Short Term Disability Without Being a Short Fuse
Disabilities > > Short Term Disability Without Being a Short Fuse
The information for those who need support for a short term disability is not quite as daunting as the statistics on long term disability sufferers’ problems, but we still need to take into consideration preventative measures, or, more aptly defined, proactive moves, that we need to use to avoid any additional stress and misery. Or at least be able to cope with it if an incident or accident occurs.
The distinction should first be made between a long term and short term disability. While a long term disability is one expected to endure for a year or more, a short term disability is one which has coverage lasting for one year or less. But besides the distinguishing of terms, the equally important details are in the claims forms, as well. Many of us have no idea what to include or leave out when disclosing information. Many of us who are not milking the disability insurer, anyway.
One of the problems with filing a claim for short term disability support is that we likely don’t know how to complete the claim forms. This results in a denial of benefits to even the honest claimant who is not just embellishing or exaggerating to get a free ride (which I have seen too many get away with too many times, and which is why, I imagine, why claims are so demanding of information).
It’s important to keep on top of the following, then, when preparing the paperwork for a short term disability claim:
*When describing your typical duties on the job, be sure to include every kind of duty you were able to perform (whether you did each activity daily or not). Otherwise, if you leave out the administrative, social, and sales capabilities you had, even though you mostly designed advertising, for example, then your claim may be denied or only partially honored—as the assumption will be you are now only partially disabled.
*Know the definition of short term disability…or disability. If your description of your disability does meet the definition, you will easily be left without compensation. For discussion purposes here (but by no means meant for perfect legal or other proof), the definition disability management experts use for a “disability” is as follows: “an impairment that restricts the ability to perform normal daily activities—one of which is work—where impairment is any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological, or anatomical structure or function” (according to ceiu.org).
*When you get physically examined by a medical professional, be sure at least one exam is done by an independent doctor. Be sure it is legitimately an IME, Independent Medical Examination. In other words, complete, unbiased medical examinations are required as part of a short term disability claim. But some less ethical insurers might try to get you to take an exam done by a medical professional who is chosen and/or employed by
These are just three areas to be sure to cover in your defense, to keep you from being thrown into place where even the cost of an ambulance trip will set you back. And when this single $1,000 +/- ill comes in with bills for emergency room visits, hospital stays, medical supplies and aids and medicines, short term disability insurance will keep the short fuse from even being lit.