Buying a Short Term Disability Policy for Pregnancy
Short-term disability insurance policies cover pregnancy and childbirth leave.
This coverage can provide some income if you need to miss work due to late-stage pregnancy, pregnancy complications, childbirth, and recovery.
Unless you live in a state that provides short-term disability benefits (California, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Hawaii) or your employer provides you with short-term disability insurance, you may want to have your own policy taken out by your insurer.
Short-Term Disability Policy for Pregnancy
If you are planning a pregnancy, you should consider a short term disability policy for pregnancy. Many employers offer this pregnancy insurance, so it is definitely an option. It is taxable and most employers will deduct the payments from your salary.
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You must purchase the pregnancy disability insurance short term disability policy for pregnancy before you become pregnant. Otherwise, your pregnancy will be considered a pre-existing condition and you will not be able to purchase insurance.
Disability Policy for Pregnancy
You’ve probably heard of family leave laws; these federal laws allow you to take time off work when you have a baby, but employers are not required to pay you, so your time off is unpaid.
A handful of states (Hawaii, California, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and New York) offer state-run short-term disability policy for pregnancy benefits with paid time off.
If your employer does not offer this policy and you do not live in one of these states, you can purchase your own short term disability policy for pregnancy from an insurer.
Medical Reasons for Short-term Disability During Pregnancy
High Risk
A high-risk pregnancy is not a valid medical reason for short-term disability policy for pregnancy. The term is too broad and unspecific to meet the eligibility requirement standard.
The doctor’s note on the claim form must refer to a covered illness, i.e. an illness, infection, disease or other abnormal physical condition that prevents you from performing the duties of your employment at full-time.
A high-risk pregnancy means you have one or more problems that increase your chances of preterm birth or other problems. A woman may be at high risk if she has high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, or another health condition.
Bed Rest
Bed rest prescribed by a doctor during pregnancy is also not a valid medical reason for short-term disability benefits. Bed rest is a prescription your doctor might give you to treat an underlying health condition.
Your doctor’s note on the claim form must refer to the covered illness that requires you to relax at home. Keep in mind that the issuing insurance company makes the final decision.
Below are examples of medical conditions an OB/GYN might include in the application. These could be valid reasons for a woman with a high-risk pregnancy prescribed bed rest.
- Anemia must be severe with obvious iron, folate, or vitamin B12 deficiencies.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome must interfere with the performance of your main tasks.
- Exhaustion in itself does not meet the norm.
- Ectopic pregnancy often requires home recovery.
- Gestational diabetes rarely interferes with work duties.
- Lower back pain can make it difficult to get up or stand for long periods.
- Sciatica also prevents sitting or standing for long periods.
- A miscarriage may require home recovery.
- Dilation and curettage (D&C) has a very short recovery period.
- Morning sickness must be very severe.
- Premature labor may be eligible after satisfying the waiting period.
Disability Insurance for Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, injured, or become ill and are unable to earn your usual income, short term disability policy for pregnancy can protect you financially. This coverage begins after a specific period of disability and pays you a percentage of your income each month.
Short-term disability income insurance is intended to cover temporary disabilities, such as recovering from childbirth or recovering from a broken bone.
You’ll typically find that short-term disability insurance for pregnency covers a period of around three months to two years. It is depending on the provider and policy chosen. If you need more coverage, you have a long-term disability insurance option.
Best Short-term Disability Insurance Companies
If you break a bone, have a long illness or are pregnant, do you have enough money in the bank to cover your expenses while you’re away from work?
\If you answered no, short-term disability insurance could be a way to protect yourself and your income.
Based on our review of standard short term disability policy for pregnancy, plans will likely pay between 40-80% of your monthly income while you from maternity leave.
