Short & long term disability

[jewel]

I am currently covered by a state policy, so the waiting period doesn't apply.

I did look into a private short term disability insurance to supplement. There was a 10 month waiting period before a claim could be filed for pregnancy/maternity. If I were going to to purchse the policy, I would enroll at least a few months before trying to get pregnant.

[karinothing]

I am pretty sure if you want maternity leave coverage through STD it needs to be through your employer. I had an STD policy through my employer and I needed to have it for 1 year before it would cover me. It gave me 6 weeks of pay for a vaginal birth (8 if I had to have a c-section).

I think if you have a private/non employer policy it only covers pregnancy if something bad happens not a normal birth, if that makes sense.

[Deleted]

I have a STD policy through AFLAC which is totally independent of my employer. $50/ month and it'll pay 66% of income for 5 weeks if a vaginal birth and 7 weeks of a c section.

[lmb5109]

My short term is through work, I get 6 weeks for vaginal and 8 for a c-section. The day I go out (doctors order or I have the baby) the 6-8 weeks start even though I have a 9 calendar waiting period. They pay me weekly and 60% of my pay.

[mainelyfoolish]

Short term disability typically pays a percentage of your income (often 60%) while you're disabled (usually 6 weeks for vaginal birth/8 weeks c-section), minus any exclusion period (often 1 or maybe 2 weeks). STD would also cover any disability period you have before the birth, such as if you get put on bedrest. That period of disability is separate from the one you have after the birth (for STD purposes; FMLA is 12 weeks total for the year).

Most people get their STD policies through their employers. Waiting periods for maternity benefits vary based on the policy; some policies have a 10 month waiting period.

Hopefully you won't need LTD after a birth, but I think it's much more important to have for general financial reasons. LTD normally kicks in after you've been on STD for 26 weeks.

[jenjen]

I have an Aflac policy and am just now submitting my paperwork for my reimbursement from my delivery. I'm honestly not sure what it covers (DH has been in contact with the rep since he had a policy first) but I think I get a certain $ Amy for having surgery (csection) and so many days in the hospital. That might be something more to ask if you want lower premiums. I have a std policy through work (100% of pay, policy paid by my co) so we didn't need another one to cover my income.

[Deleted]

Aug 11, 2012 10:47:56 GMT -5 namasteak said:

Aug 11, 2012 7:40:03 GMT -5 @idaholakelady said:

I have a STD policy through AFLAC which is totally independent of my employer. $50/ month and it'll pay 66% of income for 5 weeks if a vaginal birth and 7 weeks of a c section.

Will it cover anything if you need to go in bed rest?

Yes, it does cover 66% of my income if I have to go on bedrest.

[birdmom]

Aug 11, 2012 9:40:50 GMT -5 lmb5109 said:

My short term is through work, I get 6 weeks for vaginal and 8 for a c-section. The day I go out (doctors order or I have the baby) the 6-8 weeks start even though I have a 9 calendar waiting period. They pay me weekly and 60% of my pay.

This is how mine worked, as well.

[vanillacourage]

Double check your work's policy. When I had DS1 and was at a job with STD, they had a rule that you had to exhaust saved PTO before you could utilize STD. I had hoarded PTO before we got PG knowing I'd be taking 12w, so by the time I had DS I had more than 8w PTO saved and didn't get to take advantage of STD at all.

That was a lot of acronyms. Um, LOL.

[MamaMaui24]

Aug 11, 2012 20:14:18 GMT -5 vanillacourage said:

Double check your work's policy. When I had DS1 and was at a job with STD, they had a rule that you had to exhaust saved PTO before you could utilize STD. I had hoarded PTO before we got PG knowing I'd be taking 12w, so by the time I had DS I had more than 8w PTO saved and didn't get to take advantage of STD at all.

That was a lot of acronyms. Um, LOL.

Same here. I had enough sick and vacation time to cover my 12 weeks and therefore STD was denied.

[karinothing]

Aug 11, 2012 7:40:03 GMT -5 @idaholakelady said:

I have a STD policy through AFLAC which is totally independent of my employer. $50/ month and it'll pay 66% of income for 5 weeks if a vaginal birth and 7 weeks of a c section.

That is really nice! I feel like this must vary by state. I know before I got my work policy I called AFLAC and they didn't offer maternity leave coverage for a normal birth in VA.