Did you buy short-term disability insurance?

dcunningham2 · December 2009

My company offers 4 weeks off paid for maternity leave, then you have to use vacation and/or unpaid time for up to 12 weeks total. I only have 2 weeks vacation so I'm planning on the 4 weeks, 1 week of vacay, 1 week unpaid.

Now I'm really thinking that I want to stop working before LO comes (and have more time off afterwards). I've heard some women use STD for their maternity leave. We only have long-term disability coverage at work, and I can't use that. Has anyone purchased their own policy to cover maternity leave? Can you purchase it while pregnant? Help please!

rhabel · December 2009

I opted for short term disability through my own employer about a year ago. I know that this particular policy considers pregnancy a pre-existing condition so I wouldn't have been able to add it after getting pregnant (which is why I purchased early). Some policies may be different though. I plan on using mine after I've exhausted my PTO from work.

stgn01 · December 2009

I got on a STD plan when DH and I were thinking about getting pregnant. I opted to pay in the highest amount so that I get payed the highest amount when I go out. I know a lot of plans don't let you use it if you are currently pregnant because they consider that a "pre-exsisting condition." Some policies also have a year long wait before you can recieve benefits. I think this is a question best asked to your HR. GL!

MWoodside · December 2009

My understanding is you are normally only "disabled" for 6 wks for vaginal birth & 8 wks for c-sections, barring additional complications. That may factor into your decision b/c if you end up w/ a vaginal birth & your weork pays 4 wks then is it worth it for 2 extra weeks of partial pay?

I have it though b/c my work offers it & I've had it all 8 wks I worked here b/c you never know what may happen.

pjoann78 · December 2009

I don't think there are any STD policies out there that you can purchase while pregnant to cover your maternity leave. Aflac is one of the few I know of that will cover mat. leave and you can't deliver within a year of purchasing the policy (or something like that).

missdanib · December 2009

I purchased it a couple of years ago, however when I told my boss I was preg he cut my hours in half and I lost my benes (gee, thanks!). My policy also considers pregnancy a pre existing condition so I could not receive another policy while I was pregnant and be covered. Which is awesome since now I have no way to save money while I'm out on leave either (sorry, that turned into a mini vent).

cutie420311 · December 2009

pjoann78:
I don't think there are any STD policies out there that you can purchase while pregnant to cover your maternity leave. Aflac is one of the few I know of that will cover mat. leave and you can't deliver within a year of purchasing the policy (or something like that).

This. Pregnancy is consider pre-existing and must be purchased before actually becoming pregnant

dcunningham2 · December 2009

Ugh! I figured that most if not all policies would require some time to have the policy before getting pregnant/filing a claim. I didn't want to ask about my company's maternity policies until after I was KU and in second tri and now I'm suffering for lack of knowledge prior. I just wish my employer had the maternity leave policy written out somewhere so I could have found out without talking to them.

araevg · December 2009

My employer buys short-term disability for all its employees. I'll get 100% of my pay for 4 weeks and then 60% of my pay for 2 more weeks, if it's a vaginal delivery, or 4 more weeks if its a c-section. I also get one week parental leave at 100% of my pay. I think I'm going to take off 2 full months and then go back to work part-time the last month to avoid having a severe income gap.

jorden&kristin · December 2009

My works maternity leave is STD! haha I can take more time with my PTO.

Corinne13 · December 2009

I bought the Aflac plan before getting pregnant because my work does not provide any paid leave. My company used to offer short term disability insurance but they cut it two years ago when a co-worker was already pregnant and by that time the coworker was not elligible for the Aflac plan. I signed up well in advance to make sure this didn't happen to me.

My fun surprise (totally unreleated to disability insurance) came when our company group health insurance got canceled this month due to not enough members. Their solution was to offer individual plans of which they would pay half for. Those plans don't cover maternity so I was forced to jump on my husband's insurance and pay the whole thing. It was just an unexpected expense that popped up out of nowhere. I suppose being pregnant I should get used to unexpected bills I hear kids bring a lot of them. Vent over

ChristinaD09 · December 2009

I'm in the same position as you. My job doesn't offer any short term disability and I'm a federal employee who doesn't accrue leave/vacation/anything. Fun. Sad Sooo I had considered purchasing short term disability, but had also heard that there were no options since pregnancy would be considered pre-existing. Let me know if you find out any help information and I'll do the same. I'm not holding my breath that I'll be able to get anything during my time off work.

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