Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life Disability Attorneys

Navigating a long term disability (“LTD”) claim with Voya Financial, operating through its subsidiary ReliaStar, can be a daunting process.  At Riemer Hess, we have over 25 years of experience fighting—and winning—against long term disability insurance companies like Voya Financial and ReliaStar Life.  Our experienced ERISA attorneys are deeply familiar with their strategies and profit-driven tactics, enabling us to effectively advocate for the rights and benefits of our clients.

As a major player in the insurance and financial services sector, Voya Financial’s profit motives can significantly influence its approach to managing LTD claims.  This often manifests in stringent claim evaluations and rigorous scrutiny of applications and ongoing claims, sometimes leading to denials or terminations that claimants find both confusing and distressing.

Below, we’ll discuss some of the common reasons Voya Financial and ReliaStar Life deny or terminate long term disability claims—as well as the best ways to combat their tactics.

Does Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life handle many long term disability claims?

Yes, Voya Financial, through its subsidiary ReliaStar Life, handles a significant number of long term disability (“LTD”) claims across the United States.  Originally founded as ING U.S., Voya Financial spun off and rebranded in 2013, handling many LTD claims under its subsidiary ReliaStar Life.  Given their extensive involvement in the insurance market, Voya Financial and ReliaStar Life are deeply entrenched in the LTD insurance landscape.  This extensive reach underscores their strong financial interest in managing claims in a way that often prioritizes corporate profitability.

As a result, claimants may experience strict scrutiny of their LTD claims and face substantial challenges when attempting to secure or maintain their benefits.  This approach is indicative of a broader strategy utilized by private insurers aimed at minimizing payouts.  The LTD claims process can be particularly challenging when you’re depending on your benefits for financial support during times of medical distress.

What commons tactics does Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life use to deny or terminate long term disability claims?

When you file a long term disability claim with Voya Financial and ReliaStar Life, be prepared for a process that might feel more adversarial than supportive.  Their approach often appears driven by profit, using tactics that can complicate and even obstruct legitimate claims.  Understanding their common strategies can help you anticipate and counteract these challenges effectively.

Here are some common tactics they may use against you:

• • Selective Evidence Review: Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life has a tendency to cherry-pick information from your medical records that supports denying your claim, while conveniently ignoring or downplaying any evidence that underscores your disability.  This selective review undermines a fair and comprehensive assessment of your condition.
  • Dismissal of Supportive Medical Opinions: Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life may disregard medical opinions from your treating physicians that confirm you are unable to work.  Instead, they rely on the assessments of their own hired consultants, who are frequently biased towards outcomes that favor the insurer.
  • Inaccurate Assessment of Job Requirements: Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life may misrepresent the physical and cognitive demands of your job, suggesting that you are capable of working when your medical condition says otherwise.  This uncomprehensive assessment can unjustly influence the outcome of your claim, suggesting you can perform work duties that are actually beyond your capabilities due to your disability.
  • Conflicts of Interest: Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life’s dual role as both the payer and the administrator of claims creates an inherent conflict of interest.  They profit from denying claims like yours, which can lead to decisions that prioritize their financial health over your rightful benefits.
  • Use of Inconsistent File Reviews: Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life’s reliance on file reviews rather than thorough, in-person medical examinations can result in inconsistent and arbitrary decisions about your condition and capacity for work.  These reviews often vary wildly in their conclusions, reflecting a lack of consistent standards in evaluating your disability.
  • Failing to Produce Essential Documentation: Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life is often slow or negligent in producing essential plan documents or other pertinent information.  This tactic can significantly delay your claim process or obscure your understanding of the benefits you are entitled to, complicating your ability to effectively challenge their decisions.

These tactics illustrate the lengths to which Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life might go to protect their profits at the expense of your right to long term disability benefits.  It’s essential to prepare diligently and advocate strongly for your rights when dealing with such practices.

What are my legal options if Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life denies my claim for long term disability benefits?

If Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life denies your long term disability (“LTD”) claim, you have specific legal steps you can take to contest this decision.  Typically, you must start by undergoing the internal appeal process as mandated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”).  This process involves submitting a formal appeal directly to the insurer, which allows you the opportunity to provide additional evidence that supports your claim, such as more comprehensive medical records, expert opinions, or new test results.  Under ERISA, you typically have 180 days from the receipt of your denial letter to file this appeal.  Failing to adhere to this deadline may forfeit your right to further challenge your initial denial.

The internal appeal is often the final step before litigation and is a critical stage to strengthen your claim.  During this phase, it’s essential to ensure that all pertinent information and documentation that support your claim are included in your appeal submission.  This is because if your appeal is denied and you decide to file a lawsuit, the court will generally only review evidence that was available during the internal appeal process, not new information introduced in court.  If your appeal with Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life is unsuccessful, the next step is to file a lawsuit under ERISA, which would be heard in federal court.  Litigation under ERISA can be complex and procedurally strict, making it distinct from typical civil lawsuits.

Given the complexities of ERISA regulations and the strategic importance of the appeal process, consulting with an ERISA long term disability attorney before filing an appeal is highly recommended.  An attorney with experience in long term disability claims can significantly enhance your chances of overturning a denial of benefits.  They can help you navigate the procedural nuances of ERISA, assist in gathering and organizing the necessary medical evidence, and ensure that your appeal is as strong as possible.  If litigation does become necessary, having legal representation can be crucial in effectively arguing your case and understanding the judicial standards that apply to ERISA claims.

Have courts criticized Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life for their disability claims handling practices?

