# Question about short/long term disability insurance **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 1, 2014, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-short-long-term-disability-insurance/694609 "2014-08-01T23:18:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-short-long-term-disability-insurance/694609/1 "2014-08-01T23:18:37Z")
Is it possible for a person who has a chronic disease to purchase short and/or long-term disability insurance? I’m not talking about long-term care insurance (which I take to be the thing that will pay for nursing home, etc.) but insurance that will replace your income should you be unable to work. For example, someone with a disease from birth that isn’t life-threatening or disabling, i.e., they’ve been able to work and have a career though possibly with a wheelchair or such. Or someone with type 1 or 2 diabetes. Maybe someone who had a stroke but has almost fully recovered from it (I’m thinking of someone like the actress Patricia Neal who had a stroke and then came back from it and resumed her acting career.) Can these people EVER get short or long-term disability insurance? Or is it strictly for people who have never been sick a day in their lives and (knock on wood) aren’t likely to be? I guess I’m asking what type/length of pre-existing conditions would categorically disqualify you from getting this kind of insurance. General information about and experience with short/long term disability insurance would also be appreciated. Thx. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-short-long-term-disability-insurance/694609/2 "2014-08-01T23:23:00Z")
Yes, some insurance companies will underwrite a disability policy if you have a per-existing condition. Sometimes, they will issue a “rider” excluding that condition from disabling things that are covered. The crucial thing is\*\* full disclosure \*\*in your application. If you fail to answer a question accurately, and later need to make a claim, they will turn over every rock to find out that you lied and then claim the policy was never in force because of your “fraud.” So, talk to an agent, be upfront with the issues, and see what they do. Also some employers offer group disability policies as part of your benefit package. Some (but not all) have no individual underwriting and will take you with whatever conditions you have. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-short-long-term-disability-insurance/694609/3 "2014-08-01T23:50:27Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Also some employers offer group disability policies as part of your benefit package. Some (but not all) have no individual underwriting and will take you with whatever conditions you have. I think that was the case when my wife was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease. She was able to sign up for disability insurance through her employer, which she claimed on less than a year later. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-short-long-term-disability-insurance/694609/4 "2014-08-03T14:50:01Z")
Giving this a bump. Still hoping for additional information/experience from the Doper crowd. How is this issue (inability to work due to permanent or temporary disability) handled in countries with national health insurance? Is this something extra that you have to sign up for or is it part of the universal coverage? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-short-long-term-disability-insurance/694609/5 "2014-08-03T16:27:16Z")
At my and my husband’s work, a modest life insurance policy and basic long/short term disability insurance comes as part of the benefit package. You cannot be denied. However, eligibility and the out-of-pocket cost to purchase supplemental coverage through our employer, above and beyond that, is subject to a medical exam and history. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-short-long-term-disability-insurance/694609/6 "2014-08-03T19:20:10Z")
My wife and I both have long-term care insurance with the government’s program. Seems to me we applied online and somebody called us for an interview. As mentioned, the key is not to lie about your condition, as your policy could be voided if they find out you had an undisclosed problem. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-short-long-term-disability-insurance/694609/7 "2014-08-03T21:48:16Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > My wife and I both have\*\* long-term care \*\*insurance with the government’s program. Seems to me we applied online and somebody called us for an interview. As mentioned, the key is not to lie about your condition, as your policy could be voided if they find out you had an undisclosed problem. My bold. What country are you in? Saying _“insurance with the government’s program”_ makes me think you’re not in the US. Do you mean long term DISABILITY insurance, i.e., something to replace your income should you become disabled and not able to work anymore? Or do you mean long term CARE insurance, which the[AARP website defines](https://www.google.com/search?q=long+term+care+insurance&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb) as: > [@](#): > > The phrase “long-term care” refers to the help that people with chronic illnesses, disabilities or other conditions need on a daily basis over an extended period of time. The type of help needed can range from assistance with simple activities (such as bathing, dressing and eating) to skilled care that’s provided by nurses, therapists or other professionals. > > Employer-based health coverage will not pay for daily, extended care services. Medicare will cover a short stay in a nursing home, or a limited amount of at-home care, but only under very strict conditions. To help cover potential long-term care expenses, some people choose to buy long-term care insurance. IOW, long term \*\*disability \*\*insurance replaces your income. Long term \*\*care \*\*insurance is to pay for nursing care when you can’t work (for example, care in a nursing home). ETA: Checked: you’re in Portland? So you bought long term CARE insurance through the Affordable Care Act? That’s not the same as insurance that will replace your income if you can’t work. Yes, this is confusing. