FMLA

I have talked to my manager about my surgery (I'm praying that I'm approved - one more month to go in my 6 month medically supervised diet) and told her that I wanted to take PTO because I've got 15 days right now and just about everyone seems to go back to desk jobs two weeks after surgery.  I talked to the HR lady in my location because I wasn't sure if this was something that HR needed to know about if it was okay with my manager.  She referred me to another HR person.  Jill, the second HR person, is urging me to take Short Term Disability (STD) incase there are complications.  Okay I could understand that BUT the kicker is that I have to sumbit my medical records to the company that actually pays the STD and they will determine if I actually NEED to take it.  Since this is technically an "elective" surgery no matter how us that have had the surgery feel about it, can the 3rd party company come back and say that they don't think it's medically necessary even if I was approved by insurance??  Jill also suggested that I apply for FMLA but that I needed to ask my doctor if this was covered under FMLA.  I didn't tell her what kind of surgery I was having as I'm trying to keep this to myself at work.  I'm not sure how supportive my co-workers would be, they like to gossip, and if I'm denied I don't want to look like an idiot in front of them.  So, after this long ramling post my questions are 1) can I be denied STD by the 3rd party? and 2)Does anyone know if this surgery is eligible for FMLA?

Kat

I have no idea!  Maybe you could research it online.  FMLA is a federal thing...so the rules should be on an official government site somewhere.  I'd call the 3rd party and ask them about this type of surgery also....they ought to know if it is generally denied or accepted.  Good luck!!!

I don't know anything about FMLA either but I couldn't even use my short term dissability for time off with this procedure since it wasn't covered on my health insurance and considered "elective".  I just made sure I had saved vacation time and sick leave to use.  I had my procedure on a Wednesday and was off the rest of that week and the entire next week.  I felt good about a week out and could have very well returned.  I don't think you really need to worry about being off a long time.  Most of have not been off more than a week or so.  Good luck.

Well I can give you some info on this for sure...

I have been approved by UHC and per HR I can use STD starting on day 8 after my leave starts.  STD lasts for 89 days, then if you were out longer you could go to LTD.  As long as aren't working and it is on the 8th day you CAN receive STD.  Even people that have smaller illnesses like the flu or something, if you are out 14 days you will be paid for basically 7 of that two weeks.  I hope that helped.

I can tell you that I was approved for FMLA.  The company that I work for approved me for it since it was a surgery that was "neccesary to perform the duties of my position"  Even though my insurance DID NOT pay for my surgery.  Job also offers a "leave bank'" for people to use if they dont have enough leave saved for any time off, I was denied use of it since the surgery "WAS NOT neccesary to perform the duties of my job" 
Either way you should be able to qualify for FMLA, and use that for any follow-up appointment you may/will have.
Hope this helps.

I did file with my short term disability insurance company and was approved.  They understood that it was not a surgery covered by my health insurance but it didin't matter to them.  I can't imagine that this wouldn't be covered by FMLA.  You ARE having abdominal surgery.  Good luck.

You will qualify for FMLA as long as you have been with your employer longer than 12 mos. STD should also cover you, elective or not, it is still medically necessary for your health.

My physician submitted a physician statement to my Disability company following my surgery outlining my admit/discharge and expected time off work. (Not my entire medical records)

Our STD only pays 67% of our salary which is better than nothing, but if I would have had PTO, I would rather have used it. FMLA can also cover intermittant for your followup visits.

I used sick leave days that I had built up and some personal ones as well. I just filed with my short term disability and am waiting on that plus another one I didn't know we had.