https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:53:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291610 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 13:58:04 +0000 ElbieKay 2291610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>FYI, my STD period started when I stopped working, and it ended 6 weeks after my delivery date. (I had a routine labor/delivery/recovery and no c-section.) So, for example if I had stopped working two weeks before my due date and the baby was two weeks late, then I would have had a 9-week STD period. My STD policy didn't cover the first two weeks, so in that case I would have been paid for 7 of the 9 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291471 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 12:20:41 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2291471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ksnow: Ah perfect - if you can swing being unpaid for the last 6 weeks of FMLA, you'll be able to tack it onto the end of those 12 weeks to get you to 14, and then any PTO added on top of that if you're looking to extend for longer! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291394 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 11:42:42 +0000 ksnow 2291394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: Yes that does make sense. I know I can use the parental anytime in the first year, so i'll have to figure out how to make sure it happens later. Not sure if it's a form or a time sheet code or what. With feedback from HR so far, I think I better just look for someone who's had a baby recently and ask them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291374 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 11:24:46 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2291374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ksnow: I would also make sure that the 2 weeks of parental leave don't run concurrent with your disability. Because your disability starts the day that you go into labor (or when your doctor writes you out). So if that's the day you give birth, you want to be sure that the 2 weeks parental leave don't run at the same time, leaving you with really just 6 weeks of paid leave. Does that make sense? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291367 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 11:20:35 +0000 MenagerieMama 2291367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ksnow: I agree with talking with your STD company. My policy I get 60% of pay after a 2 week wait, and for the policy itself I think it's good for up to 25ish weeks, but for L&amp;D it has a specific time frame, the 6/8 wks. Granted, if I had complications my OB could say I needed longer, but that is the standard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291343 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 11:07:08 +0000 yoursilverlining 2291343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ksnow: Yeah, your HR person really should be able to get you a copy of either the plan documents, or the policy. You’ll want to know what % of pay you’ll receive while out on STD as well. Some companies “top up” STD payments (mine did, so I received 100% pay for 6 weeks), others don’t. You’ll want to know that ahead of time, so you have plenty of time to save or make plans for that period with loss of income if you need to! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291331 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:52:01 +0000 ksnow 2291331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: @ShootingStar: Thanks! I guess I'll have to figure out who our insurance carrier is. Luckily I still have some months to research. I asked HR to send me all the info but only got one link back...so not exactly as detailed answer as I'd like, especially when it actually comes time to initiate the whole process. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291325 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:47:53 +0000 ShootingStar 2291325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just a word of caution - my STD plan worked nothing like how I thought it did, or how my HR thought it did. I only got 6 weeks of paid leave, and that was even after having a c-section. In order to get 8 weeks, I would have had to have my doctor provide my medical records supporting that I was still "disabled". I didn't even have my 6 week PP check up until 8 weeks because of a snowstorm :-/. </p> <p>So anyways, call your insurance company directly and ask them what their policies are. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291322 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:45:53 +0000 ksnow 2291322@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: the 25 weeks is actually how much STD i'm eligible for overall. My assumption is that i'll actually only get to use 6. I should get to add another 2 weeks for "parent leave" that my company does and then I think I'll add another 4 weeks of PTO to bring me up to 12 weeks...that's what I'm thinking so far anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291319 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:45:09 +0000 yoursilverlining 2291319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, the “standard” is 6 weeks, post-birth. </p> <p>You may get 8 weeks with a c-section depending on what your company purchased for an insurance plan. Not all companies pay the extra to have the c-section add-on.</p> <p>Additional time OK’d by your doctor would be because of some additional medical issue following the birth (or before the birth). Your doctor isn’t going to sign off on say, 12 weeks, without a medical reason why you can’t physically work. Even if they did, an insurance company would never just pay out on a claim like that without getting medical verification that you truly had an additional disability beyond child birth. </p> <p>25 weeks eligibility isn't for child birth - that's the max amount of time you/anyone can be out on an STD claim before it transitions to an LTD claim. You'll never get certified for anything close to that post-birth, unless you have a really serious complication. </p> <p>@ksnow: you employer is always the plan administrator (for employer paid plans). You'll likely hear from the insurance company after you go out on claim, in order to collect claim information. This is true whether your employer has fully insured insurance, or self insures (which many larger companies do). