Short Term Disability

ashleyr409

Can anyone please tell me how short term disability works?

jeffsjayme

Each policy is different, but they have the same common parts:

-You are eligible to enroll it after a certain period (if it's offered through an employer) - say 30 days or a year.

-You pay a monthly premium like you do with medical insurance.

-If you have an event that makes you disabled (like birth or pregnancy where you have to go on bedrest), they start to pay out.

-Usually there's an amount of time off work that they don't pay for (mine was 2 weeks I think).

-And usually they don't pay 100% (but they could) - mine paid 66%.

I believe Short Term Disability is just for 6 weeks, but 8 if you have a c-section?  (I might be wrong). After that, if you still can't work, then you could go into Long Term Disability.  Most women are physically able to return to work after that, but choose not to - so they don't get paid (unless they're taking vacation or sick time or something), but their jobs are protected under FMLA if the employer qualifies.

ashleyr409

Thanks jeffsjayne.

saraboston

jeffsjayme:

I believe Short Term Disability is just for 6 weeks, but 8 if you have a c-section?  (I might be wrong). After that, if you still can't work, then you could go into Long Term Disability.  Most women are physically able to return to work after that, but choose not to - so they don't get paid (unless they're taking vacation or sick time or something), but their jobs are protected under FMLA if the employer qualifies.

That's what it was for me. I had to be unable to work for one week before the insurance kicked in--so that week came out of my ET. After the week long "exclusion period" I could use my disability, I had a c/s, so the next 7 weeks, I was paid 66% of my average weekly wage. The 6, 8 week time frames are the standard for that type of delivery, assuming there are no complications. According to my employer's policy, had things been complicated (i.e. prolonged hospital course, or bed rest prior to delivery), STD pays up to 12 weeks, beyond that the employee would need to file for LTD.

 Since I knew I would be TTC, I signed up for STD insurance (I actually had to hold off TTC for a couple months before my eligibility kicked in). I did the math, and the year of paying premiums was much lower that what my payout would even for a vaginal delivery. I dropped the insurance the following year--ironically, while I was still out on STD. 

anvloveskme

I just got AFLAC last month and it's pretty much as described, but I also have a hospitalization rider that will pay me extra benefits and an intensive care rider just in case that will cover me and the baby and was only an extra $10/month.  I called the 1-800 online and a local rep got back to me right away and came to my office and explained everything to me and our office manager - it was great!

ASmallWonder

jeffsjayme:

Each policy is different, but they have the same common parts:

-You are eligible to enroll it after a certain period (if it's offered through an employer) - say 30 days or a year.

-You pay a monthly premium like you do with medical insurance.

-If you have an event that makes you disabled (like birth or pregnancy where you have to go on bedrest), they start to pay out.

-Usually there's an amount of time off work that they don't pay for (mine was 2 weeks I think).

-And usually they don't pay 100% (but they could) - mine paid 66%.

I believe Short Term Disability is just for 6 weeks, but 8 if you have a c-section?  (I might be wrong). After that, if you still can't work, then you could go into Long Term Disability.  Most women are physically able to return to work after that, but choose not to - so they don't get paid (unless they're taking vacation or sick time or something), but their jobs are protected under FMLA if the employer qualifies.

The length of the disability depends on your doctor (obviously assuming you truly are medically cleared).  Some doctors do an automatic 8 weeks for a c section but some really do base it 100% on your recovery and you've done really well, they write you back earlier than that.  Our STD goes to 26 weeks and LTD starts after that.