How to Take Advantage of Short-Term Disability for Pregnancy

Can you get short-term disability for pregnancy and childbirth? Yes! Childbirth is considered a qualifying reason for short-term disability. Typically you can expect to receive 50-70% of your income for up to six to eight weeks after you give birth. The time depends on the type of delivery you have and the policy you have. Every plan is different and will explain how much time off is offered, which can vary depending on birth circumstances. 

How do I get short-term disability for pregnancy?

Like other types of insurance in the US, short-term disability insurance can either be offered by your company or purchased on your own. Unlike the FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act), short-term disability for pregnancy is not federally mandated. However, some states require companies to offer this kind of coverage. California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island provide state-sponsored disability benefits that are funded by mandatory employer contributions.

Even though American employers are not required by federal law to provide this benefit, many large companies and agencies still offer it. Since companies can receive a federal tax deduction, many are incentivized to include short-term disability insurance in their benefits package. Here’s a look at the best maternity leave benefits offered by American companies.

Company-provided short-term disability for pregnancy

The best and most straightforward option is short-term disability for pregnancy provided by your company, so we’ll start with that first. 

If offered, employer health plans and different insurance policies are available for you to choose when you start a new job and during open enrollment periods. Opting to enroll in short-term disability insurance can be done at either of these times. Since employer or “group” plans buy coverage for many employees at once, they don’t require medical underwriting and often (but not always) the pre-existing condition clauses are waived. This is especially true with large companies. 

The great thing about this kind of coverage is that it normally begins less than 2 weeks after it’s been approved. 

When you get a short-term disability policy through your company, it will cover pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum leave. The recovery time allowed depends on the type of delivery. Vaginal delivery is six weeks and C-Section birth is eight weeks. Other medical issues that arise from pregnancy or childbirth can also extend the covered time, like miscarriage, complications, or postpartum depression. 

Policies have different requirements, so it’s important to find out what’s covered and what’s not before you go out on leave. You should always review your policy and/or check with HR for additional details.It’s common for employees to use their sick days before short-term disability kicks in. 

Private policies covering short-term disability for pregnancy

If your employer does not offer short-term disability insurance as a benefit, you can still purchase it privately. The premiums can be expensive though, sometimes ranging from between 1 and 3 percent of your annual income.  (Here’s a short-term disability cost calculator for pregnancy and other reasons to estimate your premium rates. )

Unlike group policies, individual policies typically require medical underwriting, which means pre-existing conditions come back into play. If you apply for short-term disability coverage when you are already pregnant, it will be considered a pre-existing condition. While you might get approved for coverage, you could be denied benefits when filing your claim.

Additionally, private coverage bought outside of employers does not cover a mother’s recovery from labor and delivery. What it does normally cover are complications before birth or after delivery that delay a return to work.

Can I get short-term disability coverage if I’m already pregnant?

Your best bet is to opt-in to short-term disability coverage before you become pregnant so you will be eligible to receive benefits.

If you are already pregnant, you may be able to get short-term disability insurance through your employer if the insurance company doesn’t consider pre-existing conditions.

If the insurance company does consider pre-existing conditions, women can buy supplemental short-term disability through their employer. However supplemental short-term disability for pregnancy will only cover your next maternity leave since the pre-existing condition exclusion will rule out benefits for your current pregnancy. 

How to submit claims for disability insurance plans

To get the benefits of short-term disability for pregnancy and childbirth, you, your employer, and your doctor have to submit forms and information to your insurance company. That includes: 

• Employee short-term disability statement
• Authorization for the Release of Information 
• Authorization of Personal Representation (optional) 
• Employer’s Report of Claim with some of the following information:
  • Job description 
  • Copy of enrollment card 
  • Copy of approved Evidence of Insurability form
  • Documentation of earnings, including prior year’s W-2
  • Other sources of benefits awarded or applied for
  • Copy of your application or resumé
• Attending physician’s statement

Key Takeaways on Short-Term Disability for Pregnancy

1. Apply before you conceive for guaranteed benefits! You may become ineligible to receive benefits after you’re already pregnant due to it being a pre-existing condition.
2. Opting into a policy through your work will have more generous benefits for pregnancy. If your employer doesn’t offer it, you can (and should) request that they offer a voluntary employee benefit program.