Short-term disability (STD) insurance is designed to cover you for a limited period of time if you are unable to work due to disabling medical conditions. This type of insurance is an effective way to safeguard yourself financially in the event of a temporary disability.
While policies differ, most short-term disability policies cover you for a period of between three and six months. Typically, the employer pays for this insurance policy in full or in part, and the worker must be unable to fulfill their regular job duties due to illness or injury. If you’re an employee in Florida, you might be wondering if the state offers short-term disability insurance and how much you can get in disability benefits.
Does Florida Offer Short Term Disability Insurance?
In contrast to other states, Florida does not offer short-term disability benefits to individuals who miss work due to a work-related injury or illness. One way to obtain assistance if you are unable to work is through your employer's disability insurance or workers’ compensation coverage. However, employers are not required to give STD benefits.
Individuals who are not covered by their employers must purchase coverage on their own. Preexisting conditions, on the other hand, are frequently not protected until the policy has been applied for a specified period of time, typically 12 months.
tends and analyzes disability claims for permanent impairments exclusively through the Florida State Department of Health's Division of Disability Determinations, which is responsible for classifying disability for Social Security disability benefits and the Medically Needy program.
How To File For A Disability Claim
In Florida, applying for short-term disability benefits may entail filing a claim, which you cannot do unless you already have coverage in place for the type of medical ailment you have. If you purchase a short-term disability plan or if your employer provides one, you can submit a claim to the insurance company.
Keep in mind that the state does not require employers to provide coverage for off-the-job injuries and illnesses.
- Submit a Social Security disability claim if your doctor anticipates that your non-occupational injury or illness will last longer than twelve months. Social Security, on the other hand, does not pay benefits for temporary medical problems.
- Fill out the claim form provided by the private insurance company that issued your policy to make a claim for temporary losses due to off-the-job (non-occupational) accidents and illnesses.
- Submit a claim for temporary disability benefits for on-the-job (occupational) losses by accomplishing the claim form provided by the private insurance company. This company should be selected by your employer to provide Workers' Compensation.
Workers’ Compensation In Florida
In Florida, there are over 250 insurers offering workers' compensation insurance. In Florida, rather than a state-mandated residual market entity, the largest workers' compensation insurer is a private market insurer.
Workers' compensation insurance can assist with the payment of critical benefits such as medical expenses. This includes treatment for repetitive stress injuries and maintenance therapies such as physical therapy.
This coverage helps compensate for lost salaries of injured employees who require time off to recover from an employment-related injury or illness. Additionally, it can assist in covering the costs associated with a permanent disability that prevents an employee from returning to work. It will even assist with funeral expenses if an employee is killed in a work-related accident.
Takeaway
Short-term disability benefits are essential to save workers from financial disasters in times of medical emergencies. Even though Florida does not provide short-term disability insurance, employees can still turn on other options for work-related illness or injury.
If you want to know more about the benefits of Social Security disability insurance, head over to Disability Help today!
