Business ProfileforVoya Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company

I am writing to bring to your attention a matter concerning my recent short term disability claim, which was denied by Voya on October 2, 2023. My claim was initially filed on August 14, 2023, and I submitted the required Evidence of Insurability form during the same month. However, to my surprise, I received notification of denial citing my employer's termination of service with Voya on July 1, 2023, and the suggestion that if my employer still offered STD benefits, they would be through a different carrier. Upon contacting my HR/Benefits department, I was informed that my employer had not terminated their dealings with Voya, contradicting Voya's assertion. This prompted multiple discussions with Voya to clarify the reason for the denial. After several calls, it was eventually communicated that the denial stemmed from the Evidence of Insurability form not being submitted when I initially opted into my benefits back in May 2023. I must emphasize that I had no preexisting conditions, it shouldn’t have made a difference when the EOI Form was submitted since there wasn’t anything prior. Furthermore, during one of my conversations with a Voya representative, I was informed that claims are not typically denied for this reason, which added to my confusion. However, my concerns were further compounded when it came to light during a recent board meeting at my employer that Voya had exceeded the anticipated number of claims by 111%, significantly surpassing the projected figure of 70% for the year in question. It appears that my case is not an isolated incident, as one of my colleagues finds themselves in a similar situation. Given these circumstances, I believe it is imperative to seek resolution to this matter. I respectfully request Voya to reconsider its decision and retroactively provide the short term disability benefits owed to me for the three months of maternity leave. It’s my sincere hope that by addressing this issue promptly, we can prevent it from repeating.