Carrier

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AFTER COURT TRIAL

I. INTRODUCTION

This action falls under the Employee Retirement. Income Security Act of 1974 *1069 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq. Plaintiff Gloria Carrier is a fifty-five-year-old woman who previously worked for Bank of America as a Credit Administrator. Through her position at Bank of America, Plaintiff enrolled in an employee welfare benefit plan that provides disability benefits to the bank’s employees. Defendant Aetna Life Insurance Company administers this plan, which' provides for both short-term disability (“STD”) benefits and long-term disability (“LTD”) benefits.

After being diagnosed with uterine cancer, Plaintiff underwent surgery and chemotherapy, which led her to develop significant neuropathy and become severely depressed. As a result, Plaintiff took a leave of absence from work and submitted a claim for STD benefits in August 20Í1. Defendant granted that claim, and Plaintiff received STD benefits for some time. When Plaintiff reached the maximum allowable number of weeks for STD benefits under her policy, Defendant began evaluating Plaintiff’s eligibility for LTD benefits. Finding her to be eligible,…