Short term and Long term disability- two policy confusion

[Katoslake]

Hello,

My DW has a current disability that is unlikely to improve enough for her to resume her occupation. She is currently getting Short term disability from her employer. That has a 6 month expiration and if she is still unable to work she can apply for LTD from her employer.
She also has a LTD (same occupation) policy that we pay for with after tax dollars. That policy has a 90 day elimination period.

She is approaching the 90 day mark. Should she apply for LTD from her personal policy while still receiving STD from her employer ?

I'm sure these situations can have many financial challenges.

She'd love to be healthy and still able to work. Her condition is very limiting to her quality of life. A normal, pain free life is the ultimate goal, regardless of income. She and her physicians are trying everything possible to reach that outcome.

Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated !

 

[teej1985]

I'm assuming that LTD should be applied for right away so that the waiting period starts right away.

 

[badatmath]

This sounds like a question for a lawyer tbh. I feel sure there are coordination of benefits clauses in these policies that you need to understand. If you have access to the policy documents I'd read those first. Probably wife can get those online from her employer.

I recall seeing people at w*rk turned down for LTD even though they were too sick to return to work and who were ultimately fired for running out of STD. One passed away only a short time later. 24x7 oxygen heart issues and diabetic and needing a walker doesn't quality for disabled apparently at least not to whoever they used. Of course they might have been denied due to not submitting proper paperwork or whatever - no way for me to know that.

 

[Kings over Queens]

She should start the claim process now. I'd also suggest reading the 2 long term disability policies to see how (if) the coordinate with each other.

 

[pacergal]

So it sounds like she has access to LTD via employer and a separate LTD you purchased with an outside company?
I would read the papers you got when you applied for LTD, and possibly call the company to start the 90 day countdown.
As stated earlier, it would not be unusual for the two insurance companies to talk to each other to discuss coverage. Similar to if you have two health insurances.

 

[marko]

What happened to my brother was this:
His STD expired and his LTD automatically kicked in.

Very shortly after, Voya, who ran his LTD offered to pay for attorneys and 'expediters' to get him on SSDI. I had already tried to get with SSDI myself but got stonewalled at every turn; bureaucracy at its best. Told it might take two years.

With Voya, all I had to do was fill out a few papers. Within a month he was on SSDI....I didn't have to do OR PAY a thing.

I don't know if that is SOP for all LTD providers but it worked so nicely for us.

 

[badatmath]

Are there really 3 insurance companies though? The STD payer, the private LTD and the other LTD. . . or do they overlap.

 

[OldShooter]

... Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated !

Why don't you just contact your agent or, absent an agent, contact the company? You might want to also check out the company with your state insurance commissioner to get a feel for what you should expect ref their claims handling. If it sounds bad enough you might want to consult a specialist attorney.