Specialist, LTCi, DI, Annuities, Life, Designs In Life, LLC, Utah
This is a very common question and the answer is that it depends on the carrier and its definition of total disability.
Normal pregnancy is not considered a disability by some carriers. In fact, it is clearly excluded from coverage in the contract. For others, as long as it falls into their definition of what constitutes a total disability, they will replace income after the elimination period is satisfied.
The definition of disability is key. A typical definition might be something like "the inability to perform the usual and customary duties of the occupation (job) in which the insured is working at the beginning of a disabling event..." A less favorable definition would add the words, "and is unable to work in any other occupation."
Since many women are able to perform the primary duties of their occupation during the first two trimesters of a normal pregnancy, some carriers do not automatically consider a leave for pregnancy a trigger point to replace income. And, if they do, 90 days is a typical elimination period - a kind of "time deductible" before one qualifies for benefits - most women would probably not satisfy the elimination period before the baby was born anyway.
If there were complications resulting from pregnancy, then that's a whole different situation, and if they started to occur early enough in the pregnancy and did qualify under the definition of disability, the elimination period would theoretically start sooner and benefits might be paid out before birth.
If you are beginning a new job and think you might become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during the time you are employed with that company, be sure to ask Human Resources if the company provides disability insurance as a group benefit and if the coverage includes normal pregnancy.
.JPG){kind=avatar}
Normal pregnancy is not considered a disability by some carriers. In fact, it is clearly excluded from coverage in the contract. For others, as long as it falls into their definition of what constitutes a total disability, they will replace income after the elimination period is satisfied.
The definition of disability is key. A typical definition might be something like "the inability to perform the usual and customary duties of the occupation (job) in which the insured is working at the beginning of a disabling event..." A less favorable definition would add the words, "and is unable to work in any other occupation."
Since many women are able to perform the primary duties of their occupation during the first two trimesters of a normal pregnancy, some carriers do not automatically consider a leave for pregnancy a trigger point to replace income. And, if they do, 90 days is a typical elimination period - a kind of "time deductible" before one qualifies for benefits - most women would probably not satisfy the elimination period before the baby was born anyway.
If there were complications resulting from pregnancy, then that's a whole different situation, and if they started to occur early enough in the pregnancy and did qualify under the definition of disability, the elimination period would theoretically start sooner and benefits might be paid out before birth.
If you are beginning a new job and think you might become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during the time you are employed with that company, be sure to ask Human Resources if the company provides disability insurance as a group benefit and if the coverage includes normal pregnancy.