As a pharmaceutical representative with Pfizer Inc. since 1995, I paid my monthly Long-Term Disability insurance premiums for several years to CIGNA, which assured me of 75 percent of my pay should a medical condition render me disabled and incapable of performing the essential functions of my job. In 2001, After battling strange symptoms for 2 years and undergoing multiple misdiagnoses and failed treatments (including surgery), I was hospitalized at the Westchester Medical Center for 3 weeks with aphthous ulcers in my mouth, nasty boils/rashes/lumps on my skin, loss of appetite, high fever (105), severe pain and swelling in joints and legs, etc. A blood transfusion saved my life and I was sent home without a final diagnosis.
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!
Click the following link for 63 examples of CIGNA's abuse of consumers rights: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/insurance/cigna_ltd.html?review=785772#review-785772
Join the social networking movement on Twitter to expose and end predatory acts against consumers:
Cigna Reviews
As a pharmaceutical representative with Pfizer Inc. since 1995, I paid my monthly Long-Term Disability insurance premiums for several years to CIGNA, which assured me of 75 percent of my pay should a medical condition render me disabled and incapable of performing the essential functions of my job. In 2001, After battling strange symptoms for 2 years and undergoing multiple misdiagnoses and failed treatments (including surgery), I was hospitalized at the Westchester Medical Center for 3 weeks with aphthous ulcers in my mouth, nasty boils/rashes/lumps on my skin, loss of appetite, high fever (105), severe pain and swelling in joints and legs, etc. A blood transfusion saved my life and I was sent home without a final diagnosis.
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!
Click the following link for 63 examples of CIGNA's abuse of consumers rights: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/insurance/cigna_ltd.html?review=785772#review-785772
Join the social networking movement on Twitter to expose and end predatory acts against consumers:
http://twitition.com/ewgk8/