Need advice/legal answers-Short Term disability ?

mamaof2littles

Last Friday my boss called me in his office to tell me that when I am out with a new baby I will not be covered by short term disability. He said that when I was hired in June 2010 I declined the coverage. I will admit in June 2010 I declined the coverage because they were charging an astronomical amount. In December 2010 a new employee handbook was accepted. In this handbook it says that full time wage-hour employees(which I am) are covered by short term disability insurance, which is 100% covered by the company. He said that since I declined the coverage at the time of hire I am not covered. The handbook says nothing about electing to enroll in the coverage or not. When given the handbook I assumed I was covered from that point forward....now I'm 26 weeks and was just told I have no coverage and only my vacation and sick days- 3 weeks worth to us. I need your opinions!!!! I am thinking I should be covered because the policy was accepted after I declined---what would you do!

jnealet

When you did open enrollment last year, did you have STD on it?  My company pays LTD 100% and its on our open enrollment as part of the package, its assumed that you'll take it but its still listed as a benefit.  If you didn't have STD on your package, then I would say that you are sadly out of luck.  Sorry.

ajs0924

What I'm about to say is not by any means fact but just something you should look into.... is your boss in the HR department?  If not, you should go and talk to your Human Resources department and ask them why if STD went from an elective to a compnay paid benefit why you were not added to the coverage.  I'm guessing your open enrollment is in January (most companies are) and you are free to do any adding to eliminating of benefits and you may have had to add this during that time but it seems that if it is switching from elecitve to company paid that it would be automatic (but that's just my opinion).  If they tell you that you had to add it during open enrollment and you didn't you might be out of luck but if it was just an oversight on their part your plan adminstrator will most likely work with your company and correct the mistake.  If your company is not willing to work with you I would contact the insurance company directly because they are familiar with the requirements of the plan as well and ask them what your options are, if any.  

Best of luck to you... That is devistating news to get at this point.  I hope everything turns out in your favor. 

mben1119

The policy may have been accepted after you declined, but what matters is your individual enrollment, unfortunately.

preggersin2011

You need to schedule a meeting with HR. Where I work standard STD is covered by the employer. It covers you 100%, up to 500 dollars a week or something like that (?) If you want more coverage than you need to sign up for it, basically enroll in open enrollment every year. I opt out of the elected STD, but I still had my regular STD covered from my employer. 

daisy662

Definitely speak to your Benefits Administrator. You may be able to file an appeal with the 3rd party that holds your dbl policy.

526SadieSadie

mabenner1:

The policy may have been accepted after you declined, but what matters is your individual enrollment, unfortunately.

This.  Go talk to HR.  If your company has more than 50 employees, you'll qualify for FMLA, but it's unpaid.