Can I File a Disability Claim for Pregnancy? Part I
Can you file a successful disability insurance claim if you are not able to work due to pregnancy? The answer is, it depends on the provisions of your specific policy.
In general, under most policies, coverage is not provided for pregnancy but a disabling condition can arise if there are complications from pregnancy; however, different companies will approach this differently.
Most disability policies start by defining disability as being unable to work due to “sickness” or “injury.” Some policies address how pregnancy is treated in their definition of sickness. For example:
UNUM POLICY
“Sickness” means sickness or disease which first manifests itself after the Date of Issue and while Your Policy is in force. It includes Disability due to complications of pregnancy or childbirth. It includes Disability due to normal pregnancy or childbirth after You have been Disabled for 90 days.
MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL POLICY
SICKNESS – An illness or disease that first appears (makes itself known) while this Policy is In Force. Sickness also includes:
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- the transplant of a part of the Insured’s body to another person;
- complications of pregnancy or childbirth.
GUARDIAN POLICY
Sickness means a sickness or disease, including pregnancy, which is diagnosed and treated while this policy is in force.
As you can see from these examples, sometimes normal pregnancy is considered a disabling condition (provided the period of disability lasts longer the elimination period). In other instances, only complications of pregnancy are considered a disabling condition.
For this reason, it is important to read your policy carefully before making a claim for pregnancy-related conditions. Our next post will examine how complications of pregnancy are defined and assessed under disability policies.
