Attorneys for Your New York Disability Insurance Claim

Paul L. from New York City

Words can only scratch the surface regarding my experience working with Dell Disability Lawyers. It’s a very emotional experience making the decision to utilize disability insurance. The unknowns were/are scary. From the very first phone call, the support staff was/are very professional and reassuring. I have been working with Attorney Steven Dell for approximately 10 years. He is confident, reassuring, listens to and addresses all my concern, and is extremely dilligent in understanding my specific policies for how they impact me. It is very reassuring that Steven handles and deals with the insurance company on my behalf. Attorney Dell’s team, and specifically Merlin, Attorney Dell’s assistant, is simply fantastic. Her professionalism and attention to detail have made all my communications with the office seamless.

Simply put, my experience with Dell Disability Lawyers made the emotional rollercoaster experience of my neck surgery seem like a walk in the park.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, to both Attorney Steven Dell and to Merlin for how you have helped me over these past 10 years.

Dilligence, Reassurance, Professionalism at every step, Confidence, Results.

With 10 years experience with working with Dell Disability Lawyers, taking that step to call them was one of the best professional and personal decisions I have ever made.

You want to know what you can do – the below comment about posting your first name and last name initial on our website. Put up my full name, phone number, and email address. I will gladly speak to anyone about your office and tell them my story and how instrumental Steven and Merlin have been in my life over the past 10 years.

Jeanne E. from Rochester

My experience with Dell Disability Lawyers has been entirely positive. I presented them with a meritorious appeal and virtually no time to present it. In less than 3 weeks, they identified the critical points to present for my appeal, collected the supporting documentation, and crafted a compelling and convincing argument in presenting my appeal.

I was of virtually no help to them. I forgot tasks, large and small. assigned to me to carry out. They worked around my obstructive assistance to compile a compelling argument and supportive documentation to present to my disability insurer.

As an attorney, my initial instinct was to attempt to micromanage the conduct of my appeal. My lawyer and his staff quickly demonstrated such extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with private disability insurance that the control freak in me recognized I should stand back and let them do what they do so very well.

Marjorie B. from Long Island

Rachel Alters is incredibly knowledgeable about disability law. She was extremely helpful with applying for benefits, is very detailed oriented, and follows through if there are delays. Whenever I have had a question, Rachel is very prompt with returning calls, and answering emails. I recommend her very highly, and am happy that she has represented me throughout this process. I had a very good experience working with Rachel Alters.

Ed H. from New York City

From day one, my dealings with both Jay Symonds and Sonia Nogueira were extremely professional. This claim was very important to me and I always felt that it was as important to your firm. Every question or concern was answered quickly. Most importantly, my claim was approved and I’m sure working with Jay and Sonia helped make that happen.

Karen F. from Albany

I applied for and was denied my LTD insurance a little over two years ago. I was distraught, I had no idea they could just refuse you. My Social Security disability lawyer gave me the Dell Disability Lawyers name and phone number. I called the next day, and they immediately called me back and set up an appointment the next day, for me to speak to Alex Palamara on the phone.

He was extremely empathetic and friendly. He took all of my information and he and Danielle Lauria, who works with the lawyers, prepared a statement to the insurance carrier. They also send me copies of everything that they send out. They sent a very professional and informative letter explaining why I should not be denied the insurance. The insurance company immediately decided to pay me the insurance that I signed up for.

I have always received quick information and phone calls, whenever I request assistance. They did have to do another appeal for me, recently. It was very involved, but written up extremely well. I was offered a settlement, and they were even able to get the in Insurance company to increase it for me. I would recommend Mr. Palamara and this law firm to anyone who has a problem with their LTD insurance. I don’t have a single complaint about the way I was treated. I’m extremely thankful for their help over the last few years.

They were always polite, professional and friendly when I spoke with anyone in the office. I always received a quick response to any questions I had. The letters and appeals that Mr. Palamara sent out were extremely well done. I can’t think of a single reason that anyone could want another lawyer.

James S. from Rochester

The best place to start is a brief background. I had incurred six spine surgeries in a span of five years taking four or nine days vacation for each. These surgeries included multi level fusions, laminectomy’s, etc. I reached the point where the physicians recommended I take a period of time (six months) off to see if the injured nerves would calm down. I filed for my short term benefit (90 days) and that was approved. I filed for my long term benefit but was denied. After six months of no improvement I was deemed permanently injured, a pain management case. No other surgeries would help. This was all fully documented and supported by the surgeon. At some point in that period I realized an attorney was the only way to take on the insurance company as I was getting absolutely nowhere. I searched locally but had no luck but was recommended to Dell Disability Lawyers by a local attorney.

I was hesitant at first as their main office is in Florida and I am in New York but realized they had to trust me remotely also. Once they obtained all the medical records and formed the first of several appeals (at their up front cost and therefore risk) I realized they had this down and they realized I had a legit case with full physician support. The people at Dell Disability Lawyers were always courteous and professional. They never set any false expectations about time frame and they always kept me updated as the claim status.

