed out all but $1,000 of my 401k to try and not lose my house and car.

Just know you're all not alone and if we continue to fight, complain, get angry, reach out to media, government, law makers and whoever else it will hopefully improve. Heck I am about ready to make a Cigna Stinks Facebook page!!! Chin up and best of luck from MN.

So, I missed two weeks of work with no pay, thinking I would be able to get some help, had to rush and go back to work with no resolve to my health issues. The only thing Cigna did was make my anxiety worse and cause me undue stress and loss of pay based on "their" opinion that I wasn't sick enough to deserve this time to get well. I will be contacting an attorney and will also be contacting the Better Business Bureau.

Cigna pushed for a Functional Capacity Exam and told me, after I asked if it was okay to bring someone as a witness because I knew the kind of things they've done to others during these exams. The Case Manager said that she called ahead and for privacy reasons... I can't have anyone with me. When I got to the physical therapist, he told me flat out that no one called him and asked the receptionist who confirmed that no one called them regarding this and that they would have had no problem allowing someone to witness it for me. I had to lay down 4 different times because of the pain. A 5-hour test of things I couldn't do but tried, was longer than I could stand or sit. I have about 2 hours I can sit on a good day before the pain moves from an 8 to a 10. The sit test I didn't pass as the 45 min. they had me sit in the lobby, as most of it was unsupervised, I was tractioning on my walker and the chair I was sitting in. I finally had to get up but based on the denial letter I got, Cigna says I'm able to sit a full 8 hours.

Cigna also had the nerve to report that they had me on surveillance and found out that I haven't done anything outside of my doctor's restrictions and what he said I can and can't do. Funny thing is, one of the days, I was going in for a doctor's appointment anyways.

Prior to all this... Cigna went an entire year to not pay me, tried to run me out of appeals until I finally hired a lawyer and immediately, they started paying. They had me go through hoops to get Social Security Disability and while I went through their processes, by the time I go to see the Judge, she dismissed the career counselor and within 5 min. of the whole hearing, said she was sorry it got to her in the first place and found fully favorable in my favor. My lawyer said she was one of the hardest judges there... but I had a solid case. So here I am... years later, looking at a denial letter and talking to lawyers yet again because they don't want to pay out. The medical evidence is there, the MRIs show that even though I was home a year between the two MRIs that the next level up was already degenerating and the arthritis has gotten worse. Epidurals failed to address anything outside of confirming that there isn't enough space in the spine to inject the medication.

They have swapped case managers on me so many times and currently refuse to talk to me like they did last time. I've left voice mails with them in the past and I noticed that once it gets into this stage, they do not respond outside of letters unless you get a lawyer to speak to them on your behalf. I would not recommend this company for disability insurance. They were taken to court and fined in California for fraudulently denying people.

If you have a choice, do not go with this company. Find someone else to protect you and your future should you find yourself disabled like myself. I spent years working my way up from a high school education to the military to making a lot of money with the last job I was in before forced on disability... Now I'm fighting for what little they actually give me monthly to just survive.

I would not recommend signing up with this company because they will do their best to be sure they don't pay on your claim and cause you a lot of stress in the process. At this point, I feel I will be forced back to work before I am actually ready, due to such great financial stress. Going back to work too soon could also put my job in jeopardy, when I have to leave because I can't make it through a shift! Save your money and do not invest in Cigna... They will be happy to accept your money and burn you when it's time to help you receive money for your claim. I will not be signing up for this mess again!

After leaving her several messages to call me back and getting no reply, I called her manager who was unavailable as well. I left him a message and he never returned the call. I called this woman again today and I am not expecting a response. I am now back to work but in spite of having disability insurance, I have not been paid for 5 weeks. How does one deal with such an incompetent national insurance provider? Is there any institution which actually listens to such complaints and tries to solve the issue or are we out of luck since these companies poured their money into election process of the people who would protect them in their crimes?

The first week of May, I received a short check (half the normal amount) from Cigna, and within days noticed that I'd missed a call on my cell from my Cigna nurse advocate, Diane. I called her back and left voicemail. She never returned my call. Two more weeks went by and still no checks. I'm back to paying bills out of my savings! I called my nurse again, who is now on leave. On her voice message, she left the full name and an 800 number in which to reach the backup nurse advocate. After drilling through a menu and being transferred by another Cigna employee, I finally reached her backup nurse, who said there's nothing she can do, that I have to call my case manager. So again, I called Anthony my case manager who told me that my nurse closed my disability case because she tried to reach me three times but I never answered! I told Anthony that wasn't true. I had one missed call and one voicemail, which I have a record of, and further, I'd returned her call.

