How long is short term disability? In general, a short term disability lasts less than one year. Anything over one year, and that would be considered a long-term disability.
Keep in mind that different disability insurance (DI) programs can set their own definitions for a disability duration, so there’s no universal length of time that is going to apply to every policy. We’ll go over what you need to know below.
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Request a Free QuoteHow to Get Short Term Disability Insurance Coverage
There are two main ways to get a short term disability insurance policy:
- Through your job. Check with your employer’s HR department to see if they offer coverage you can opt into. This is the least expensive way to get coverage. You may not even have to opt-in; some employers automatically provide a small amount of coverage for all employees. That means you may have coverage already that you didn’t even know about!
- Through an insurance agent. If you want coverage but your employer doesn’t offer any, you can work with an agent to buy a plan yourself. We can help with that! Although it’s more common to buy a long-term disability policy, we can help you shop for any type you want (short, long, or both). One good benefit to buying your own plan? If you change jobs or go freelance, that coverage goes with you.
Once you have coverage, you can breathe a sigh of relief! If you get sick or hurt and can’t work for weeks or even months, your policy will pay you a weekly benefit so you don’t get behind on your bills while you’re out of work.
Tax Tips
- Got coverage through work? Ask if your employer requires you to pay some or all of the premium, and whether pre-tax dollars are used. If you do pay with pre-tax dollars, any payouts you receive later will be subject to income tax.
- Got coverage through an agent? Because you paid for the policy with after-tax dollars, any future benefits are not subject to income tax.
➡️ Want to talk to a real person about short term disability insurance? Call us at (800) 823-4852 and we’ll answer any questions you have! Or click the button below to request a free quote.
Request a Free QuoteWhat Does a Short Term Disability Policy Do?
Short-term policies cover most common illnesses and injuries, from pregnancy and childbirth to broken bones to pneumonia. As long as your doctor can verify that your condition will keep you from working for a number of weeks (usually at least two), you’ll be able to file a claim and get paid.
Once you submit a claim, your insurer will verify the information you submitted with your doctor and/or your employer. If they both verify that you are unable to work for an extended length of time (weeks, or even months), your insurer will start issuing weekly benefit checks. If you recover enough to go back to work, all you have to do is inform the insurance company when you make arrangements to return with your employer.
If you remain disabled for the full length of your policy’s benefit period, those checks will keep coming until that benefit period has passed. If you also have long-term disability coverage through that insurer, in most cases, that policy would kick in a start paying you automatically.
As you think about whether or not you need this type of coverage, ask yourself: how long is short term disability? And do I have the cash to make it through however long that disability might last? If the answer is “no,” consider giving us a call to get a free quote.
➡️ Want to talk to a real person about disability insurance? Call us at (800) 823-4852 and we’ll answer any questions you have! Or click the button below to request a free quote.
Request a Free QuoteHow Long Is Short Term Disability Coverage Going to Last?
First, let’s talk about the “elimination period.” This is a waiting period, after which you can start collecting benefits. Common elimination periods are 7 days, 14 days, and 30 days. In most cases, the date of your injury or illness, as confirmed by your doctor, starts the clock on the waiting period – even if you don’t file your claim for another few days. Once that period has passed, your insurer will pay you through the length of the benefit period, or until you can return to work.
Benefit periods vary by insurer and policy. Here are some common benefit periods for short-term plans:
- Three months
- Six months
- Twelve months
Most plans will pay you 40% - 70% of what you made prior to your disability. Depending on the insurer, you may have the option to pay a little more and select a higher payment percentage. No policy is going to pay you 100% of your previous salary. The point of these plans is to help you pay bills while you’re recovering; because of the limited time-frame, it’s expected that you’ll make a full recovery and be able to go back to work.
Take a look at your current checking and savings accounts. Do you have enough there to get your family through the next three, six, or twelve months? What if you had to add co-pays, prescription costs, and your insurance’s out-of-pocket maximum to all your regular expenses? A short term DI policy can help offset those expenses and keep your family’s standard of living at a normal level so you can focus on recovering and getting back to work.
➡️ Want to talk to a real person about short term disability insurance? Call us at (800) 823-4852 and we’ll answer any questions you have! Or click the button below to request a free quote.
Request a Free QuoteWhat about Government Disability?
There are no federal programs for short-term disability. Both federal programs – Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – are only available if your disability is projected to last at least one full year.
As of 2023, only a handful of U.S. states and one territory offer state-mandated employer-sponsored short-term disability coverage. These include California, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Puerto Rico. If you don’t live in one of these states or in Puerto Rico, your state or territory cannot offer you benefits. Coverage you buy at your own expense, whether on your own or through your employer, is your only option.
We hope you’re looking up “how long is short term disability” because you’re just curious, and not because you’re already experiencing one. If that’s the case, don’t let a short term disability wreck your long term financial goals! You can’t apply for coverage after you get sick or hurt and can’t work. Now is the best time to get your coverage in place, so you don’t have to worry. Accidents happen – but short term DI insurance can provide the income you need while you focus on recovery.
➡️ Let’s get you covered! Call us at (800) 823-4852 to get started, or click the button below to request a free quote.
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