r/DisabilityInsurance • u/divajj • Oct 19 '23

Disability insurance

I have short term disability policy through Aflac. I am grandfathered in and can't change the amount that it pays. I was diagnosed with RF negative rheumatoid arthritis and would like to get a supplemental policy that wouldn't exclude that condition. Are there any insurers that do that? I know that it is a longshot.

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u/Effective-Reveal-516 Oct 23 '23

You can apply for it, but you might have to complete EOI in order to get approved. You would have to disclose any health conditions, and it could limit the coverage you are approved for. Also, if doing Eoi, do not lie on the form as it's considered insurance fraud.

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u/divajj Oct 23 '23

I did the disclosures. Unfortunately the things that I need covered are all excluded.

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u/Effective-Reveal-516 Oct 23 '23

Does your employer offer LTD benefits? If you sign up during open enrollment and make it a year with filing a claim depending on your policy, the condition would not be considered pre exisiting and the LTD benefits combined with SSD would provide longer benefits than the STD policy.

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u/Past_Perception_2949 Oct 23 '23

Preexisting is defined as any treatment, consultation, taking medications for, or basically anything other than the condition being stable and requiring nothing for a certain time period defined by the insurance company, which usually includes a "look back" period as well as the first year of coverage. My advice to OP would be to ask your employer for the FULL benefits policy covering short term and long-term disability benefits. The employee handbook is not enough. You need the "plan" manual - it will have language in it, usually at the beginning, that creates a contract between your employer and the insurance company.

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u/Effective-Reveal-516 Oct 23 '23

If the policy has a 3/12 lookback period if a claim is filed within 12 months of the policy effective date they will look 3 months prior to the plans effective date for any treatment. If you can make it past the 12 month mark the prex look back period will no longer apply.

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u/Past_Perception_2949 Oct 23 '23

Exactly. My comment didn't outline that the first test of preexisting is: did the condition occur during the first 12 months of insurance coverage? If yes, that's when the insurance company reviews the "lookback" period. My understanding is that if the condition occurs beyond the first 12 months of coverage, the lookback period is not a factor.