New York Life Insurance Company’s individual disability insurance policies are administered by the Unum Group under a complicated agreement. New York Life Insurance Company’s group business is managed by New York Life by New York Life Group Benefit Solutions.
New York Life offers various short-term and long-term disability insurance options. They offer group plans through employers, as well as individual plans that are portable. If you become unable to work due to illness or injury, the insurance will compensate you for a portion of your lost income. Following the expiration of a short elimination period, short-term disability insurance will pay benefits. After a longer elimination period and the conclusion of your short-term disability benefits, long-term disability insurance will begin paying benefits. The duration of the benefits depends on the policies you have in place.
If you get hurt or sick and can’t work for a short time, short-term disability insurance lets you keep a part of your weekly income. Typically, you will be required to undergo an elimination period prior to receiving benefits. You may even have to wait, but this is up to your employer. If you’ve been working for the same company for more than 90 days, you’ve probably already passed the waiting period. Your policy will outline the specifics of your short-term disability plan, so be sure to read it carefully. It should also say what injuries or illnesses New York Life considers disabilities, and how long you have to wait before you can start getting benefits. Insurance companies consider some conditions there before, so short-term disability plans don’t cover them. Before applying for benefits, you’ll need to understand what they are.
Long-term disability insurance is similar to short-term disability plans, with the exception that the benefits are sometimes greater, the duration is longer, and the waiting period is longer. Also, instead of getting benefits every week, you will get them once a month. If you choose to have both short-term and long-term disability insurance, you can collect benefits from the short-term disability plan during the elimination period of the long-term disability plan. You simply won’t be eligible for long-term disability insurance benefits until you’ve exhausted your short-term disability insurance. You must also carefully read the policy for your long-term disability insurance to understand how it operates and what benefits you are entitled to under the plan.
What you need to know about disability claims from New York Life
When submitting disability claims to New York Life, you will need to ensure that all forms are accurately completed. Additionally, you must provide the insurance company with all requested documentation. In the absence of complete information, the insurance company may delay or deny a claim. We’ve seen insurance companies delay or deny claims for less obvious reasons, but you should do everything you can to avoid this scenario.
How to file a claim for disability with New York Life Insurance
Statements from the employee, the employer, and the attending physician must be completed in order to submit a disability claim. The forms will request information about you as the applicant as well as your disability. There may be additional signature-required authorization forms that must be submitted alongside the forms. You should ensure that your portion of these forms is accurate and complete, but you should also ensure that your employer and physician fill out their sections accurately and completely. Any missing information will only serve to delay the process.
What to do if your disability claim is delayed by New York Life Insurance
If you believe that your disability insurance claim is being delayed, you should first contact the insurance company for an update. Your employer should be able to connect you with a company representative, or you can call the company’s customer service line. If you aren’t receiving answers regarding the status of your claim, you may want to consider contacting an experienced disability attorney to expedite the process. Attorney Jonathan Feigenbaum has dealt with numerous insurance companies regarding disability claims and is able to identify the strategies these companies employ to delay payment of benefits. Your attorney can attempt to expedite the payment of your benefits on your behalf.
What to do if your disability claim is denied by New York Life Insurance?
If your claim is denied by New York Life Insurance, you will be notified by mail. The letter you will receive will contain several essential pieces of information. The company will detail the reasons for denying your claim. Your denial letter will also include information about the appeals process and deadline. When you receive your letter, request a copy of your claim file from New York Life. If you miss the deadline, you will be unable to recover your benefits in the future. If you are unable to successfully appeal the denial through the internal appeals process of the insurance company, you may wish to take this matter to court.
Contesting a denial The New York Life Insurance Company
When you meet with attorney Feigenbaum, he will request your file from New York Life. After reviewing the information, they will determine the most effective appeal strategy.
Only the evidence contained in your claim file will be admissible in court if you are forced to file a lawsuit under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. There are exceptions, but you are better off getting . Your attorney will want you to assist in adding as much favorable evidence to your case file as possible. He or she may recommend that you attend all of your scheduled medical appointments, submit to additional medical tests and exams, and obtain written statements from your doctor and others regarding the functional limitations caused by your condition.
Throughout your claim and appeal, you must always be completely truthful. Some individuals mistakenly believe exaggerating their symptoms will strengthen their claims. Companies such as New York Life are adept at discovering evidence of deceit. The company might use your dishonesty as evidence of malingering if you are dishonest. If you are perceived as a malingerer, it is much more difficult to win your appeal.
To talk with a lawyer you can trust about your insurance or employee benefits claim or pursuing litigation in court, contact Jonathan M. Feigenbaum, Esquire, online by clicking below. Or telephone him at 617-357-9700 or toll-free at 866-396-9722.
