For many, experiencing even a short-term injury or illness can have serious financial consequences. If you’re employed, a short-term disability insurance policy from Aflac can help cover living expenses while you’re unable to work. Read on to learn how short-term disability insurance works and how you can apply for a policy.
Table of Contents
A short-term disability insurance policy is a supplemental policy (additional coverage for expenses your primary insurance may not cover) that supplements up to 70% of your regular paycheck if you can’t work due to a covered injury or illness.1 Like other insurance policies, you can pay a monthly premium to keep your policy active and remain eligible to receive benefits.
Benefits and terms vary between insurance providers and policies, but you’ll usually have to wait through an elimination period after a covered illness or injury before you are eligible to receive benefits. This timeframe is typically 7 to 14 days after you suffer an injury or illness and need to take time off of work. Once you’re past this term, however, you may be eligible to receive benefits for a period that ranges from a few weeks up to six months.2
There are two primary ways to apply for short-term disability. Many employers offer short-term disability insurance through a corporate benefits package, or you can apply for an individual policy.
Aflac works with employers all over the country to provide short-term disability insurance plans to their employees . These plans come with competitive premiums , and you can apply for coverage through your employer offered benefits. Some workplace plans offer more variant coverage options than individual plans.
If your employer does not offer short-term disability, you can still apply for a policy on your own. To do so:
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Help cover yourself and your family with coverage from Aflac.
Get StartedEvery insurer will have a slightly different claims filing process. That said, the general process will involve:
Nobody plans to get hurt or sick, and almost 40% of American adults say they can’t pay an unexpected $400 expense without carrying a balance on a credit card or borrowing money.3 Short-term disability insurance is a way to supplement the financial impact of unexpected health issues. There are several reasons why a short-term disability plan is so valuable:
If you have children, you’re financially responsible for them. Being out of work for an extended period of time can make it very difficult to cover essential costs. Short-term disability helps replace part of your income so you can help with their expenses, along with your own.
Some jobs are more dangerous than others. While many workplace injuries may entitle you to workers’ compensation, it’s possible to also receive benefits from a short-term disability plan. Together, they may help you with the income necessary to navigate an extended absence from work.
Being unable to work for any amount of time can be stressful. A short-term disability insurance policy provides the added peace of mind that in the event of a covered health incident, you’ll be able to receive benefits from your plan.
An illness or injury can force you to miss work and create financial stress. With a short-term disability insurance policy, you can receive benefits while you recover. Chat with an agent to learn more about Aflac’s short-term disability insurance, and consider starting a conversation with your employer if this type of plan isn’t already offered in your workplace.
Ready to get disability insurance?
Get StartedShort-term and long-term disability insurance both offer great coverage. Learn the differences between them to figure out which insurance plan is right for you.
Short-term disability insurance can offer affordable coverage if you’re out of work due to an injury or sickness. Learn how much short-term disability costs.
1 United States Chamber of Commerce – Short-Term vs. Long-Term Disability: What’s the Difference? Published January 31, 2025. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.uschamber.com/co/run/finance/short-term-vs-long-term-disability.
2 GoodRx Health – What is Short-Term Disability? How It Works, How to Apply, and What Qualifies. Updated July 17, 2024. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.goodrx.com/insurance/employer-sponsored/what-is-short-term-disability.
3 Council for Disability Income Awareness – Disability Statistics. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://thecdia.org/disability-statistics/.
Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.
Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.
Short-Term Disability, A57600 series: In Arkansas, Policies A57600AR & A57600LBAR. In Delaware, Policies A57600DE & A57600LB. In Idaho, Policy A57600IDR. In New York, Policy NY57600. In Oklahoma, Policies A57600OK & A57600LBOK. In Oregon, Policies A57600OR & A57600LBOR. In Pennsylvania, Policies A57600PAR & A57600LBPA. In Texas, Policies A57600TX & A57600LBTX. In Virginia, Policies A57600VA &A57600LBVA.
Coverage may not be available in all states, including but not limited to DE, ID, NJ, NM, NY, VA or VT. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on state and plan levels. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact policy and rider forms for benefit details, definitions, limitations, and exclusions.
Aflac WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999
Z2500246
EXP 6/26