Many women also use these policies to receive part of their income while on maternity leave. Some policies can help cover your income for as little as six weeks, while others can cover you for up to a year.
| 1 | Best Overall | Aflac |
| 2 | Best High Limit Policy | Petersen International Underwriters |
| 3 | Best for Policy add-Ons | Mutual of Omaha |
| 4 | Best for the Self-Employed | Northwestern Mutual |
| 5 | Best for Long Period of Coverage | State Farm Insurance |
| 6 | Best for Ease of Qualifying | Breeze |
Aflac Maternity Leave
Children are expensive. They are expensive to clothe, feed and educate. But they are also expensive because of the time they require, starting with their birth.
Many parents find the time it takes to care for babies after birth or while on maternity leave to be an expensive burden that they cannot afford.
Usually, short term disability policy for pregnancy includes maternity leaves in USA, so the choice is yours. The AFLC maternity leave is one of the greatest options.
A number of a few states require employers to provide short-term disability insurance.
AFLAC is complimentary insurance. It is not designed to replace any of the major types of insurance (such as life insurance, health insurance, long-term disability insurance, or short-term disability insurance).
Instead, they aim to provide additional benefits that reduce the burdens caused by events that trigger benefits from these other insurances.
AFLAC maternity leave policy provides for a waiting period of one month before being able to apply for maternity or paternity.
They offer several different policies, depending on the level of coverage you want. AFLAC premiums are paid with after-tax dollars and therefore the benefits are non-taxable.
Does Disability Insurance Cover Maternity Leave?
There are several reasons why using disability insurance for maternity leave can be an important part of your financial plan. It’s essential to apply for short term disability policy for pregnancy well before you start packing for the hospital.
Most families are entitled to 12 weeks of unpaid parental leave, but few families can afford to go 12 weeks without income.
The average physical recovery time for a vaginal birth is six to eight weeks, so you need plenty of time to heal and bond with your new baby.
Returning to work too soon can also have negative consequences for new parents. For all these reasons, requesting short term disability insurance for maternity leave is a wise choice.
Using disability insurance for maternity leave is common practice, as pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition.
Short term Disability Cover Pregnancy
Short term disability covers pregnancy, temporary injuries and less serious illnesses. What qualifies for short-term disability depends on the definition of disability, which varies from policy to policy.
In general, eligibility for benefits is tied to your ability to perform the duties of your current occupation.
Your short term disability policy for pregnancy may also require you to lose a certain percentage of your earnings due to disability.
While on short-term disability leave, you may need to provide the insurance company with up-to-date medical information to verify your disability and your continued eligibility for benefits beyond the initial approval of your claim.
In addition to injuries and illnesses that limit your ability to work, surgeries deemed medically necessary will qualify you for short-term disability benefits.
Some policies will offer benefits for bariatric weight-loss surgeries. Organ donation is usually also covered. Purely cosmetic procedures will likely not be covered.
You may also be eligible for benefits if prescription drugs or medical procedures cause side effects that prevent you from working.
How to Apply for Short Term Disability Pregnancy?
If you’re wondering how to get approved for short term disability policy for pregnancy while pregnant. The process begins with a discussion with your human resources department to find out exactly what your coverage options are.
You will want to know if there is a state mandate for family leave and if the FMLA is available. Benefits may also vary depending on whether it is your first or second childbirth.
You should also ask about policies and restrictions on using vacation or sick time in addition to unpaid time. Many companies require employees to use their vacation or sick days before unpaid leave begins.
Finally, you’ll also want to know who pays your premiums when you take time off. You want to have a clear idea of what happens to your benefits while on leave, whether or not something changes in your employment status.
Short Term Disability Maternity
Early in your planning process, talk to HR to find out all the details of your parental leave. What options do you have? Confirm that short-term disability benefits consider pregnancy a pre-existing condition where you work.
Ask specifically if short-term disability covers parental leave. Getting answers to these questions is an important first step in planning your options.
Discuss with your partner what you can afford, then discuss what you know with your employer. Again, it is important to do this in advance. The more time you have, the more relaxed you will feel about your upcoming discharge and postpartum experience.