Anthony informed me that Cigna needed updated medical records from my surgeon's office before he can proceed, and still advised me to contact the backup nurse advocate (I'm starting to feel like I'm getting the runaround). So this morning, I tried reaching her again, using the same 800 number (not a direct one) and menu, and no one at Cigna knows who she is! Again, gross incompetence. For sanity purposes, I called my surgeon's office asking what info they've sent to Cigna in regards to my return to work date. Surgeon's office told me that in early April, they faxed Cigna paperwork indicating that my return to work date is June 8th. June 8th. Logic should dictate that if the surgeon gives a June date, then the patient needs her disability pay through May. And maybe you should return her calls before cutting off her pay.

So I'll have yet another month living off my savings, losing interest on that money (and any other money I would have put away), spending more time than I need to making phone calls, and in general enduring a lot of unnecessary stress when I'm supposed to be focused on healing and recovering from a very serious surgery, all due to the complete gross incompetence of Cigna.

Cigna (crooked insurer is going to need appeal) failed to investigate the claim properly. The appeal unit misrepresented facts to me in hopes of denying the appeal, and Cigna's "consumer advocate" (public relations specialist) was no more then a mouthpiece echoing Cigna’s "great claims handling based on policy language.” At this time, I am claiming in addition to my contractual benefits, punitive damage and interest. This is based on their unfair claims practices and conversion.

Now what is also interesting is that the North Carolina Industrial Commission also approved the "Wrongfully Denial Claim." I worked for the company for over 14 years. I was not able to go back to work due to my problems with my hands. I ended up having multiple surgeries on both hands. I could not get anyone to help me with this. I had a worker's compensation attorney who actually screwed up the paperwork for my claim. The attorney who represented EDS also discovered the error himself but proceeded to "cover up what he found out"... It is sad when people depend upon lawyers to help them when they don't.

In the meantime, I have concerns that this happened - did they put an approval on my case on accident? Why didn't I get a letter? My case worker was out today so I was unable to speak with her so I asked to speak with a manager. I was transferred 5 different times. On the fifth time (and starting to get very irritated that I could not speak to a manager but kept getting transferred around), I once again requested to speak with a manager to which the lady replied, "It's not my department you want. I don't know who to transfer you to." I replied, "Who do you transfer people to when they want to speak with a manager?" She replied, "The manager, but you're in the wrong department."

Her: "I'm trying to help you but you're not letting me."

Really? Because I've asked 5 different people and nobody has helped me. After threatening to file a complaint, she transferred me to a LaTonya. I left a message for LaTonya around 10 am asking her to call me back and my concerns. I did not hear back. I called back around 4 pm and she answered. She was rude and accused me of getting the letter they mailed out - "Well, we mailed it in August so you should've received it and we didn't get it back." She also said they assume after so many months. Your disability will be approved so they cut your payment - all of this was in the letter of course.

I've had them for 3 months - do they really think disability gets approved that quickly? I also questioned her if she could fix my name in their system as they spelled it incorrectly. She once again was rude and said it was spelled correctly, then looked further into this and found they had my name incorrect to begin with but someone changed it. Another concern was the initial person I talked to said she can take the disability approval out of the system, to which she did. Why can she take it out without proof but can't send me my full amount of money without proof? I truly hope they get sick like I am and have to depend on disability income to get by each month. Maybe they will be more kind to customers then. Cigna, you need to retrain your customer service reps because if I treated anyone like this, I would've been written up or let go. Shame on you.

Not only was the woman rude and gave him such a hard time, she was real nice on the phone to tell him that it’s closed. He works in a wet kitchen. At work, what is going to happen if he falls there and damages the leg even more? What can we do? I love how they say you can go back to work, the nurse that works for Cigna has got to be out of her mind. Is she a real nurse or what? I’m so angry.

Even with the doctor notes from 10/31/11 saying I was still unable to return to work because job is primarily walking/standing that would exacerbate pain on an already swollen and inflamed joints, and with medical test to support my diagnosis of chronic gout, Cigna, after their review, denied me stating that there was "no medical documentation to support my inabilities to do my job!" Can you believe that? There are so many others things that Cigna did concerning my claims I just cannot list them all here! Well, guess what happened next? Once I reached the end of the 6-month period which ended the STD period and because I was denied my claim, I was terminated from my job, and now I am no longer eligible for any further benefits. I am only one of hundreds of people that Cigna has adversely affected their lives. It is just not right!

