Cigna denied your long-term disability claim, but the letter came from LINA. Or maybe it came from New York Life Group Benefit Solutions. If you're confused about who actually holds your claim, you're not alone—and that confusion is exactly why so many valid claims get lost in the shuffle.
Sandstone Law Group represents claimants nationwide who've had disability benefits delayed, denied, or cut off by Cigna, LINA, and New York Life Group Benefit Solutions. Here's what you need to know about who you're actually up against, whether your policy falls under ERISA or state law, and what regulators and courts have found about how these claims get handled.
Is Cigna the Same Company as LINA?
Not exactly—but they're close enough that most claimants never notice the difference until it matters. Life Insurance Company of North America (LINA) was founded in 1956. Cigna itself was formed in 1982, when the Insurance Company of North America (INA, founded in 1792) merged with Connecticut General Life Insurance Company. LINA became a subsidiary within that structure, and for decades it was the entity that actually underwrote most of Cigna's group life, accident, and disability policies—even while Cigna's brand name appeared on your policy documents, denial letters, and marketing materials.
That's why your claim file might reference "Cigna," "LINA," and "Life Insurance Company of North America" interchangeably. They were never fully the same company, but they operated as one business under Cigna's umbrella.
Then, on December 31, 2020, that structure changed again. New York Life completed a $6.3 billion acquisition of Cigna's entire group life, accident, and disability insurance business, picking up roughly nine million policyholders in the deal. The combined operation was rebranded New York Life Group Benefit Solutions. LINA is now a subsidiary of New York Life, not Cigna—but LINA's legal name still appears on many existing policy contracts, EOBs, and benefit checks, because the underlying insurance contracts didn't get rewritten just because ownership changed.
So if your claim originated years ago under Cigna and is now being administered by New York Life staff—many of whom are the same claims adjusters who worked the file under Cigna—that's expected. It's also worth knowing that a change in ownership like this one is often followed by a fresh look at existing claims, since the new owner never collected premiums on policies it's now paying out on. If your claim gets flagged for review shortly after a transition like this, don't assume it means anything changed about your medical condition.
Do You Have an ERISA Group Policy or a Private Disability Policy?
This distinction changes everything about how your appeal works, and Cigna/LINA claimants often don't know which one they have.
The large majority of Cigna/LINA disability business is sold as group coverage—employers, unions, and professional associations purchase a master policy, and employees are covered as plan participants. Group plans obtained through your job are governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), a federal law that limits your legal options, caps what you can recover, and requires you to exhaust a mandatory internal appeal before you can sue.
LINA also sells a smaller volume of individually purchased short-term and long-term disability policies, typically through professional associations rather than direct retail sales. If you bought your policy yourself—not through an employer—it's a private disability policy, and it's governed by state contract and insurance law instead of ERISA. That distinction matters because private policies don't require a mandatory internal appeal, and depending on your state, they can open the door to bad faith damages that ERISA doesn't allow.
Check your policy or your enrollment paperwork before you file an appeal. If you're not sure which kind of coverage you have, that's the first thing we sort out during a free consultation.
Where Cigna and LINA Sell Disability Coverage
LINA writes group and individual disability business nationwide, not just in a handful of states. Sandstone Law Group represents claimants across the country, depending on your state and your case details.
That said, geography matters for two specific reason: in 2013, five states—California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania—reached a regulatory settlement with Cigna's disability subsidiaries after a joint examination of their claims practices. Arizona was not one of the participating states, which means Arizona claimants don't automatically benefit from that settlement's remediation terms. If you're in a state that wasn't part of the 2013 agreement, that doesn't limit your right to appeal or sue—it just means you're relying on your policy terms, ERISA, and your own state's bad faith law rather than a regulatory settlement to make your case.
The second reason is because different states have different important deadlines regarding your disability denial. See below.
Not Every State Treats Bad Faith the Same
Punitive damages, attorney fees, up to three times the damages — the remedies available when an insurer acts in bad faith vary significantly by state. Some states give policyholders powerful tools to hold insurers accountable. Others offer far less. See how your state stacks up and what deadlines apply to your case.
How Courts Have Interpreted Cigna/LINA's Claims Decisions
Cigna and LINA's disability claims practices haven't just drawn policyholder complaints—they've drawn a formal five-state regulatory settlement and years of federal court rulings. Courts have repeatedly scrutinized LINA's built-in conflict of interest (it decides claims and pays them out of its own funds), its reliance on paper-only medical reviews from outside vendors instead of in-person exams, and its practice of shifting the definition of "disabled" partway through a claim.
That last one trips up a lot of claimants. Most LINA long-term disability plans pay benefits for roughly the first 24 months under an "own occupation" standard, meaning you only have to show you can't do your specific job. After that, the plan switches to a stricter "any occupation" standard, meaning you now have to show you can't do any job you're reasonably qualified for based on your education and experience. Courts have seen claims that were paid without issue for two years get cut off the moment that switch happens—even with no real change in the person's health.
None of that guarantees a win—courts have sided with LINA in some of these cases and with claimants in others, and the outcome usually comes down to the strength of the record built during the appeal. But it does mean a denial letter is rarely the last word, and it tells you exactly what to look for in your own claim file.
Common Reasons Cigna/LINA Denies or Terminates Disability Claims
A few patterns show up again and again in Cigna/LINA claim files:
Ownership changed. A claim that was stable under Cigna got a fresh, less favorable review once New York Life Group Benefit Solutions took over administration.