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291318 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:41:17 +0000 daniellemybelle 2291318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's awesome you are getting 25 weeks at 100% pay - if you only get 6 weeks STD and 2 weeks parental leave, is the rest PTO you saved up?</p> <p>For me, yes, it was the same. My doctor (well, midwife actually) did have to send a note of some kind to the insurance company but it was the standard 6 weeks for vaginal and 8 weeks for C-section (I had the latter). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291316 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:40:33 +0000 Corduroy 2291316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When you call the insurance company ask about pre-natal disability also so you understand coverage for bedrest and the end of pregnancy. In CA, because of our state laws, you can get put on disability four weeks before EDD even if you're having a happy healthy pregnancy. Not sure if that would be covered. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291315 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:40:28 +0000 ksnow 2291315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Alivoo01: I know! Maybe I should befriend my Doctor...that'd be like the best doctor's note ever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291313 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:40:01 +0000 teawithpaloma 2291313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, I believe your doctor will also be accommodating to that standard time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291312 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:39:45 +0000 ksnow 2291312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks! I figured it would be 6 (bearing any complications) but just wanted to be sure that was as standard as I thought and my doctor didn't come out at 3 weeks and be like 'oh you're good to go!' </p> <p>@catlady - my work is actually the plan administrator so I don't think i'll have any direct involvement with insurance (don't even know who it'd be) - of course I could be wrong as I'm still just starting to learn how it works.</p> <p>I wasn't eligible for paid leave with my first LO so just trying to figure out how it works so I can make plans for coverage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291308 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:37:16 +0000 autumnlove 2291308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup, 6-8 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291306 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:36:18 +0000 Alivoo01 2291306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine was also standard 6/8 weeks (vaginal vs c-section) at 2/3 pay with a 1 week waiting period unless I had additional complications that my dr stated I could not work until X date.</p> <p>If you get full pay for 25 weeks - that's bad ass!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291304 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:33:44 +0000 Bluebonnet 2291304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My experience is its the standard 6/8 weeks depending on delivery. </p> <p>If you go on bedrest, then STD starts earlier (and would be longer than 6/8 weeks). If you have complications that prevent you from being cleared at 6/8 weeks, then your STD would be longer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291294 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:26:24 +0000 catlady 2291294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would call your insurance company directly. I had STD through Aflac and it is standard to get 6 weeks for vaginal birth and 8 week for c-section. Any additional time would be based on medical complications. I think that is the only time they would consider what your doctor recommends (i.e. if you had a normal vaginal birth and easy recovery, I don't think it matters if your doctor recommends 12 weeks or whatever). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291290 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:25:16 +0000 catomd00 2291290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From what I know, unless there's some extenuating health concern, you will get the 6 or 8 weeks. Once you're cleared for all activities, that includes work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291289 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:25:00 +0000 Mrs D 2291289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine was the standard 6/8 weeks. I had to use 1 week of PTO first, then my 6 weeks (vaginal birth) kicked in at 60%...the rest of the FMLA (6 weeks - to get to the 12 weeks) was unpaid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/short-term-disability-based-on-dr-recommendation#post-2291285 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:22:15 +0000 ksnow 2291285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I just told about pregnancy at work and spoke to HR. I will receive 2 weeks "parental" leave. The rest is covered by short term disability (that my work purchases). (You can also do PTO/unpaid...)</p> <p>I asked if it was the standard 6/8 weeks covered by the short term disability and they said not necessarily, dependent on what your doctor says. (Based on my time with company/position i'm eligible for 1 week waiting period + 25 weeks at 100% pay.)</p> <p>I'm planning to ask my DR at the next visit, but that's a month away. For anyone else whose maternity leave worked this way - do most doctors stick with the (US) standard 6/8 weeks recommendation? </p>