Find out your company’s policy on parental leave. Some companies are more understanding than others, and this can affect when you decide to share your news with them, as well as your future employment plans.
Remember that you want to discuss short-term disability before you get pregnant, not after you give birth. The sooner you can reasonably start planning, the better.
Short Term Disability Childbirth
Short-term disability due to postpartum problems may be possible. However, insurance companies are much more likely to approve claims for physical (somatic) problems after childbirth than for emotional problems.
Read your insurance contract carefully.
A mother’s plans to leave or not return to work should not affect a request for a postpartum extension. Carriers pay claims based solely on a person’s ability to return to work. Intentions or plans don’t matter.
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression and short-term disability are complicated issues. Some women will be able to extend their benefits, others will not, and the duration may also vary.
Postpartum depression is not eligible under all types of short term disability policies.
- Group and state plans cover mental health issues more frequently
- Individual policies rarely cover issues such as anxiety and depression
Women diagnosed with postpartum depression will have different extension lengths
- A new disability will first have to satisfy the policy waiting period.
- Persistent disability may exhaust the policy benefit period.
- Maternity leave for complications.
- Maternity leave for recovery from childbirth.
After Birth Troubles
Several medical conditions after birth may qualify you to extend your short-term disability benefits. Having a baby is a high-risk activity. Things don’t always turn out the way you expect.
You may injure yourself during childbirth, develop an infection, or have other serious postpartum health problems.
The main conditions that could affect you after a vaginal birth include fissures, infections, and postpartum hemorrhage.
Major somatic risk factors include:
- A baby weighing more than 9 pounds.
- Using pliers or a vacuum cleaner.
- Repair of a large episiotomy tear.
Cesarean delivery is a relatively safe surgical procedure. But carries a higher risk of complications because it is much more invasive.
The most common disorders associated with this surgery are blood clots in the legs or lungs, nausea related to anesthesia, and problems.
Conclusion
It is important to apply for a short-term disability policy for pregnancy as soon as possible to ensure you receive benefits. Do not wait until you have given birth, otherwise, you will not be eligible.
Speak early with insurance companies or your HR representative to find out the details of your benefits, as well as other parental leave options such as unpaid leave.
FAQs Short-Term Health Insurance
What is Short-term Disability Insurance?
If you are pregnant, injured, or become ill and cannot earn your usual income, short-term disability insurance can protect you financially.
This coverage begins after a specific period of disability (called a waiting period or elimination period) and pays you a percentage of your income each month.
Short-term disability income insurance is intended to cover temporary disabilities, such as recovering from childbirth or recovering from a broken bone.
You’ll typically find that short-term disability insurance covers a period of around three months to two years, depending on the provider and policy chosen. If you need more coverage, you should consider purchasing long-term disability insurance.
What is the Difference Between Short-term Disability Insurance and Long-term Disability Insurance?
Short-term disability insurance will most often come into effect about two weeks after you are injured or become ill. It lasts up to six months.
If you still can’t work, long-term insurance covers people who can’t work for longer periods of time. This coverage does not come into effect until the short-term benefits have been exhausted.
Most of the time, it’s around three to six months. It can provide people with money to replace their income for many years.
What are the Common Costs of Short-term Disability?
Short-term disability quotes can start as low as $10 per week or $35 per month. The state you live in, your age, health, and your career can dictate the cost of your premiums.
Your coverage levels and added riders also affect costs. The taxation of your short-term disability benefits depends on who pays the premiums: you or the person you work for.
What Does Short Term Disability Insurance Exclude?
Read your short-term disability policy carefully. A policy usually lists certain conditions for which the insurance company will not pay. Examples of common short-term disability exclusions include:
- Incapacity for work due to war.
- Incapacity for work due to loss of professional license.
- Injuries due to active participation in a riot or demonstration.
- Self-inflicted injuries.
- A period of time when you are in jail or jail for committing a crime.
Each policy can have its own stipulations. If you are unsure whether or not you are eligible for your disability benefits, contact your insurance company.