A representative from AFLAC is coming to my work this week to discuss their products. I know very little about AFLAC as a whole. Does any have (or had) it? Or know anything about it when it comes to short term disability? I want to figure out about waiting period (before TTC really), cost per month, etc.
-
I think the waiting period is 10 months...
I wanted to buy one but my pregnancy took me by surprise.
-
@AutumnLove - That's what I read somewhere... Basically that you can't give birth within 10 month of enrolling. I think I also read something about having to wait 30 days before getting pregnant? I don't know how they would track that though. I just don't know if it's worth postponing TTC to sign up... I get some STD from my work so unless AFLAC will compensate me for the rest (or on top of my work - basically double dipping), it's not really worth it.
-
We have an AFLAC hospital policy for me and I absolutely recommend it! I think 30 days before getting pregnant is correct if you want the benefits to kick in. (which would be about the same as 10 months before giving birth--basically they're not gonna cover you if there's any chance you were pregnant when signing up for the policy). We'll be getting a decent-sized check once I deliver in Feb, and the policy unexpectedly came in handy this fall when I was hospitalized with a kidney stone in Sept. (I've never had one before, it was completely out of the blue!) We got a $1500 check for my 24 hr hospital stay and actually netted a couple hundred dollars with that + regular insurance. Seriously, look into it! I think I only pay like $26 a month. The hospital policy pays a lump sum if you're admitted + an additional amount for each day of your stay...I think the amounts vary based on different levels of coverage you can select. We also have a cancer policy just in case, which pays a set amount for preventative care (i.e. I get $50 every year when I have a pap smear).
Also, you get a talking duck keychain that says "AFLAC" when you sign up.
If you know you plan to TTC soon and can wait until the benefits kick in, I think an AFLAC hospital policy could come in handy for covering baby gear/hospital bills/maternity leave.
-
@Tororojo - Did you look into their short term disability policy? I think my hospital coverage is pretty decent so I'm not worried about that as much as I am the loss of income post-birth.
-
@LindsayInNYC: I didn't, but if you have a rep coming then you should definitely ask! Regardless of the type of policy, they cut a check that you can use for whatever you want (so whether it's hospital or disability, you'll get money as long as the situation applies to you). You may want to see what paperwork you have to file for each, which would affect how long you wait before getting paid (my question about the disability one would be how they determine your eligibility...do you have to have been out of work for awhile first? does it pay if you're getting paid for sick/vacation time?).
-
Yeah on their website it saysy 10 months
-
@Tororojo - The rep is coming on Wednesday. I won't be able to attend the meeting in person but we're setting up a conference call line so I can listen. I'm hoping to be able to contact the rep afterwards with specific questions. I don't want anyone at work getting suspicious of me!
-
@LindsayInNYC: Good luck! Our rep is pretty helpful and I'm sure yours will be, too (I mean...they should be helpful since that's how they make a living!).
-
Just FYI for anyone else interested, AFLAC has basically a 10 month period where you can't give birth. So, if I enroll on February 1, I cannot get pregnant until March 1 and be covered. So, since we're actively TTC, not a gamble I want to take. Oh well!
-
*bump*
I signed up for Aflac STD today! Admittedly the agent was a bit pushy and made me feel slightly uncomfortable.. but I had done some research and for the most part knew exactly what I wanted. My rate is about $20 per pay period, with benfits of around $1350 if i'm out for 6 weeks pp, or $1800/8 weeks (depending on method of delivery). 10 month waiting period still applies.
Made sense for us as we're a) planning ahead, and b) have great health/maternity insurance coverage, just need that extra income boost to get us through the weeks i'm not working.
Anyone else with Aflac STD that can chime in with their experience?
-
I ended up signing up for AFLAC in February. My employer opted not to offer STD coverage but did over hospital coverage so I went with that. I think mine comes to $14 per pay period (so twice a month), for just me - not DH too. It pays $500 per inpatient day up to 5 days and then $100 or $150 each day thereafter - something like that! But they are doubled up for the first week so it ends up being $600 or $650 per day which should give us a little money.
-
I don't know about the waiting period but I think the cost per month depends on your employer if you're getting it through them.
-
No, but I love the commercials!
-
@thismustbetheplace: Subscribing to this thread because we will be getting it for the next baby! We already have another AFLAC policy due to my husband's job and we really like it.
-
I posted up above back before LO was born but for an update, our AFLAC hospital policy totally rocked my world. We got a check for the hospital stay and with that + health insurance ended up making money on medical bills. Which seems wrong, but whatever.
-
Does anyone know if the Aflac Short Term individual plans are still available? I can't find it anywhere on their site
-
I signed up for Aflac through a sales rep at work as we were starting to TTC. Still not pregnant, so past the waiting period. They calculate how much you get paid for STD based on your salary.... I'll end up getting a check for $5,000 when we have a baby. Makes a big difference for maternity leave, that's for sure! A friend at work used it with her first a few years ago and said it's legit!
-
@Apex: I don't believe so. I think they're only available though employers.
-
I plan to sign up for this for our next baby
-
Bumping this old thread to see if anyone has any recent experiences with STD/maternity coverage from Aflac!
-
@doxielove: My only two cents - my employer opted to offer hospital coverage only and not STD (gah, hate that abbreviation, lol!). I signed up in February or March of this year but have yet to use it (obviously). It covers $500 per day for a couple of days of hospitalization - maybe 3 or 5 days or something? Then a lower amount thereafter. But the two overlap that first week, if that makes sense. So I'll get both amounts when I'm in the hospital post-baby.
-
@LindsayInNY: I'm wondering if I should have done hospital coverage as well (it's a rider I could have added on). Now that i'm pregnant i'm paranoid that I'll want that extra coverage if I have any pre-term hospital stays or complications..
I have to go back in and check, but do you know when we're supposed to let them know about the pregnancy? Or is it just something you report when you deliver?
-
@LindsayInNY: So, what overlaps? The $500/day and the lower amount...?
-
@thismustbetheplace: In your case, it might be a pre-existing situation. I remember asking that when I signed up because we just started TTC and I was so naively optimistic, LOL! I just checked my policy and found this provision: "Pregnancy or childbirth within the first ten months of the Effective Date of this policy. Complications of Pregnancy will be covered to the same extent as a Sickness."
@doxielove: I just checked my policy... In NY, AFLAC pays $395 per day for the first 5 days. That's a limit of 5 days per calendar year. Then I get $100 per day up to 365 days. So $495/day post-delivery. I also saw something about benefits for surgery and delivery is $200 so that might be another reimbursement? They cover some out-patient procedures too (D&C, colonoscopy, biopsy, etc.)
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
24 comments