Short term disability

MrsN052408

I was high risk the last time I was pregnant but was fortunate enough to have a normal pregnancy and delivery. We are ready to TTC again but want to look into short term disability which would be in addition to what my employer offers. I am in NY state. I know the laws vary from state to state. My employer's short term disability only paid me peanuts last time but I had enough sick time and benefit time to cover my maternity leave and still receive a whole paycheck. I have the larger income so I need to think ahead in case I end up on bed rest. Because I had my baby late last year and have not been back to work for a full year yet, I don't have as much benefit time this time around. I have a history of clots, high blood pressure and am advanced maternal age. Hopefully, bed rest won't be necessary but we would be sunk financially if I could not work. Does anyone have any info to offer? I missed the window of open enrollment at work two months ago. I called Aflac yesterday and was given the name of a rep to call on Monday. Thanks!

Family hopes

I have Alfac in addition to my work's short term disability because they only pay a percentage of your salary.  I'm the major bread-winner in our house so we need me to bring home more.  I had Alfac at my previous employment who did not offer short term disability.  They allowed me to continue my policy since I had already been paying for it for years.  I'm not sure if they will allow you the same policy as mine was just a continuation.  There are also some terms on when you purchase the policy and when you would deliver.  I know they have a hospital policy available to anyone who has a hospital stay (ie delivery) which pays out a lump sum.  I never got that one so I can't give you any details.  I wish you the best!

mlkbride03

I have Aflac b/c my work does not offer STD. With Aflac, you have to have the policy in effect at least 10 months before you can utilize the benefits. So I planned it so that even if I needed to be on bedrest the last couple of months, I could still utilize the benefits. But, that meant starting the policy about 4 months before we started to TTC.

frogluver54

I signed up for disability as soon as I started at my job 5 years ago because I knew it would help when one day I would eventually start a family and I am SO thankful to have it now. Since I am on bed rest my sick leave will run out before I will be able to return to work. I have a 14 day waiting period before disability kicks in when I don't get paid so it's going to be a little iffy. I know I'll get 66 2/3% of my paycheck, but it's better than no paycheck. I also signed up for hospital coverage before we started TTC but we were very quick to conceive and I did not meet the guidelines for being able to use that coverage with this pregnancy. Just make sure you know when it goes into effect once you get it. The hospital one I had to wait 10 months and they told me as long as my due date was past the date, no matter when I delivered I would be covered. Just ask questions and make sure to see it in writing so they can't come back and say, "Well that's not the policy..." Good luck!