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-short-long-term-disability-insurance/694609/8 "2014-08-03T22:54:20Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > My bold. > > What country are you in? Saying _“insurance with the government’s program”_ makes me think you’re not in the US. > > Do you mean long term DISABILITY insurance, i.e., something to replace your income should you become disabled and not able to work anymore? > > Or do you mean long term CARE insurance, which the[AARP website defines](https://www.google.com/search?q=long+term+care+insurance&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb) as: > > IOW, long term \*\*disability \*\*insurance replaces your income. Long term \*\*care \*\*insurance is to pay for nursing care when you can’t work (for example, care in a nursing home). > ETA: Checked: you’re in Portland? So you bought long term CARE insurance through the Affordable Care Act? That’s not the same as insurance that will replace your income if you can’t work. Yes, this is confusing. Well, I fucked that up royally. People who retire from the government (military, in my case), are eligible for the [federal long-term care insurance](https://www.ltcfeds.com/) program. It has nothing to do with the Affordable Care Act. It’s just insurance that kicks in to cover costs if you become disabled or ill and require full- or part time care in a facility or at home. It’s not free, but the premiums are less than some other programs. We are retired, so this doesn’t replace income, just helps pay the bills. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-short-long-term-disability-insurance/694609/9 "2014-08-03T23:01:37Z")
When I returned to work after a medical leave a few years ago, my company sponsored ST disability policy covered my follow-up care intermittently. It was a PITA to use (thanks, Unum) , but that was more the fault of our third party administrator. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-short-long-term-disability-insurance/694609/10 "2014-08-10T19:59:57Z")
The friend, on whose behalf I was researching, just got notice that his application for short/long term disability insurance was turned down. He is employed by a community college district in Houston. He does have health insurance through this employer. The disability insurance application had nine conditions listed, and stated that if you had in the past or currently have any one of them, you would be denied insurance. He checked off five of them. He related this to me; I did not see the application. I can only remember three of the disqualifying conditions that he told me: cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease. So I guess the notion that you cannot be turned down if the insurance is offered by your employer depends on the employer. ☹ \*NOTE: This is not a long term \*\*\*CARE \*\*\*policy that I’m talking about, nor is it taking retirement due to disability. \* ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-short-long-term-disability-insurance/694609/11 "2014-08-10T20:24:14Z")
If you’re talking about income replacement, your friend can buy Aflac products as an individual, although it is very expensive to do so. IIRC, they don’t ask medical questions, but you do have to talk to a human salesman to get a quote. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-short-long-term-disability-insurance/694609/12 "2014-08-10T20:58:14Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > If you’re talking about income replacement, your friend can buy Aflac products as an individual, although it is very expensive to do so. IIRC, they don’t ask medical questions, but you do have to talk to a human salesman to get a quote. Thanks for that suggestion. I appreciate your input and welcome further ideas. A visit to the Aflac site tells me they do offer short-term disability insurance to temporarily supplement income during a hospital stay or while recovering from something that you will recover from. What my friend would be interested in is long-term disability coverage, i.e., income replacement due to having to stop work all together because of a deteriorating medical condition that makes it impossible to continue to work. My friend is looking for permanent income replacement until retirement age (five years away). Years ago, I had a friend who went to work for the University of Texas system. He was HIV positive at the time. After two years, he developed AIDS (this was around 1990) and went on long-term (permanent) disability, not SOCIAL SECURITY disability, but some kind of disability connected with his employment. He was astounded that it was available and that it was actually enough to live on. I’d ask him more about it, but he died in 2002. I was thinking that the community college district where my friend works would have similar excellent coverage, but their coverage seems to be geared toward perfectly healthy people who have never had major health problems and who would use the long-term disability coverage only if they became disabled due to an accident or something.