Yes, courts have indeed criticized Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life for their handling of disability claims.  Examples include:

• • Mead v. ReliaStar Life Ins. Co., 755 F. Supp. 2d 515 (D. Vt. 2010): The court awarded LTD benefits to the plaintiff, criticizing ReliaStar for its handling of the claim.  The decision highlighted ReliaStar’s dismissal of favorable medical opinions, selective use of evidence, and failure to accurately assess the physical demands of the plaintiff’s job.  This pattern, according to the court, reflected a conflict of interest and biased claims administration on ReliaStar’s part.
  • Lee v. ING Groep, N.V., 829 F.3d 1158 (9th Cir. 2016): In this case, the court criticized ING North America, an affiliate of ReliaStar, for its failure to produce critical plan documents during the plaintiff’s ERISA litigation, highlighting issues of compliance and transparency.
  • LeSuer v. HCA Inc., 398 F. App'x 177 (9th Cir. 2010): The court criticized ReliaStar for its handling of the plaintiff’s disability claim due to a conflict of interest.  ReliaStar, which was responsible for both paying and adjudicating the claim, showed evidence of bias when a consultant from its parent company improperly participated in the claim denial process.  The court found this involvement suggested that financial interests might have influenced the decision unfairly.
  • Twigg v. Reliastar Life Ins. Co., 2020 WL 5819547 (W.D. Ky. Sept. 11, 2020): The plaintiff sued ReliaStar Life Insurance Company, alleging wrongful termination of her long term disability benefits under ERISA, after a head injury left her unable to perform her job.  The court heavily criticized ReliaStar for relying on inconsistent file reviews, ignoring substantial medical evidence from the plaintiff’s treating physicians that consistently supported her disability, and failing to reconcile these findings with its decision to terminate her benefits.  The court also noted that ReliaStar did not adequately address or refute the medical opinions that substantiated the plaintiff’s inability to work, highlighting a pattern of selective consideration of evidence that favored denying the claim.

What strategies work best against Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life for long term disability claims?

Successfully navigating long term disability (“LTD”) claims against Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life requires a strategic and thorough approach.  Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life has a stringent claim evaluation process and history of rigorous scrutiny of claims.

Here are a few effective strategies that may increase your chances of a successful outcome:

• • Comprehensive Medical Documentation: Ensuring that every piece of medical evidence is thorough and well-documented is critical.  This includes detailed reports from treating physicians that explicitly state your diagnosis, the severity of your symptoms, the specific ways in which your condition impairs your ability to work, and why the condition meets your policy’s definition of disability.  Regular updates and continuous treatment records can help counteract any attempt by Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life to downplay the severity or continuity of your condition.
  • Expert Opinions and Specialized Evaluations: In addition to regular medical treatment, obtaining specialized evaluations from experts in fields relevant to your condition can provide compelling evidence that supports your claim.  This may include neurologists, rheumatologists, psychiatrists, or occupational therapists, depending on your condition and symptoms.  Their expert opinions can provide additional weight against generic file reviews often used by Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life to deny claims.
  • Anticipate Claim Challenges: Prepare for the specific ways in which Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life might challenge or deny your claim.  This includes being proactive about gathering evidence that addresses any potential ambiguities in your policy’s language about disability, preemptively providing thorough explanations for any seemingly inconsistent medical records, and being prepared to clarify any issues regarding your material occupational demands.
  • Detailed Vocational Analysis: Demonstrating the physical and cognitive demands of your job is pivotal.  A detailed vocational assessment that outlines specific job requirements that you cannot meet due to your disability can be a powerful tool in substantiating a claim.  This should align with your medical evidence to paint a clear picture of your condition’s impact on your ability to perform your job.
  • Legal Representation: Engaging an ERISA attorney knowledgeable in LTD claims can significantly enhance your chances of success.  Experienced attorneys can navigate the complex landscape of long term disability claims, deal with Voya Financial/ReliaStar’s tactics more effectively, and ensure that all procedural requirements are met, especially when it comes to deadlines and the appeals process.

By employing these strategies, you can build a robust defense against the common practices of Voya Financial/ReliaStar Life in handling disability claims, increasing the likelihood of securing your long term disability benefits.

Riemer Hess: Client Success Story

Our client “David,” a highly regarded software architect, found his career abruptly interrupted by debilitating fatigue and persistent pain that made it impossible for him to continue his demanding job.  As his symptoms worsened, David worked with various medical professionals to pinpoint a diagnosis, but the path to understanding his condition was fraught with challenges.  In the midst of this uncertainty, he filed a long term disability (“LTD”) claim with ReliaStar Life.  Unfortunately, the Independent Medical Examination (“IME”) arranged by ReliaStar Life was cursory and dismissive.  The evaluating doctor spent merely fifteen minutes with David, focusing narrowly on his pain symptoms before baselessly accusing him of exaggerating his condition.  ReliaStar Life then used this flawed assessment from the IME doctor to deny David’s claim.

David turned to Riemer Hess for help.  Our attorneys acted swiftly to bolster David’s case, organizing a Functional Capacity Evaluation to provide objective evidence of his limitations.  Riemer Hess also facilitated written statements from David’s treating physicians, who refuted the IME’s allegations of malingering.  These doctors had ultimately diagnosed David with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and myalgia.  We crafted a compelling appeal that highlighted the strength of objective medical evidence supporting David’s symptoms, regardless of the exact diagnosis, underscoring that his condition severely impacted his ability to work.

Thanks to the diligent efforts of Riemer Hess and the comprehensive appeal we submitted, ReliaStar Life overturned their original decision, granting David the benefits he deserved.  Riemer Hess continues to represent David, ensuring that his ongoing LTD claim is monitored to protect his benefits for as long as necessary.