As far as the consequences, I don't know yet. I just got an e-mail from HR asking for a phone number to call me at. I see my doctor next Monday, and I don't think he is going to be pleased with what I have to tell him, plus all of the additional work it will cost him, as I am "welcome to appeal" the decision by writing a letter and having my doctor submit "additional medical documentation", when he has already faxed all of the requested medical records. They didn't say they couldn't read his handwriting, though. I see a lot of people writing about that. It seems that they just look for whatever excuse they can find to deny people's claims, cause more stress, and disrupt lives.

I am so disgusted with Cigna--not just me, but we all counted on this insurance to be there for us. If they would have compensated what is legally due to me, I would not be in this position of losing my house. They denied me three times saying I do not have enough medical evidence to prove that I am unable to perform work activities. Are they kidding? I am having a hard time finding an STD lawyer in NY to fight my case. I don't know what to do anymore. I am getting so tired of fighting. I hope someone out there can do something about Cigna.

Finally on November 3rd I was sent a letter denying my claim with no real reason given other than they did not deem it medically necessary. They never even spoke with any of my providers—none. I filed an appeals packet on December 4th with an additional 50 pages of information, diagnosis and notes from a new independent doctor, and personal letters from 4 of the other providers that I've seen along with my own appeals letter. Cigna received this packet on 12/5 and by 12/6 I had a letter denying my appeal!

It has been a full time job just trying to get this STD approved. I wrote to all of their C-level executives, to state attorney's, and to insurance commissioners for both Philly and WA requesting that they re-open this case as they clearly never even looked at my appeals packet, nor had yet to speak with my doctors. To date, 1/3/12, Cigna has finally contacted 3 of my medical providers, but has not provided me with a conclusion. I'm still fighting. I'm fairly certain that my job is in the process of replacing me as the FMLA ran out on December 25th. The whole ordeal has been a nightmare.

People buy insurance to protect themselves and their belongings. I have lost everything I owned because of having Cigna Insurance. I mean that in the most literal sense, too. They have been supplied with more than enough information supporting my condition. (Degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis). Now, having to hire an attorney, I'll lose 1/3 of what I should have been living on in the first place. As I have been investigating this company, I've learned that from 2008-2010, Cigna has posted profit gains of 364% which over doubles the next three companies combined (WellPoint, United, Humana, as reported by ABC News).

Their CEO, Edward Hanway retired on January 7, 2010 and received a $73 million retirement bonus (the same ABC News report which can be found online as I did). I am facing homelessness because of these thieves. If you have Cigna Insurance or you are an employer who offers Cigna Insurance, for God’s sake get out now. This is the voice of first hand experience telling you this, and believe me, when/if the time comes you need your benefits you have paid for, you are in for **.

I have asked repeatedly for you not to make me go though all those screens.

You are not respecting reasonable accommodations along with coming between me and my doctors by continuously asking for things in a vague fashion and then asking for more and then stating that neither is and never was needed and only a evaluation by your doctor is and always the objective. I have lost 3 doctors over this, including my current that is already harassed by the government by helping me with pain medication and is no longer taking Medicare patients as a blanket cure.

Please send what you need to say in regular email or in written form.

Your messages are always ending up in the junk box as I already explained. I have lost the ability to keep track of logons and passwords that puts me at a disadvantage with all companies that do this and I do not electively do business with company that makes me jump though hoops just to get an email.

If you must use snail mail, then please do.

You know I have short-term memory problems yet you will not accommodate that disability and your office calls at all hours and leaves no voice mail.

Richard **

On December 13, 2011, at 1:04 pm, Kathy wrote:

“You have received a message from: **, Kathy L 629

Please do not reply to this email message. The return address is not monitored.”

I have lost doctors and have had delays that forced me into bankruptcy. I have received many versions of my contract and they are trying to say my condition is existing when I returned to work; then I received a flu shot that no one in my condition should have received, causing me neuropathy. Though I was making $100,000 a year and paying for part of the higher of 2 policies, they have discounted my benefit from $95,000 a year, taking SS disability from my benefit and then taking 50\100 off ending up with $2250 monthly and not adding cost of inflation as my policy dictates. They are asking for things and reports that they openly had no intention of using and want me to go to their doctor again. The description above is an email to a manager and it should speak for itself. I have lost most of my computer skills and it took me 10 times what normal people need to fill out or accomplish tasks.

