Scan Medical Insurance

Short term disability, group policy and preexisting condition conundrum?

The question: do I wait to sign up for short term disability (STD) until the preexisting condition exclusion period is past? Note: please read this carefully before replying. I suspect any meaningful answers will come from someone who has either been through this or works as an insurance agent. A group policy for short term disability is available to me through work (we can enroll at any time). The form only asks three simple questions about major medical conditions and there is a following clause asking whether you've had a few other conditions in the past five years (to which I would answer yes for one chronic joint injury). In August I saw an MD to evaluate the joint, but I haven't seen one or needed treatment since. The policy being offered has a 12 month preexisting condition exclusion clause. Seeing as I am an active individual, I am gambling that in the future, my chronic injury may require surgery (bodies wear and tear, that is life). The specific surgery that could potentially be needed in the future has a recovery time for which I would be unable to work for 4-6 months, thus my desire to get STD just in case. The conundrum: a. If I sign up before it has been a year since I saw an MD for my old injury, the policy then will not cover anything to do with that injury for a year from my sign up date. b. If I wait to sign up for short term disability until 12 months since my last MD visit, I believe the preexisting condition exclusion would not apply. Any insurance folk want to weigh in here? Honestly I am not trying to cheat the system, yet like any prudent individual, I am trying to set myself up for success should this condition cause me to be out of work. There is a chance that I won't need surgery, but after seeing a girlfriend of mine break her back and lose her house due to lack of STD, I am playing things safe. Thank you for your consideration and sharing of knowledge in this arena.

Public Comments

1. No, the waiting period for the preexisting condition, doesn't start until you sign up. First you sign up, THEN the clock starts ticking on preexisting conditions. You've got to go FIVE WHOLE YEARS without treatment or symptoms. Not one. So you buy the coverage now, and let the clock start ticking. You probably want to make sure the coverage is good for six whole months, or two years would be better. And maybe you need to consider long term disability, also. SSDI doesn't kick in, unless you're permanently, totally disabled, and it has a TWO YEAR wait period.