New York Life Disability Denial & Unfair Practices
Insurance companies operate to achieve one goal: create wealth for their executives and investors. This wealth may be generated at the expense of policyholders through unfair long-term disability (LTD) insurance denials.
New York Life has a legal duty to policyholders to honor the terms of their insurance policy. If the company denies a legitimate claim, they may be acting in bad faith.
Find out more about New York Life disability denials:
- New York Life Insurance Company was founded in 1845 and is one of the largest insurance providers in the world. However, the company has been accused of using unfair tactics to deny valid claims.
- In one case, a doctor with a blood disorder had fatigue, headaches, and joint and muscle pain. New York Life denied his LTD benefits, claiming he wasn’t totally disabled and could still do parts of his job. The court awarded the doctor the benefits he was owed and additional compensation.
- You may have the right to appeal a wrongfully denied New York Life disability claim — or file a New York Life lawsuit if your appeal is unsuccessful.
By denying claims, New York Life may jeopardize a person's financial stability — leading to lost income, depleted savings, home foreclosure, and other serious hardships.
At Sokolove Law, we have over 45 years of experience fighting for families affected by wrongful denials. If New York Life denied your claim, contact us now to see if we may be able to seek the benefits you’re owed.
Top 5 Reasons New York Life May Deny a Disability Claim
Sometimes, there are valid reasons why a disability claim might be denied, like missing information. However, New York Life claim denials may be unjust, leaving you without the benefits you're entitled to.
If your LTD benefits were denied, New York Life may have claimed that:
- You failed to disclose a pre-existing health condition
- Your medical examinations were insufficient or inadequate
- There were problems with your paperwork or documentation
- Your medical condition does not qualify as a “covered” disability
- Your procedure was elective or not medically necessary
It’s important to remember that a denial is not final. If your New York Life long-term disability claim or appeal was denied, you do have legal rights and may still have options to secure the compensation you need.

“Our attorneys handle claims in all 50 states and are well-versed in handling cases against large insurance companies.”
– Ricky LeBlanc, Managing Attorney at Sokolove Law
Our New York Life LTD lawyers can help you gather the information needed for an appeal in order to potentially reverse the insurer’s decision.
How to Appeal a New York Life Claim Denial
Appealing denied New York Life long-term disability claims can be difficult to do on your own, especially when you know insurance companies like New York Life may be looking for any reason to deny your appeal.
Depending on your case and insurance policy, our LTD attorneys may be able to help you:
- File an appeal of your denied New York Life disability claim
- Request a second appeal if your New York Life long-term disability appeal was also denied
- Submit a New York Life long-term disability complaint with your state’s Insurance Department to lay the groundwork for legal action
After you’ve gone through the appeals process, your legal team may be able to file a New York Life lawsuit to overturn the denial of your claim.
Our attorneys may be able to handle your appeal and fight to reclaim any disability benefits you may be owed — at no out-of-pocket cost to you.
Call (800) 995-1212 now to learn more about your legal options and see if our New York Life disability denial lawyers can help with your case.
“After a challenging legal battle, Sokolove Law achieved a favorable outcome, and I finally received the benefits I had paid for. I can’t express enough gratitude to Sokolove Law for being my ally in the fight. They stood by me and advocated for my rights.”
– Illinois Truck Driver with a Denied LTD Claim
New York Life Disability Lawsuits for Denied Claims
Once you've appealed your denied New York Life claim, weeks may go by before you hear anything. You may need to check in with the insurer to make sure your appeal letter was received and ask how the appeal is progressing.
Before being able to file a New York Life lawsuit, you usually have to exhaust the appeals process for denials, which may vary according to your insurance policy:
- If your New York Life disability appeal is denied, our attorneys may be able to request a second appeal and help strengthen your claim.
- If your second appeal is denied, you may be able to file a New York Life lawsuit to pursue the benefits you deserve.
At Sokolove Law, our New York Life disability appeal attorneys can even the playing field and put pressure on your insurance provider to pay you what you’re owed, whether it’s in the form of benefits or a New York Life long-term disability settlement.
If you have a case, our attorneys can handle every step of filing a New York Life disability lawsuit on your behalf.
Get Help from Our New York Life Disability Denial Lawyers
Insurance companies usually have legal teams who are prepared to spare no expense fighting your case. With Sokolove Law, you don’t have to feel intimidated by large insurance companies like New York Life.
If you have a case, our New York Life disability denial lawyers can handle the appeals process on your behalf.
We’ve recovered over $133 Million on behalf of hardworking clients who were wrongfully denied their LTD benefits.
Our team can listen to what’s going on, get some information on your insurance policy, and let you know what your legal options may be — at no cost to you.
Call (800) 995-1212 now or fill out our contact form for a free, no-obligation legal consultation.
New York Life Insurance & Long-Term Disability FAQs
Does New York Life deny long-term disability claims?
Like many disability insurance providers, New York Life has been the subject of lawsuits and investigations looking into their practices of wrongfully denying LTD claims.
If New York Life denied your claim, our long-term disability denial attorneys may be able to help you appeal their decision. Get started now with a free case review.
What can a New York Life disability denial lawyer do for me?
A New York Life disability denial lawyer may be able to challenge your insurer’s decision and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Depending on your plan, we may be able to help by:
- Determining why your benefits were denied and if the reason is valid
- Gathering evidence like medical records and expert opinions to support your appeal
- Filing a strong appeal that shows your benefits were wrongfully denied
- Communicating and negotiating directly with your insurer on your behalf
- Filing a New York Life disability lawsuit if needed
Having an experienced New York Life disability denial lawyer on your side can help even the playing field and potentially improve your chances of securing the benefits you’re entitled to.
What happens if you get denied for disability from New York Life?
If New York Life denied your LTD claim, reach out to a long-term disability denial attorney for help challenging their decision and potentially recovering your benefits.
With experienced legal help on your side, you can focus on your health and recovery, while we focus on the appeals process.
What was the New York Life ERISA settlement?
In 2024, New York Life agreed to a $19 Million ERISA settlement to resolve lawsuits claiming that they mismanaged employee retirement savings.
The company allegedly included their own costly, underperforming investment products in employee 401(k) plans, prioritizing corporate profits over the best interests of plan participants.
Can I file a New York Life disability lawsuit for a denied claim?
Potentially, yes. If New York Life denied your long-term disability claim and you’ve already gone through the appeals process, you may be able to file a lawsuit against New York Life for disability denial.
Call (800) 995-1212 now to find out if you may be eligible to take legal action following your claim denial.
How long does New York Life long-term disability last?
The length of time New York Life long-term disability benefits last depends on the specific terms of your policy. In many cases, benefits continue until you’re able to return to work or reach retirement age.
However, insurance providers may try to come up with a reason to deny further payments and cut off your benefits early — even if nothing about your condition has changed. If this happens, a New York Life disability denial lawyer can help you fight to get your benefits back.
How much does a New York Life disability appeal attorney cost?
At Sokolove Law, there are no upfront costs or hourly fees to work with our New York Life disability appeal attorneys.
We work on a contingency-fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we secure compensation for your family.