Question
How long will it take Cigna to get back to me? Will my military retiree pay be held against my policy 60%? Will Cigna exploit the disparity in the medical community over my illness?
I am a retired veteran receiving a military pension. I filed for short term disability several weeks ago for an arachnoid cyst and have all the symptoms. I work at a desk job revising and reviewing pharmaceutical batch records. I have extreme dizziness, vertigo, vomiting and to my balance is like a fish out of water. I am always exhausted to the point of passing out numerous times. Questions: 1. All of my doctors immediately sent in diagnoses. I was told by Cigna my eligibility date is 15 July 2015. I was approved and on FMLA well before that and used all my paid leave at work. Does it take almost a month to hear back. When I call, it says under review, and I leave messages but never a reply. 2. Will my military retiree pay be held against my policy 60%? 3. There is a lot of disparity about arachnoid cysts in the medical community. Will thy use that and say no?
Answer
Craig, Unfortunately it can sometime take up to 45 days to receive a decision from Cigna as to your entitlement to long term disability benefits. However, under a short term plan a month is quite exorbitant. We would need to see a copy of your policy to determine how your military retiree pay might affect your policy. Typically VA disability benefits are not considered offsets under most LTD plans, but retirement is a different matter. As with any medical condition there will usually be a difference of opinions as to how debilitating a medical condition can be- so those difference can certainly be exploited by Cigna in an attempt to deny your claim. Please feel free to contact our office should you have any additional questions.
