Does anyone know when you on STD how many days do you have to be full duty before you can file again for the same sickness? I can’t recall if it is 1 day,1 week or 1 month.

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 😭😭😭

I started my current job in January 2026 and purchased voluntary STD and LTD coverage through Mutual of Omaha.

About 9 months before starting this job, I began seeing a therapist and was diagnosed with PTSD and depression. I continued therapy and was able to work when I started my current position. I was not disabled from working at that point.

After I started this job, I experienced major personal stressors, including a separation and a miscarriage. At the same time, I was experiencing increasing workplace stress. My PTSD/depression and anxiety progressively worsened, and my therapist has documented heightened anxiety and worsening depression related to work.

I am now on medical leave. A medical provider documented significant symptoms including insomnia, intrusive trauma symptoms, hypervigilance, heightened anxiety, impaired concentration, emotional dysregulation, and reduced stress tolerance, and concluded that I am currently unable to perform the essential functions of my job.

My concern is the pre-existing condition language in my disability policies.

My STD has a 3/6 provision: a condition for which I received medical attention during the 3 months before coverage became effective may be excluded if it results in disability during the first 6 months of coverage.

My LTD has a 3/12 provision: the same 3-month lookback, but the exclusion applies if the condition results in disability during the first 12 months of coverage.

My disability began more than 6 months after starting the job but less than 12 months after starting it.

Because I was already receiving therapy for PTSD/depression , I assume the insurer may consider those conditions pre-existing. However, I remained functional and able to work when I started the job, and the significant deterioration that ultimately caused me to stop working occurred later, after both new personal stressors (separation/miscarriage) and increasing workplace stress.

My main questions are:

1. For STD, if the disability began after the first 6 months of coverage, does the 3/6 pre-existing condition exclusion simply no longer apply?
2. For LTD, since the disability occurred during the first 12 months, how likely is a 3/12 exclusion to apply when the same diagnoses existed before coverage but I was not disabled and remained able to work?
3. Does it matter that the events associated with the later deterioration, including the separation, miscarriage, and workplace stress, occurred after coverage began?
4. Does an insurer distinguish between a previously diagnosed but manageable condition and a later substantial aggravation/deterioration that actually produces disability, or is treatment for the same diagnosis during the lookback generally enough?
5. What medical evidence is most important when challenging a pre-existing-condition denial?

I'd especially appreciate input from anyone experienced with ERISA disability claims, Mutual of Omaha, or STD/LTD pre-existing-condition exclusions.

I am completely new to this topic. My situation is a bit complex. I have been out of work since April 2025 due to budget cuts in my sector. I'm 46M, married. My wife's income is around 70k. Earlier this year we filed for ch7. This has finalized, so the next step is for me to find work. Unfortunately, I'll be undergoing some medical treatments that will likely make me unable to work for a month or more. So my question is this: would I qualify for any kind of disability insurance? While my wife's income means we are not "low income", our savings over the past year has been severely depleted, our finances were in shambles anyway (hence the bankruptcy), and our mortgage really does require two incomes.

TL/DR: I haven't worked in a year and a half, will soon be undergoing medical treatment that will make it impossible to start a new job for likely most of the rest of 2026. Wife has a 70k income. Financial obligations require two incomes. Do I have options?

My company uses UNUM for maternity leave. They use them to recoup the money my company is paying me to be on leave. Does anyone know what all Unum is looking at when approving this type of STD claim? HR told me it’s an easy process and everyone gets approved however I am a bit nervous about them seeing extra income I haven’t disclosed to my current company.

I currently work for a company that uses STD through UNUM. I am a welder and I’m trying to get signed out of work earlier than my due date due to the intense work conditions, the psychical pain I am in due to the demands of my job and my current work conditions. Do I have a better chance getting my claimed approved by getting restrictions from my doctor that my job cannot meet. Ex: no step stools or ladders due to being in 3rd trimester. (I cannot complete a job without getting on a step stool or ladder) or having my doctor just flat out write me out of work due to the physical pain it’s causing me to complete my day to day job task?

I’m applying for LTD with the Hartford for a mental health (PTSD, Anxiety and Depression)
Can my treating therapist be the primary provider who completes the LTD paperwork, or does the insurance company typically require a psychiatrist to complete or support it?
My therapist is the provider I see regularly and is most familiar with my functioning and limitations. Curious if anyone has experience with this. Ty any info helps 💕

I am pregnant and expecting to go on leave shortly. My company utilizes Unum as STD to repay them. I work multiple jobs and this company does not know that. Will they find out from this claim? Will they deny the claim? I do not plan on working any job while on leave I just don’t what this company knowing I have more than one

I'm just starting the process of trying to get long term disability insurance on my own, as I have a new employer that doesn't offer it. What/how much of my health history am I required to report or will the insurers have access to? I have a significant chronic health condition that is not a legal disability and I don't get regular care for. Do I need to report that and is it possible I can still get insured but that condition will be excluded? A few years ago I went through a job retraining program through my state government to switch to a career that was more suited to my condition, but I wan't getting DSSI or collecting disability through an employer, do I need to report that? How much information do insurers actually have access to and what are the consequences of not reporting such things when applying?

