Question:
Will WLS be covered under short-term disability? I am a single mother

and it would be tight trying to survive while not getting paid for 4 - 6 weeks. Also, is 4 - 6 weeks a good estimate for time off??    — Rachelle P (posted on February 28, 2002)

February 28, 2002
My WLS was covered under sick leave and short-term disability (six weeks).
   — [Anonymous]

February 28, 2002
Your insurance covers WLS as a "medically necessary surgery" and thus your disability insurance company should cover it the same as any other necessary surgery. My company didn't have any problems covering it.
   — Terissa R.

February 28, 2002
I had LAP RNY and was granted 4 weeks no trouble. They did not even question the disability when insurance has approved.
   — Joelle B.

February 28, 2002
I had surgery in October 2001. I took off 5 weeks. 1 week was vacation and 4 weeks was short term disability. As long as it is medically necessary and the proper forms are filled out by your doctor you will have no problem getting short term disability. 4-6 weeks should be plenty of time to take off. I would not go back to work any sooner than that.
   — blank first name B.

February 28, 2002
I had the hardest time getting my short term disability to cover my WLS. I had called the company prior to my surgery and they told me that as long as I could prove that it was medically neccessary and as long as I have had no prior conditions, that they would cover it. So I went ahead with my surgery, I had my DR submit the paperwork the day of my surgery. It was weeks and i did not hear from them, so I called and called and talked to like 10 people and they denied it saying that it is not medically neccessary. Boy was I mad....So I resubmitted it, talked to my DR and they called the company...a few weeks went by and they finally approved it and sent me one big check. At this point I was almost 5 weeks postop, my bills were late. We had to reach into our savings to pay the bills....my whole point...make sure that you have a little nestegg saved up in case your company does the same thing mine did. Good Luck!
   — Lacey M.

June 12, 2002
AFLAC Short Term Disability paid my claim with no questions. I was out 5 and a half weeks.
   — Jim Spurgeon

June 12, 2002
my leave was covered at 100% for 6 and 1/2 of my 7 weeks I took off. I was covered under the short term disability through my job (humana) and I was able to supplement the difference with my sicktime bank :) It was definitely a relief to not have to worry about it.
   — Ilene M.

December 21, 2002
It can vary from company to company. I believe most companies will give you STD for surgery. But you may have to take part of it as vacation or personal time before STD kicks in. Also, you may want to find out how much you will receive. The company I work for has cut from 100% STD to 60% STD if you are an hourly employee. Salaried employees still receive 100%. There are too many issues not to talk to your H.R. person. Good luck on it!
   — Shirley J.