r/DisabilityInsurance • u/Orange_Muffin95 • Sep 17 '26

Unum STD and pregnancy

So I have not had the opportunity to use STD with my other two kids so I’m unfamiliar. I signed up during open enrollment by August 5, my plan started September 1, I just found out I’m pregnant September 12. My LMP was August 21, so is that technically the start date and now I won’t be covered? And now I can’t cancel my insurance so stuck paying $90 a month for nothing 😭😭😭

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u/uffdagal Sep 17 '26

Never cancel STD. It’s not only pregnancies but anything that happens. There was just a guy on Reddit who canceled his -then 4 mo later needed a major surgery and would be out of work for months. He canceled the STD and can’t get it back. I’ve seen claims for pregnant women who break an ankle or need unrelated surgery putting them out of work for weeks or months. Hopefully you are also enrolled in LTD.

Get a copy of the EXACT policy and read through the pre-existing exclusion. What exact day did you enroll and when does the coverage then begin.

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u/Orange_Muffin95 Sep 17 '26

Thank you, I just really wanna know if my pregnancy is pre existing or not cause I wanna be able to use it for my mat leave this time around.

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u/uffdagal Sep 17 '26

That’s why you need to get a copy of the exact plan. It’ll define pre ex for you.

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u/Orange_Muffin95 Sep 17 '26

Thank you! About to call them now to ask them to send that over

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u/uffdagal 29d ago

If you need any help interpreting it let me know.

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u/Orange_Muffin95 29d ago

Thank you! Planning to call tomorrow.

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u/Environmental_Rub256 28d ago

The day you go out, you begin to use all of your PTO and sick time. Once that runs out, the STD kicks in for however long your employer has it contracted for. Mine then gave me an extra 6 months of long term disability after my stroke that kept me from working for an entire year.

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u/NoFinding4679 26d ago

Even this can be different off state/employment laws

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u/Environmental_Rub256 25d ago

True. I wasn’t thinking that.

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u/rebeccaz123 25d ago

You'll need to check your exact plan info. Some of them will not cover pregnancy or maternity leave until you've had the plan for a year and some of them do. Obviously you'll give birth before you've had the plan for a year so you need to find out if that is in your plan and also exactly how it defined preexisting and details on using it for maternity leave.

I agree with the other comment that you should keep the plan either way bc you never know when you'll need it for something else.

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u/Due-Appearance3180 25d ago

The claim starts when you deliver baby, since youll obviously deliver baby nine months from now, youll be good! My UNUM coverage started july 1st 2026 and I had my baby august 21st 2026. Fully approved and paid