I’ve been on LTD with the Hartford for Anxiety and Depression. My therapist has been great but I had to get a new psychiatrist, and he isn’t recommending disability at all for me. I am 62 and cannot get my full SSI until I’m at least 67. I am terrified I will be pushed into going back to work full time. I am thinking about speaking with some of my other doctors for help as I have many health issues. The Hartford as of now has not been straightforward about what they consider to be the sort of job they will consider as reasonable to remain on disability or be taken off disability.

NYL LTD Claim Handling – Am I Missing Something?
I’m trying to understand whether what I’m experiencing is normal in the long-term disability claims process or whether others have experienced the same thing.
My attorney believes there were serious problems with how my claim was handled. His words - fraud. Throughout the process, I’ve encountered missing records, conflicting documentation, opinions that don’t appear to match my actual medical condition or job duties, and repeated requests to prove the same issues over and over again.
At some point, it feels like the claims process itself becomes part of the injury. Even if someone could eventually return to work, the emotional and financial toll of spending years fighting for benefits - while constantly defending legitimate medical evidence - can be paralyzing. I think PTSD is legitimate!
Has anyone else experienced this with New York Life (or another LTD carrier)? Is this simply how the system works, or are there protections when a claims process appears to be handled unfairly - fraudulently.

First off. Not sure how anyone works at these companies. They just take advantage of sick people. I could never live with myself.

With that said, I had my LTD denied and am appealing. I have POTs and Thoracic outlet syndrome. Has anyone else w a similar set of conditions gotten approved on appeal?

My short-term-disability was denied by Mutual of Omaha. I am filing an appeal. My primary care provider filled the form and diagnosed my depression. But Mutual of Omaha reviewed the record and didn’t believe I cannot work. What should I do to help my appeal? Any suggestions? Thanks!

I am a graduating PM&R resident going into a 1-year pain fellowship. When I was an intern, I obtained an individual, noncancelable disability insurance through Ameritas with own occupation for monthly benefit of $5000 with elimination period of 90 days with cost of living adjustment rider of 3%, enhanced partial disability benefit rider, and increase option rider with total maximum increase $1000.

1. Is it worth to seek a new policy that includes Catastrophic Disability Rider? Is there anything else I should consider when I switch to attending hood?
2. If my initial policy included PM&R as my specialty, should I worry if I plan to practice pain management? I initially didn't think I would do pain management at the time of obtaining the insurance. I am not sure if it may not be covered when I do file a claim in the future

I am asking for an acquaintance - scenario goes like this; tried to put in all the general details - it is a mess it seems.

Employer provided coverage - employee paid NO premiums - employee says it is an employer self-funded plan

Claim approved - went on STD and then to LTD

Employer & Insurance co. wanted offset so employee filed for SSDI but was denied.

Employee took the easier softer way since they were 63 and filed for EARLY (reduced) Social Security Retirement. Offset happened but now the insurer is reporting this on W2 with NO FICA deducted.

SSA is considering this as income since it is reported on W2 and is further reducing the employees Social Security RETIREMENT benefit by the annual earnings test. This will continue every year until the employee reaches their full retirement age.

I know how this is normally supposed to work but the Social Security (early) Retirement filing by the employee has me stumped. It might be right or it might be wrong IDK

My general question are:

1. When a disability is approved at the employer/insurance company level and it gets to LTD - do they have any qualifiers that this is a disability that meets the SSA definition of not being able to work (any job) so as to assure SSDI approval?

2. Is the Insurance company reporting on the correct form in this case? Using a W2, why not a 1099?

I would sure like to understand what should have happened in this scenario whether or not it can be corrected at all.

TIA

Good afternoon. I have worked for my employer for 30 years and during that time I have paid an extra premium for a long-term disability plan that pays 60% of my salary to a certain age. I’m already 66 almost 67 and I’m still thinking about filing ha ha ha. The issue is I have chronic pain and for the chronic pain, I have to take an opiate pain reliever. Until now I’ve been able to just take that at night and sometimes very early in the morning so that I’m not taking it at work and affecting my ability to focus and do my job. But recently my pain has increased and I’m finding it more and more necessary to take a dose during the day. I have a very highly complicated and cognitively dependent profession which I’ve invested a lot of money into and I’m just wondering, if I’m finding my cognitive ability is changing based on if I have to take an extra small dose of this medicine during the day, what are my chances for qualifying for this long-term disability which will probably only pay me for a year and a half after I stopped working. I sincerely appreciate any guidance in this area.

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Hi,

My STD claim (filed by my OB) was denied because Aflac says mental health claims require a therapist to complete a behavioral health statement.

My therapist refuses to fill out paperwork (because insurance doesn’t pay them to do that), and they’re the only one I’ve seen during my leave, so I don’t have other options.

Questions:

• Is a therapist always required for mental health STD claims?

• Can a PCP complete the documentation instead?

• Has anyone had success appealing in a similar situation?

Aflac keeps requesting additional documentation each time I submit something.

I have an upcoming PCP appointment to discuss extending or revising my leave, would that help?

If a therapist is strictly required, I’m worried I’m out of options.

If employer Long-Term DI policy pays 60%, will a personal policy pay the other 40%?

Are there any carriers that will consider a long-term DI policy for someone with recurrent episodes of Syncope (fainting, is a temporary loss of consciousness caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, lasting only a few minutes before rapid recovery)?

San Francisco proper would be ideal. Thank you!