The definition of disability changed at the 24-month mark. Your claim was approved under "own occupation," then reviewed and cut off once the plan shifted to the stricter "any occupation" standard.
A paper review replaced an in-person exam. A physician you've never met, retained through a third-party vendor, reviewed your file and concluded you could return to work—without examining you.
Daily activity was read out of context. Notes about walking to the mailbox or preparing a simple meal got used to argue you're capable of full-time work.
SSDI paperwork became a trap. LINA required you to apply for Social Security Disability as a condition of your claim, then used gaps or delays in that process against you.
What to Do If Cigna, LINA, or New York Life Group Benefit Solutions Denied Your Claim
If you're covered under an employer-sponsored plan, your appeal deadline is governed by ERISA, and you typically have 180 days from the date of denial to file an internal appeal. Miss that window, and you may permanently lose your right to challenge the decision in court. If you have a private policy, your deadline is set by your policy terms and state law instead.
Before you file anything, request your complete claim file from the insurer, gather updated medical records covering the full period since your last treatment, and get a detailed letter from your treating physician addressing exactly why you can't perform your job duties—not just a diagnosis. The strength of a future lawsuit depends almost entirely on the strength of the appeal record you build now, since courts reviewing ERISA claims are often limited to what's already in the file.
Sandstone Law Group works on a contingency basis, so if we don't recover benefits for you, you don't pay us. We handle both ERISA appeals of disability denials and private policy bad faith claims against Cigna, LINA, and New York Life Group Benefit Solutions.
100% Free Case Evaluation
If you believe that your Cigna, LINA, or other disability insurance company has denied or delayed your claim for no reason, then get in touch with Sandstone Law Group. We will assess your case and give you an informed opinion on how to proceed, with no cost or obligation to you.
Cigna / LINA Disability Denials FAQ
Is Cigna the same company as LINA?
Not exactly. LINA (Life Insurance Company of North America) has long been the underwriting subsidiary that actually issued most Cigna-branded group life and disability policies. They operated under one business umbrella, which is why both names can appear on the same claim.
Does New York Life now own my Cigna disability claim?
If your group life, accident, or disability policy originated through Cigna, it's likely now administered by New York Life Group Benefit Solutions, following New York Life's $6.3 billion acquisition of that business on December 31, 2020. The LINA name may still appear on your policy documents even though LINA is now a New York Life subsidiary.
Is my Cigna/LINA disability policy governed by ERISA or state law?
If you got your coverage through an employer, union, or association group plan, ERISA almost certainly applies, and you'll face a mandatory internal appeal with strict deadlines. If you purchased your policy individually, state contract and insurance law applies instead, and different rules govern your appeal and legal options.
What states were covered by the 2013 Cigna/LINA regulatory settlement?
The 2013 settlement involved California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. Arizona was not a participating state. Claimants outside those five states can still appeal or sue over a wrongful denial—they just aren't covered by that specific settlement's remediation terms.
What Can You Do When Cigna/LINA Insurance Company Denies Your Claim?
When insurance carriers try to get out of paying your compensation, it is often called ‘bad faith’. This practice includes:
- Misinterpreting the terms of your cover
- Sending you unnecessary paperwork in an effort to confuse you
- Using medical practitioners who are not right for your case
- Ignoring or minimizing medical information
- Failing to communicate with you
If any of these tactics are being used against you, or you otherwise feel that you are not being treated correctly with regard to your disability insurance claim, then speak to Sandstone Law Group. Bad faith practices are not legally sound, and we are dedicated to fighting back on your behalf.
What is the Cigna/LINA Disability Denial Appeals Process?
Your first step in getting your compensation is an insurance appeal letter. This is an official request (in writing) for the insurer to take a second look at your case. That appeal needs to meet several conditions; otherwise, it will be dismissed immediately and you may no longer be able to fight your case. Those conditions are related to the strict ERISA laws that govern the insurance industry for employer sponsored plans, and they mean that you have to correctly file your appeal with the appropriate people within certain timeframes.
You can ensure that you are following the requirements for your appeal by speaking with a Sandstone Law Group disability attorney – we will make sure that everything is in order and that you remain eligible to pursue your compensation.
How long do I have to appeal a Cigna/LINA disability denial?
Under most ERISA-governed group plans, you have 180 days from the date of your denial letter to file a written internal appeal. Private policies follow different deadlines set by your policy and state law. Missing the deadline can end your ability to fight the denial.
Why Do Insurance Companies like Cigna Deny or Delay Claims?
Insurance companies have a financial incentive to deny or delay claims: every dollar not paid out stays on their books. In LINA's case, that incentive isn't just theoretical — a 2013 regulatory settlement found the company wasn't fully using the medical and vocational evidence in front of it before denying claims, and courts have repeatedly scrutinized its reliance on paper-only reviews from outside vendors instead of in-person exams. Getting in touch with Sandstone Law Group is your best course of action if you think you're seeing these tactics play out in your own claim.
When Should You Reach Out to a Disability Attorney for Help?
Always consult with a disability attorney before submitting appeals. The strength of a lawsuit depends on the quality of the appeal.
Insurance companies want you to give up – they save money when you do. Don’t give up! We routinely go up against insurance companies and know what it takes to get your benefits. With so much at stake to protect your livelihood, don’t go at it alone.
Most firms do not provide continued support after your case is won, but we do. We provide you with additional care and protection, because insurance companies use tactics to avoid paying disability benefits after claims are won.