Dell Disability Lawyers at one point had to ask my surgeon to write yet another letter on my behalf. There interaction with the very busy surgeon was polite, professional and subtle. I did not want my relationship with the doctors jeopardized by this and it never was. They also updated me with a copy of all interactions with the insurance company in a timely manner.

They certainly lived up to their promise so I would certainly recommend them. Without an attorney I would never have won my appeal of the disability denial.

Prudential Overturns Disability Denial to Chiropractor — Our client, a New York based chiropractor, was denied long-term disability benefits by Prudential despite experiencing severe shoulder and neck pain that significantly affected his ability to work. Supported by his doctors, he found his disability claim was rejected due to alleged “insufficient medical evidence” by Prudential’s clinical team. Our legal team swiftly intervened to challenge the decision and protect the client’s rights. Upon review, we observed Prudential assessed his claim under ERISA law, suitable for employer-provided disability policies, which didn’t apply in our client’s case as his policy belonged to the National Business Association for Chiropractors. We countered this misstep by Prudential with an appeal clarifying that the client’s policy was an Association/Franchise policy, operating more akin to an individual policy. We also used an independent functional capacity examination to substantiate our client’s medical condition. Presenting new evidence detailing our client’s physical functional restrictions and scientifically verifying his complaints of pain, the appeal was successful. Prudential finally overturned its decision, approving the disability claim, and providing all owed back benefits.

Hartford overturned previous denial of long term disability benefits for New York Consultant— A New York consultant, Mr. M, who was forced to quit work in 2017 because of a severe lumbar disc herniation, had his previously-denied long-term disability benefits reversed by Hartford. This followed a claim filed under his employer’s Short-Term and Long-Term Disability policies, which were administered by Hartford. Mr. M was denied his Long-Term Disability benefits under the assertion that his condition was pre-existing and thereby excluded by the policy. Following the rejection of his claim, Mr. M sought legal assistance from Dell Disability Lawyers, who pointed out critical problems with Hartford’s denial. Dell’s team prepared an ERISA appeal which contested Hartford’s claim that Mr. M’s disability was due to a pre-existing condition. The firm pointed out that Mr. M’s disability was actually a rare complication arising from a prior surgery, and thus couldn’t be classified as a pre-existing condition. They further pointed out that courts have consistently ruled that pre-existing condition exclusions cannot be applied to complications resulting from surgeries for pre-existing conditions. After months of review, including an examination of numerous medical records, Hartford reversed its denial.

After Appeal Sun Life Finally Approves Disability Benefits for Data Engineer — A data engineer with Avanade was forced to stop working in 2017 due to heart issues. His long term disability insurance policy with Sun Life Assurance Company should have covered him, but they refused his claim in early 2018. The insurance company failed to fully account for the severity of his illness, basing their decision on an erroneous consultation. Attorney Alexander Palamara was hired to challenge this decision. A review of the original denial revealed numerous oversights by Sun Life, including inaccurate assumptions about travel requirements for the engineer’s job and an underestimation of how severely his health impacted his ability to perform his duties. Palamara filed an appeal, hinging on the multiple instances of medical evidence demonstrating the engineer’s cardiac disease. In October 2018, Sun Life reversed their decision and approved his claim, sending him his overdue benefits. However, the legal battle isn’t over. After receiving benefits for 24 months, the engineer’s policy stipulates reevaluation. Palamara, thus, will continue working on the case to ensure that the now validated disability claim isn’t unjustly denied again. Engaging an experienced disability lawyer in New York could prove vital in similar insurance disputes to navigate the complexities of such cases.

Trinity Health Care Registered Nurse wins Cigna long term disability Appeal — A registered nurse from Albany Memorial Hospital, part of the Trinity Health System, successfully appealed her denial for continued Long Term Disability (LTD) benefits from Cigna. Despite suffering severe back conditions, Cigna claimed she no longer met the disability definition under the policy. After two years of LTD benefits, most policies alter their definition of disability, making it harder for claimants to qualify. Cigna utilized this change in definition to deny the nurse’s claim, a common issue among disability insurers. Cigna denied the claim based on evaluations by its own employees and did not seek an independent medical examination or professional review. Dell Disability Lawyers filed an administrative appeal showcasing objective evidence of the nurse’s condition, including a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) and years of support from treating physicians. Within three months of filing, Cigna reinstated the nurse’s benefits. To avoid such complexities in disability claims, it’s a good idea to get an experienced disability attorney to help with these issues.

New York Courts, Government and New York Department of Insurance Information

• New York Court System Official Website
• New York Court of Appeals — Most states call their highest court the Supreme Court, but New York’s highest state court is the New York Court of Appeals and the lower court is the Supreme Court.
• New York Court Structure Chart
• Official Government Website of the State of New York — Information regarding the state of New York governmental entities resources.
• New York Department of Insurance — Regulates all insurance companies that do business in New York.

Federal Courts

• United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit — This court has jurisdiction over appeals from Connecticut, New York, and Vermont.
• Eastern District of New York Federal Court
• Northern District of New York Federal Court
• Southern District of New York Federal Court
• Western District of New York Federal Court