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Florida Short Term Disability- Just found out I am pregnant

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I am an HR pro and currently have health insurance coverage through [major insurance company name deleted]… however adding short term or long term disability is additional, optional coverage. I did not add short term disability at the time I received my health coverage, because I did not foresee needing it. Needless to say, I just found out I am pregnant (HUGE surprise! I am 9 weeks today) and now I need to add short term disability to my coverage, so I’m covered when I’m on maternity leave. I had a C-section with my first child 5 years ago, and the recovery time was 8 weeks. I’ll have to have one again this time, and I can’t afford to take that time off unpaid.

I went to add short term disability to my benefits, and was told I need to fill out a medical form and once the insurance company receives it, they will either approve or deny coverage.

My question is, because I am already pregnant, is this grounds to deny me short term disability coverage?

Background info: I’ve lived in Florida all my life, and have been with the same employer for the last 7 years. We switched insurance companies about 3 years ago and I have been covered by the insurance company since then.

I appreciate anyone that has an answer! Thanks!

Unfortunately, no, you cannot sign up for short term disability insurance after you know you are pregnant. Yes, being pregnant is grounds for any company to deny you short term disability coverage. Or, to look at it another way — it is quite possible that you will be able to sign up for short term disability insurance. But, they will not cover the disability resulting from this pregnancy. Many insurance companies avoid this by not covering pregnancy disability for the first 9 months that you have the short term disability coverage.

If you had signed up for short term disability insurance 3 years ago, or even during last falls open enrollment period (when you were not pregnant) then this pregnancy would be covered.

The reason is simple: you cannot sign up for short term disability insurance after you are already disabled, or know you will be disabled. Just as you cannot opt out of medical or disability insurance, and then sign up for it when you are in the ambulance on the way to the hospital with a heart attack. Insurance just does not work that way. If it did, the insurance companies would go broke within 90 days. No one would pay insurance premiums unless they were disabled or needed medical care this month.

Here is why you should sign up for short term disability insurance anyway: it is a realitively small price to pay for piece of mind. Usually it is just a few dollars out of each paycheck, and it ensures income when you are unable to work for a variety of reasons. Especially if you do not have the recommended 3 to 6 months family income in your savings account, short term disability insurance can be a lifesaver.

And, as your situation demonstrates, any woman who could possibly become pregnant should probably have short term disability insurance.