Question:
Disability after surgery
OK, I understand that I am entitled to short term disability after surgery from being out of work, but my employers will not take steps to get me the forms I need. Any suggestions? — harleybabe69 (posted on February 25, 2005)
February 25, 2005
There is no disability (even short term disability) that you can qualify
for when having WLS. It is an ellective surgery. It is not a disability
caused by any occupation. The only disability obese people qualify for
(with some co-morbids) is Social Security and SSI. There is no way that you
can force your employer to pursue this because there is no reason for them
to do so. Your an adult it's time that you take care of yourself and quit
leaning on others. Your employer didn't cause the weight so where do you
figure that they should pay the bill while your not producing any income
for them. You must have known that you were thinking about this surgery for
at least a year and during that time saving for the time away from work. If
You are jumping into this on only a few weeks or months time, you need to
back off and reaserch and plan have everything in place for when you come
home( Protien, vitamins and other supplies). If you come home and nothing
is preparde a head of time and you don't have live in help what are you
going to do then. What God Forbid a complication happens and it takes you
six months to get back to work. I can tell you from experienc that it can
take up to 1 1/2 years to get your first Social Securit Disability check
(due to our current government they denie untill you go to court, just like
our insurance companies. they learned it from them.) I'm sorry to rain on
your parrade but it's time to open the eyes to reality. Unless you are
disabled now and are on gvernment disability your chances of getting it
because of having this surgery (other than major complications) you don't
qualify!!!
— culiedwa
February 25, 2005
Boy, who pi$$ed in his protien shake? lol and FYI Curtis...it now takes
over 2.5 years to get a SSI check lol
I'm assuming that you work for a company that offers STD to begin with.
Right? ok...You need to double check with your employer/HR department as to
what the qualifications are for filing a claim (dont even push the form
issue at that point). If that is what they are withholding from you,
contact your local labor union or small business administration. They
should be able to point you in the right direction to get the information
you need to file a claim. Also if you know which insurance underwrites
your employers STD benefits...contact them directly for the qualifications
and forms. Hope this helps.
— ImANewDee
February 25, 2005
I was covered by my short term disability plan through work when I had my
surgery. If the director of your Human Resources department is refusing to
assist you then go over his/her head. The suggestions provided regarding
going to the STD provider for the forms are an excellent idea. There is
nothing easy about WLS, from any angle. Keep your head up and keep
fighting. You are on your way!
Good Luck!
Theresa
— Theresa A
February 25, 2005
If your company offers disability for any medicl conditon they must cover
this. Disability payments are not determined by what procedure you have but
your inability to work. Most companies offer some kind of short term
disability, but if yours is one that does not then you would be out of
luck. Social security is for those who are permanently disabled, not just
out for a few weeks for surgery. Find out if others in your company have
been off with a medical condition and been paid for it. If they are denying
you based on your procedure then you need to contact your local Department
of labor and find out your options. As to WLS being "elective"
my insurance company determined it medically necessary, ie. necessary for
my health. BTW, I know people who got Short tem disability when out for
plastic surgeries, not WLS related, just wanted a tummy tuck, new boobs
etc, just because.
— **willow**
February 26, 2005
— MissKimberly
February 26, 2005
CURTIS...what in the world? I she has short term disablity with the
company...YES IT IS covered. It doesnt' matter if you are off for elective
or emergent surgery or just because you have a bad case of pneaumonia. I
appreciate the previous person looking up all the information. That is very
helpful. I think maybe Curtis might have had a bad experience with
somebody. Good luck.
— debi327
February 26, 2005
Yikes! Yes, you can get STD if your company offers it. I actually did not
even bother with getting the form from my HR department. In Missouri, not
sure about other states, there is a standard form that my surgeon filled
out and I passed that along to my HR department. Good luck. ~~Rebecca
— RebeccaP
February 26, 2005
I got it when having my WLS 2 years ago. The impression I got, was that
if you are approved by the insurance company to have WLS as medically
necessary, and the insurance is provided by your employer, that the
employer should support the insurance company's decision, and provide the
disability coverage. It isn't much, but batter than nothing. My HR people
were actually quite helpful in my case.
— Fixnmyself
February 26, 2005
I got it when having my WLS 2 years ago. The impression I got, was that
if you are approved by the insurance company to have WLS as medically
necessary, and the insurance is provided by your employer, that the
employer should support the insurance company's decision, and provide the
disability coverage. It isn't much, but better than nothing. My HR people
were actually quite helpful in my case.
— Fixnmyself
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