Now they are saying that my doctor need to be very detailed in explaining why I cannot return to work yet. My doctor will not send me back to work yet but Cigna is saying that I should be able to go back to work. I have not received a payment since August 15 and bills are piling up.

CIGNA had me back to work after one week and I was never paid for the next 7 weeks. When I finally received the check, I paid an enormous amount of taxes, which CIGNA said I would get back at the end of the year. A great relief when the bills are due now.

I told her two weeks beforehand that she needed to do this. She keeps giving me the run around. And she's even started to delay in returning phone calls, even one time claiming to have left me a message when she really didn't. For some reason, she wants to prolong my disability getting approved. I was told by my employer that it should take two weeks and I was told by others that it should take no longer than four weeks. It's been 9! I am having a hard time making ends meet and supporting my current daughter. I am going to start falling behind on bills and my bank account which is going to incur fees!

Now I am trying to get back to work and my doctor wanted me to start out with a reduced schedule and increase hours until I am back to full time. That started 5/11/11. Cigna is once again dragging their feet. They have not done anything with my claim since then and every time I call to ask what is going on I get the same excuse, "We need more information from your doctor."

I spoke to my doctor about the communication problem thinking maybe the doctor's office was dropping the ball. The doctor said after every visit that she was sending them the notes from that visit and every time she would get a call the next day asking her to call Cigna "they need more information." Every time she called them, she would tell them the same thing, she faxed the day before. I have now told my doctor that I want to be released to work full time even when I know I am not ready to. I am so sick of dealing with Cigna, I would rather forgo treatment than keep dealing with them. They also keep requesting notes from my therapist. From what I have been reading psychotherapy notes do not need to be given to them but they are asking for them anyway.

I have GAD and the anxiety caused by all the run around I am getting is effecting my health. I have headaches and can't sleep. I was making so much progress, but everytime I have to deal with Cigna I feel like I have made a giant step back.

I am currently out on disability recovering from a second back surgery. July 2009, I was placed on short term disability after my back pain left me unable to move and sending me to the emergency room. My pain was so severe my blood pressure rose to alarming numbers, forcing me on blood pressure medication and I was experiencing numbing up and down my entire left side. Long term disability was supposed to have started in January, however, CIGNA is denying me benefits, indicating that their hired professional said that I could have done my job during July 2009-October 2010 before surgery. How is it that LTD can go back beyond STD and override what has already been established through professional doctors and the decision makers of short term disability?

Unfortunately, my job consisted of lots of sitting and walking, often carrying supplies, setting up for conferences and meetings, and sometimes kneeling to fix computers, office machines, filing, ensuring my office run smoothly. Although I could barely walk, sit for or stand for 20 minutes (much less 45-60 minutes ride to/from work) and taking pain medication and muscle relaxers every four hours, CIGNA still denied me benefits although my doctors and I provided them with more information than they may actually need. My CIGNA Appeals Manager stated, although you were on narcotics, driving to and from work is not your occupation so it doesn't count. Why would CIGNA expect me to be a liability on the road or on my job?

CIGNA's decision to deny me benefits is surely all done in bad faith and is keeping me stressed and depressed. I believe that I am rightfully entitled and don't understand how they can get by with fraudulent and deceptive practices. I have been actively seeing doctors for more than two years. Not one of their doctors has seen me or my x-rays to justify denial, yet they continue to. I am currently trying to heal from a back surgery and I'm still not physically able to return to work at this time. CIGNA originally hired Allsup to submit a claim to SSI on my behalf, but once CIGNA denied me benefits, they placed a stop on their services. Because I need money quickly, I recently rehired Allsup myself to continue and for their services, it will cost me 25% of what I am to collect or $6000.00, whichever is less and the funds will be taken from what will be paid out to me, only if I am awarded SSI. CIGNA has placed me in situation to create debt and a loss to survive. I need your intervention, I need your help.

I searched for an attorney to help, but four out the seven that I have spoken with won't represent me and have stated it is not financially beneficial for them, unless I plan to be out for another year or more. The others want 40% and were unsure if they can help until they see my policy and my letters of denial. CIGNA has refused to provide me with my most recent letter of denial. I am stuck in the middle and cannot afford to get legal help or attention, and that is why I have come to you for your help. I looked into getting help from one of the Mortgage Programs for relief to avoid losing my home, but I don't qualify because my mortgage is current. I actually have to not pay my mortgage for a few months and be in threat of foreclosure to even qualify to apply.

