Being approved for short-term disability (STD) does not automatically mean you’ll be approved for long-term disability (LTD). While the two benefits are often linked—especially if they’re offered by the same insurance company—there are important differences in how they’re evaluated.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Separate Applications and Reviewers
Even if you’re switching from STD to LTD with the same insurer, you’ll usually need to submit a separate application for long-term disability. The LTD is reviewed independently, often with stricter criteria.
2. Different Definitions of Disability
Short-term disability often has a more lenient standard—typically covering you if you can’t do your current job due to illness or injury. Long-term disability policies may require you to prove that you can’t do any job for which you are reasonably qualified based on your education, training, and experience—especially after the first 24 months of benefits.
3. How Pre-Existing Condition Exclusions Differ Between Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
Unlike short-term disability (STD) policies, which typically do not include a pre-existing condition exclusion, long-term disability (LTD) policies usually do. This means that STD benefits are often payable even if your disability arises from a condition you had before coverage began.
In contrast, LTD policies generally include a “look-back” period—commonly 3 to 12 months—during which any treatment or diagnosis for a condition may trigger an exclusion if you file a claim within a certain time after coverage starts. Understanding this difference is crucial when evaluating your disability insurance coverage.
4. Medical Records Matter More
The insurer may request updated medical records, test results, or even require an independent medical examination before deciding on your LTD claim. The longer-term nature of LTD benefits usually means they scrutinize claims more closely.
5. Timing Is Critical
Don’t wait until your STD benefits run out to apply for LTD. Most policies have deadlines for when your LTD claim must be filed—often before your STD ends or within a narrow window after it ends.
Get Help with Your Disability Insurance Claims
If you’re transitioning from short-term to long-term disability, you want to make sure your LTD claim is as strong as possible. If your LTD claim is denied, the Ortiz Law Firm may be able to help you appeal the decision and recover the benefits you deserve. Call (888) 321-8131 to schedule a free case evaluation with a long-term disability attorney today.
