disability and pregnancy

[MADISONSMOM]

Can You Please Tell Me If Short Term And Long Term Disability
Insurance Policies Are Required To Pay If Disability Is Caused Due To Pregnancy?

[unionwayne]

I guess it would depend on the policy. Regardless, you should apply for benefits because you have nothing to lose. To find out more about your rights under the FMLA, go to this website: http://www.afscme.org/wrkplace/fmla.htm. To find information on the ADA, go to this website: http://www.afscme.org/wrkplace/disab_tc.htm. Also, you may want to check with the Labor Dept. in your state. To do so, go to this website: http://www.afscme.org/otherlnk/weblnk29.htm.

Good luck.

[LConnell]

It is doubtful that a long-term disability policy would cover a pregnancy as pregnancy is a temporary condition. However, if there are medical conditions that are exacerbated by the pregancy, it may cause you to become eligible.

Short-term disability is another issue. Employers are not permitted to discriminate against persons who are pregnant. Therefore, it is doubtful that the policy would exclude pregancy. However, you never know as there may be a legal exclusion within insurance law (of which I am not an expert) covering pregnancy.

One of the key questions is whether you have the policies. Many employees assume that they have a short-term or long-term disability policy when, in fact, they don't. It would be great if you did. The policy documentation, such as your benefits handbook, should discuss exclusions. Also, your benefits department can assist you in understanding exclusions, the process by which to apply, etc.

Let me know if you have any other questions.