I tried speaking with my lender and explaining my situation, hoping they would help or lead me in a direction for help because I may not be able to pay my November mortgage. Their suggestion was not pay on my loan or try and apply for refinance at a lower rate. I have depleted my savings. I am borrowing from family and friends, and prematurely cashing in savings bonds. I am to trying to and avoid losing my home and ruining my credit. I have my regular cost of living bills and a mortgage that I have been trying keep up with, not to mention the medical and pharmacy bills that continue to flow in as I continue to swim, but I am drowning here.

In good faith, my doctors and I have met all of CIGNA's request, falling very short of satisfying them. I am the minority in this situation and I have tried all that I know to do and must come to you. That is why I am asking you, my Congressman for help. Long term disability benefits are in place to offset lack of income in the event one becomes medically unable to work, and this is not happening. CIGNA has wrongfully denied me. CIGNA has denied me again, for the third time, therefore now forced to get a disability lawyer that I cannot afford to after money that I am entitled to. Enclosed are letters of denial from CIGNA. In each letter, you will see CIGNA has changed their reason for denying me benefits for different reasons, allegedly paid and outside source for their opinion of some written information. Never was I asked to be seen by their doctors. CIGNA reached back to July 2009. After two trips to the ER, I was placed out off work on short time disability and not January 2010 when long term disability was to start. How is that so?

The first check came on November 2009. Then on May 2010, I got a letter from them saying I no longer meet there regulations to draw my LTD, which I paid for, partly through the company I worked for. \

I asked Cigna if I need to get an attorney to get my LTD started back. They said, "No. Let us review your claim." Now, this was back in May and the last part of September.

I got a letter saying they were not going to pay me all this time. I'm still under the doctor's care. I got my Social Security started and I told Cigna. Their reply was, "We don't care what Social Security did." I might have to have more surgery on my neck which I was disabled for in the first place.

All my bills are behind now and I can't borrow any money for any bank or loan company. Cigna wants me to have a test done but my doctor told them that it would further damage me but they still insist that I have it done.

Cigna stalls and stalls. It's Disability insurance (short time). With a torn ligament in the rotator cuff, I can't work (drive truck), legally won't pass a physical, so DOT law prevents me from working --so does my company. But they want more and more while stalling. I can't afford the gas money and co-pays running to these doctors anymore. That's what the insurance is supposed to be there for. I am selling my personal possessions to pay the bills. I am sweating the end of the month when the car payment, rent, etc. are due. I am facing having to lie-say I am better and go back to work-risking tearing the ligament more. I understand people bilk them daily. But an MRI at my own expense, which shows a tear? It's cut and dry-pay up so I can sleep at night and get the shoulder fixed. I want and need to go back to work, not looking for a free ride. What they pay just barely gets me by compared to my normal paycheck. I'm talking to a lawyer tomorrow.

As of now, I have not received a check in two weeks and I have a family and bills to pay. The case worker never seems concerned about the problem and says the checks are sent when they are sent. I feel it is their legal obligation to make sure it is professionally handled in a timely manner. Case worker seldom returns calls. I am left with no options without a release from my surgeon.

Today we were informed that we would be receiving a letter of denial because Mike no longer meets the criteria of being disabled. The bases were from his last doctor’s office on record (December) and his last colonoscopy (July). They stated they have no current information. No one called us to let us know we were under review. We were told this was a review that was done by the life insurance department whom lied to us completely, saying the 2 departments have nothing to do with each other. The LI rep also did not want our current doctor’s notes, stating it was too late. This was 2 weeks ago.

Mike was at the doctor on May 7th. A quote from the doctor's narrative, "His both disorders are chronic disorders without reasonable expectation for cure. However, there is expectation being able to control his colitis symptoms. He is at risk for flare of his pyoderma with minor trauma. Since his has been documented to have severe course, he was at risk of developing ostemyelitis and ultimate amputation. I would recommend indefinite disability which precludes him for standing, lifting, bending, or assuming a reasonable hourly wage for more then one working hour a day. I presume this will be indefinite. I see no future change in improvement in this prognosis."

If we knew they were reviewing, we would have gladly sent the info. This is yet another tactic to keep us in the dark so we have to go through the appeal process. And this is the 3rd doctor to send them the same diagnosis in 7 months. I would like to know the credentials of their review board. The stress is sickening. They are draining everything out of my being.

