Many people are faced with mental health challenges but can be reluctant to seek help, especially if it means taking time off from work. Americans, in general, are notoriously bad at taking time off work; some survey results in recent years indicate that the average employee in the U.S. leaves nearly 10 vacation days unused each year. Fortunately, employers are beginning to recognize mental health as a valid reason for taking time away. While not all short-term disability policies cover mental health, many do. This article will explain what short-term disability is, the types of conditions that can qualify for short-term disability, and how to pursue this benefit.
What is Short-Term Disability?
Short-term disability is a way to replace your income if you are unable to work for an extended period. This is typically due to an illness or injury unrelated to your job (workers’ compensation covers job-related injuries). Short-term disability will usually provide a percentage or amount of your normal earnings on a weekly basis.
There are benefits to short-term disability for both the employee and the employer. Employees can experience financial hardship from lost wages and these events are usually unplanned. Employers don’t want to lose talented employees who don’t have the support they need to return to work. Short-term disability is a helpful solution to this problem. While policies vary, coverage often lasts for three to six months and will cover a variety of conditions.
Short-Term Disability Coverage for Mental Health
If you are considering taking short-term disability for mental health you will likely need to consider the following factors–the policy and its definitions, medical documentation, and duration or policy limits.
Policy and Definitions
Policies can vary widely in the way they define a condition. If you already have a policy, take some time to review it and make sure you understand how it would be able to support your situation. If you don’t yet have a policy, it could be worth researching your options. Many employers offer policies but if they don’t, or you are self-employed, you can still obtain coverage. The policy will also outline what conditions are covered. Some commonly covered short-term disability conditions for mental health include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Bipolar Disorder
- Eating Disorders
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Many policies have an “elimination period” or a required number of days you need to miss work before the plan will kick in. Knowing the number of days in the elimination period can help you better evaluate the next steps in your decision as you can plan for financial impacts or perhaps even use sick or personal days first.
Medical Documentation
To qualify for benefits, you will need to provide documentation from a licensed mental health professional or treatment center. This can include therapy notes, recommendations from a treatment provider, or your treatment plan. It should detail the impact of your mental health condition on your daily functioning at work. The more thoroughly your mental health condition is documented, the better.
Duration and Limitations
Some policies may have different durations for mental health-related conditions compared to physical health conditions. Knowing your options in advance can help you anticipate what the future will look like and how to best proceed.
Mental Health is as Important as Physical Health
This article has answered the question, “Can I take short-term disability for mental health?” The answer is yes. It should also be stated that mental health is just as important as physical health, and taking time to heal or protect your mental health is a very valid decision. While stigma around mental health and treatment is still a challenge, there has been progress. In fact, in 2008, a federal law called the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) was passed. While this law pertains specifically to health plans and not short-term disability policies, it was a step towards reducing mental health stigma in that it requires mental health and substance use disorders to be covered without additional restrictions or higher costs, in the same way that a physical condition would be.
Parkdale Center Can Help
Parkdale is here to support you in all aspects of your life, including with your work. We offer innovative and individualized treatment options for mental health disorders and substance use. We also work with our patients to maximize insurance coverage of any kind. Please contact us today to learn more.