Aflac short term disability pre existing conditions

Short-term disability insurance is a particular kind of insurance designed to protect a portion of your income for a short period of time, if a covered injury or illness briefly prevents you from earning a wage.1

How each short-term disability insurance plan and procedure works varies from company to company. At Aflac, you can access and apply for short-term disability insurance through your employer. Payments are deducted from your paycheck, and you may receive benefits for covered illnesses or injuries that occur on or off-the-job.

Aflac Short-Term Disability Insurance pays cash benefits for covered disabilities (subject to exclusions and limitations). Payments can be used as needed – to help with medical bills, recovery expenses or even to help you pay for rent or groceries. This may be particularly helpful if others depend on your income or if you have outstanding bills to pay.

What Does Short-Term Disability Insurance Cover?

The main qualifier for short-term disability coverage is if the incident temporarily puts you out of work. However, it can be useful to review circumstances that are not covered by short-term disability insurance:

• If you lose your license to work2
• If you are unable to work due to a war2
• If you get injured due to active participation in a riot or protest2
• If the injury is self-inflicted2
• If you committed a crime and are in prison or jail2
• If you have a pre-existing condition3

We recognize that understanding the qualifications of each short-term disability insurance plan is important. In addition to reviewing the limitations and exclusions in each plan, it can be helpful to consider your budget for a short-term disability insurance plan and how long you are able to stay afloat without income.

How Long Does Short-Term Disability Insurance Last?

The duration of coverage depends on how each short-term disability insurance plan works. At Aflac, we can help provide income relief for up to 24 months. If your injury or illness lasts longer than three months, you may want to consider a different kind of insurance that provides more long-term coverage. Luckily, you have many options with Aflac:

1 Chances of Disability. Me, Disabled?, Council for Disability Awareness. Accessed August 6, 2020. https://disabilitycanhappen.org/disability-statistic/.

2 In Arkansas, Rider A57653. In Idaho, Rider A57653ID. In Oklahoma, Rider A57653. In Oregon, Rider A57653OR. In Texas, Rider A57653. In Virginia Rider A57653VA. Rider may not be available in all states. Limitations and exclusions may apply. Benefits are determined by state and plan level selected. Contact your agent for details.

3 The above example is based on a scenario for Aflac Short‐Term Disability (domicile state) that includes the following benefit conditions: ages 18–49, employed full‐time at the time disability began, $2,000 monthly disability benefit amount, $40,000 annual salary, elimination period 0/7 days, 3 month benefit period, benefits based on policy premiums being paid with after‐tax dollars. Benefit periods, elimination periods, monthly disability benefit amounts may vary by state, benefit option, and level of coverage selected. Review your state‐specific brochure below for a “How It Works” scenario customized for your state.

SHORT-TERM DISABILITY - A57600 SERIES

In Arkansas, Policies A57600AR, A57600LBAR. In Idaho, Policy A57600IDR. In New York, Policy NY57600. In Oklahoma, Policies A57600OK, A57600LBOK. In Oregon, Policies A57600OR, A57600LBOR. In Pennsylvania, Policies A57600PA, A57600LBPA. In Texas, Policies A57600TX, A57600LBTX. In Virginia, Policies A57600VA, A57600LBVA. This is a brief product overview only. Coverage may not be available in all states. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on plan selected. Optional riders are available at an additional cost. The policy has limitations and exclusions that may affect benefits payable. Refer to the policy for complete details, limitations, and exclusions. For costs and complete details of the coverage, please contact your local Aflac agent.

Limitations and Exclusions for residents of Arizona:

Disability caused by a Pre-existing Condition or reinjuries to a Pre-existing Condition will not be covered unless it begins more than 12 months after the Effective Date of coverage. Aflac will not pay benefits for a Disability that is being treated outside the territorial limits of the United States. Aflac will not pay benefits whenever coverage provided by the policy is in violation of any U.S. economic or trade sanctions. If the coverage violates U.S. economic or trade sanctions, such coverage shall be null and void. Aflac will not pay benefits whenever fraud is committed in making a claim under this coverage or any prior claim under any other Aflac coverage for which you received benefits that were not lawfully due and that fraudulently induced payment. Aflac will not pay benefits for a Disability that is caused by or occurs as a result of any bacterial, viral, or micro-organism infection or infestation, or any condition resulting from insect, arachnid, or other arthropod bites or stings as a Disability due to an Injury; such disability will be covered to the same extent as a Disability due to Sickness.

Aflac will not pay benefits for a disability that is caused by or occurs as a result of your:

1. Pregnancy or childbirth within the first ten months of the Effective Date of coverage (Complications of Pregnancy will be covered to the same extent as a Sickness);
2. Using any drug, narcotic, hallucinogen, or chemical substance (unless administered by a Physician and taken according to the Physician’s instructions), or voluntarily taking any kind of poison or inhaling any kind of gas or fumes;
3. Participating in any activity or event, including the operation of a vehicle, while under the influence of a controlled substance (unless administered by a Physician and taken according to the Physician’s instructions) or while intoxicated (“intoxicated” means that condition as defined by the law of the jurisdiction in which the accident occurred);
4. Participating in, or attempting to participate in, an illegal activity that is defined as a felony (“felony” is as defined by the law of the jurisdiction in which the activity takes place); or being incarcerated in any detention facility or penal institution;
5. Intentionally self-inflicting a bodily injury, or committing or attempting suicide, while sane or insane;
6. Having cosmetic surgery or other elective procedures that are not Medically Necessary;
7. Having dental treatment, except as a result of Injury;
8. Being exposed to war or any act of war, declared or undeclared;
9. Actively serving in any of the armed forces, or units auxiliary thereto, including the National Guard or Reserve;
10. Donating an organ within the first 12 months of the Effective Date of the policy;
11. Mental or emotional disorders, including but not limited to the following: bipolar affective disorder (manic-depressive syndrome), delusional (paranoid) disorders, psychotic disorders, somatoform disorders (psychosomatic illness), eating disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, depression, stress, or post-partum depression. The policy will pay, however, for covered disabilities resulting from Alzheimer’s disease, or similar forms of senility or senile dementia, first manifested while coverage is in force.

Benefits will be paid for only one Disability at a time, even if the Disability is caused by more than one Sickness, more than one Injury, or a Sickness and an Injury.

PRE-EXISTING CONDITION LIMITATIONS: A “Pre-existing Condition” is an illness, disease, infection, disorder, or injury for which, within the 12-month period before the Effective Date of coverage, medical advice, consultation, or treatment was recommended or received, or for which symptoms existed that would ordinarily cause a prudent person to seek diagnosis, care, or treatment. Disability caused by a Pre-existing Condition will not be covered unless it begins 12 months after the Effective Date of coverage.