Anyway, I had back surgery; have permanent disability; and loss of feeling in my leg. The LTD/Cigna paid a while then dropped me, saying their doctor said I could work. They told me if I send a letter from my doctor or have him send it, they would give me my benefits back. Four different doctors sent letters, plus I received social security benefits. I exhausted all my retirement, paying through COBRA, trying to keep my benefits updated and thinking Cigna would give me back my benefits through Sprint. After 18 months, they still denied me. Cigna had no right to discontinue my benefits.

My first check should have been sent out on January 6th, but the claim was marked as closed due to the company stating I was still at work. I have not worked since the first part of October 2008. My last day at work was 10-7-08, but I was paid to 10-10-08. I was contacted on 4-9-09 and was told my claim had been denied. I have asked for the forms for reconsideration and to have them look at this problem. My doctor had stated that I cannot work in any capacity due to chronic back pain and neuropathy in both feet. I have been taking morphine for several years for back pain. In the last 2 years or so, I have had a burning sensation in both feet diagnosed as neuropathy. I am unable to bend, stand or walk for any length of time.

They say it can take up to 180 days for them to make a decision. Another ploy in hoping people will go back to work disabled or not, and then it is all over. I will not be eligible for benefits from them again. This policy was one through my employer. I didn't even know I had this plan until after I got sick and the Human Relations Department informed me (thank goodness for them). Cigna also tried to get my MD of ten years to turn against me. They sent her the video and had the doctor call her. It didn't work, I hope. I can tell that our relationship has changed. I think she is sick of dealing with CIGNA. The policy I have states that I can choose any doctor I want to and they will in no way interfere. Oops!

The stress alone has made the symptoms of my disease worse. My family doesn't want to hear about it, and I can't blame them. It is like a spiraling nightmare. I have no idea how I am going to live finacially. At my age of 53, it would be a sad situation if I have to move in with my 80-year old mother. My kids worry about me so I don't want them to know about it. Cigna is just tearing me apart piece by piece with no mercy.

One week before my check was due in Aug 2008 I got a call from Cigna saying my case was closed and I owe them 4000.00 in over payment. What happened was I changed Doctors to see if I could find somebody that might have an answer for my medical problems. All Doctors have told me the same thing. I have had too much of my small intestine removed and my gall bladder. So I have to take pain meds for the pain and suffer with the diarrhea. Here is the problem. Before I went to this new Doctor I had fallen in Target, so on my first visit to this new Doctor I asked him to write a letter to Target so they would not think I was going to sue them. He had not received my records yet from my old Doctor yet so we did not discuss my real problems yet, so he thought without asking me that I worked for Target and wrote a letter saying I could go back to work. When Cigna requested my Medical records that letter was in there.

When I went back to see my Doctor he wrote a letter to explain what happened and stated that I still could not work, but they will not except that letter. So I lost my mobile home in Florida and had to move in with my son in Ohio and ask him for help with my meds and bills. If I had complained of a sore back I could understand them not believing me, but I did not fake 7 surgeries just so I could collect 800.00 a month. It just does not seem fair.

In November of this year I was sent a letter from CIGNA stating that they would like my case to be re-evaluated and required my doctor to perform a complete physical exam on me, which he did. In December, my disability check did not direct deposit into my bank account which prompted me to call Drusilla at CIGNA to find out what was going on. At such time she informed me that my LTD claim had been denied because my illness no longer prohibited me from working.

We will not be able to pay our bills.

I am covered for disability benefits through my job by CIGNA Group Insurance. Unfortunately, CIGNA has refused to pay any long term benefits, citing what my wife and I believe are spurious reasons for defaulting on their contractual obligation. Despite medical support from recognized specialists knowledgeable about this rare disease, testimonials from employees at BMG, CIGNAs initial granting of short term disability benefits for this condition, and my being approved for Social Security benefits following a medical review, CIGNA is maintaining their position even though their doctors have never even seen me.

My wife and I have had to hire legal counsel to request that CIGNA provide documentation under ERISA law and regulations that support their position. We sent a detailed response that included further doctors letters and treatment records, however CIGNA replied that they are affirming the previous denial. The cessation of income and mounting legal fees are causing my family severe financial hardship. We do not feel that CIGNA has been full or fair in reviewing this claim, and are denying benefits using stall tactics in an apparent effort to bankrupt and discourage our efforts in securing the benefits to which we are contractually entitled.

A quick online search reveals numerous instances in which insurance companies have behaved similarly, often using the exact same boilerplate language to deny claimants of their benefits. In some industries, this type of apparently collusive practice is viewed as anti-trust. We believe that CIGNA's denial was a foredrawn conclusion, and is patently unfair.