Can You Get Insurance That Will Provide You An Extended, Paid Maternity Leave From Your Job?

  1. 2777 POINTS
    Terry A. McCarthy, CLU, ChFC
    President, Insurance Associates Agency Inc., West Chester, OH
    To answer your question requires us to consider the requirements under law for the family medical leave act. The FMLA imposes upon employers certain obligations to provide the employee unpaid leave from their job without fear of losing their job. Employees continue to enjoy employer provided medical benefits as if they are active at work. Maternity leave is an eligible medical event. Employees are entitled to up to twelve work weeks of leave in a 52 week year. Seek out more information by searching the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 for more information. Now, as to obtaining an "extended, paid maternity leave from your job", you seem to be asking on whether there is a way to buy an extended period of benefit for a group, employer sponsored medical or disability income program. I have not encountered this option as a benefit in 38 years of work in this industry but, the best option is to contact the benefits administrator or Human Resources at your employer with this question. No optional benefit available will waive the rights or duties of the employer under common policy and practice, nor under the FLMA of 1993. There are indemnification type health insurance policies that may provide some cash benefit, and you can buy disability insurance prior to the pregancy that can cover medical as a disability, but they won't impact the employer benefits nor their right to expect you to return to work when their maternity leave expires. The indemnity policies and disability insurance will have specific underwriting requirements and being currently pregnant is likely to be a condition that prohibits a benefit until the pregnancy runs its course.
    Answered on October 7, 2015
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