Hi,
I was on STD from Sept, 03 to Feb, 04. I am a full time employee. When I was hired, (and every other year since), we must renew our medicial insurance. We also have the option of choosing what percentage of our pay we would like if we would need long or short term disability. We could choose 60 or 70% of our pay. I chose 60% for STD, and 70% for LTD. The problem arises when you actually need the disability. You better hope your company has a good insurance group. I got a check a week for 4 weeks. I had no problem getting my employer or my DR. to send in necessary paperwork. What I didn't know was that these insurance companies review your cases on a monthly basis. This can take anywhere from 3 to 5 working days. If the Dr. words something incorrectly, you won't get a check, and the insurance co. dosen't notify you to tell you that you won't be getting one either!! I went from october till the day after xmas without a check, and I have two little ones at home. I had to go on welfare. All because my Dr. said I could go back to work "light duty" which was not available in the department I work. But the insurance co. felt they should not pay because the Dr. said I could work. What a mess!!!!! I spent more time on the phone between the Dr's office, my employer, and the insurance co. than you could possibly imagine. I'm supposed to be recovering from a very severe injury, and not having to worry about when I'm going to see my next check. Anyway, I finally got it straingtened out, but not in time for xmas. I have since found out that many people have had the same problems with this insurance group. I was encouraged to write a letter, complaining about this group (which I did). Hopefully they will be replaced. Hopefully I won't ever have to go on STD again, as long as I live.