How to Apply for Short-Term Disability Insurance

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.

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Key Takeaways

Short-term disability insurance can help supplement up to 70% of your income when you can’t work due to injury or illness.¹
Many people can apply for short-term disability coverage through their employer, but you can also apply for an individual plan.
Aflac offers employer-sponsored short-term disability insurance.

How does short-term disability insurance work?

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

Ways to apply for short-term disability insurance

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 short-term disability insurance (through your employer)

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.

Individual short-term disability insurance

If your employer does not offer short-term disability, you can still apply for a policy on your own. To do so:

Compare providers: Research different insurance providers and get quotes to see how much it will cost to get the coverage you want.
Apply: Acceptance is not automatic, and you may need to provide medical documentation or testing before you can lock in a quote. Always review the terms to ensure you understand qualifying injuries and illnesses, elimination periods, and premiums.
Pay your premiums: Once you choose a policy, continue to pay your monthly premiums to keep your coverage active.

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How to file a claim for short-term disability insurance

Every insurer will have a slightly different claims filing process. That said, the general process will involve:

Submitting a claim after sustaining acovered injury or illness that causes you to miss work.
Providing medical documentation to support your disability claim.
Waiting for the elimination period to end to begin receiving benefits.
Leveraging additional company or public programs, if possible, to receive workers’ compensation, paid time off, or other state benefits.

Why should I get a short-term disability insurance plan?

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:

Your dependents

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.

Your occupation

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.

Your added peace of mind

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.

Get a quote for short-term disability insurance

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.

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