Jamietk

Forgot one more note. If he works part time, he can still qualify for STD/LTD/SSDI. They just offset that amount from benefits. So this might be one way for him to keep his job to keep his medical insurance and lower rates than cobra, yet not work full time and still get disability. Please forgive me if he's not able to work at all. I have not read your entire background.

Hello,

I work for an insurance company, specifically in the department that pays the STD/LTD/Life insurance claims. I do the tax reporting and not claims management, but I know a little about it. Here's what I know: Your husband will NOT be ineligible for the LTD plan if he goes out on STD and gets terminated. The policies go by the onset date and regardless of whether he is terminated during STD or not, his onset date would be prior to his termination date so he would still be eligible for the LTD benefits (assuming he meets the definition of disability, which he should, but I just have to note this technicality in policy terms). This is pretty common. I am not sure if it is a law. But if not, I can't imagine any policy not having this provision. Otherwise, what would be the point in paying for LTD insurance if termination while on STD disqualified you from LTD. Most employers have a pretty set standard time that they terminate someone once they go out on disability. One benefit to going out on STD is that they may be less likely to terminate him quickly. And they may require him to go out on STD first and then "link" to LTD.  His Benefit Administrator should be able to confirm how it works. I assume it is a smaller company since you say they are not required to adhere to FMLA regulations. So you never know how a small company will behave. You are correct about waiver of Life insurance premiums once you go on LTD. As far as the dliema of whether or not it is ok to apply for STD and indicate an intent to return to work, yet applying for SSDI, yes it is ok to do that. They would probably encourage he apply for SSDI because it is likely an offset of the insurance company's benefits they'd pay him and it would save them money. My company actually pays a consultant firm who specializes in helping you get your SSDI quicker so you might ask if they offer that service. It can be a HUGE help to you in getting SSDI and minimizing the hassle. And the insurance companies pay the cost of the service. And most of the insurance companies care about their claimants too and really would want you to apply for SSDI for your own benefit.  It is a time consuming process. If you have dependents, you could also get dependent benefits. Unfortunately, melanoma is not on the compassionate list of diseases that automatically qualify for SSDI approval. Even if you do get approved quickly, there is a 5 month waiting period from date of onset. I don't know what they'd use for your husband's date of onset but if you are more than 5 months from date of onset, your benefits would be retro with SSDI and your private STD/LTD. So you could have some back pay coming to you. Another point to make regarding applying for STD on one hand as if he's returning to work (to try to save his job), and yet applying for SSDI, don't worry about that. SSDI and private disability insurance actually can use very different guidelines of what constitutes being disabled. Just because you're approved or denied for one, doesn't mean the other one will have the same determination so apply for both. You'll probably find SSDI is more lenient, but takes longer. Your private insurance will likely go by an occupation test (whether he can perform his occupation for a specified amount of time each day), and an earnings test (whether he can make a specified percentage of his salary). They could have other requirements, but these are pretty common. Just be sure to advise them of all doctor's records they need to gather to help your case. I hope this helped a little. Good Luck.

Hello,

I work for an insurance company, specifically in the department that pays the STD/LTD/Life insurance claims. I do the tax reporting and not claims management, but I know a little about it. Here's what I know: Your husband will NOT be ineligible for the LTD plan if he goes out on STD and gets terminated. The policies go by the onset date and regardless of whether he is terminated during STD or not, his onset date would be prior to his termination date so he would still be eligible for the LTD benefits (assuming he meets the definition of disability, which he should, but I just have to note this technicality in policy terms). This is pretty common. I am not sure if it is a law. But if not, I can't imagine any policy not having this provision. Otherwise, what would be the point in paying for LTD insurance if termination while on STD disqualified you from LTD. Most employers have a pretty set standard time that they terminate someone once they go out on disability. One benefit to going out on STD is that they may be less likely to terminate him quickly. And they may require him to go out on STD first and then "link" to LTD.  His Benefit Administrator should be able to confirm how it works. I assume it is a smaller company since you say they are not required to adhere to FMLA regulations. So you never know how a small company will behave. You are correct about waiver of Life insurance premiums once you go on LTD. As far as the dliema of whether or not it is ok to apply for STD and indicate an intent to return to work, yet applying for SSDI, yes it is ok to do that. They would probably encourage he apply for SSDI because it is likely an offset of the insurance company's benefits they'd pay him and it would save them money. My company actually pays a consultant firm who specializes in helping you get your SSDI quicker so you might ask if they offer that service. It can be a HUGE help to you in getting SSDI and minimizing the hassle. And the insurance companies pay the cost of the service. And most of the insurance companies care about their claimants too and really would want you to apply for SSDI for your own benefit.  It is a time consuming process. If you have dependents, you could also get dependent benefits. Unfortunately, melanoma is not on the compassionate list of diseases that automatically qualify for SSDI approval. Even if you do get approved quickly, there is a 5 month waiting period from date of onset. I don't know what they'd use for your husband's date of onset but if you are more than 5 months from date of onset, your benefits would be retro with SSDI and your private STD/LTD. So you could have some back pay coming to you. Another point to make regarding applying for STD on one hand as if he's returning to work (to try to save his job), and yet applying for SSDI, don't worry about that. SSDI and private disability insurance actually can use very different guidelines of what constitutes being disabled. Just because you're approved or denied for one, doesn't mean the other one will have the same determination so apply for both. You'll probably find SSDI is more lenient, but takes longer. Your private insurance will likely go by an occupation test (whether he can perform his occupation for a specified amount of time each day), and an earnings test (whether he can make a specified percentage of his salary). They could have other requirements, but these are pretty common. Just be sure to advise them of all doctor's records they need to gather to help your case. I hope this helped a little. Good Luck.

Hello,

I work for an insurance company, specifically in the department that pays the STD/LTD/Life insurance claims. I do the tax reporting and not claims management, but I know a little about it. Here's what I know: Your husband will NOT be ineligible for the LTD plan if he goes out on STD and gets terminated. The policies go by the onset date and regardless of whether he is terminated during STD or not, his onset date would be prior to his termination date so he would still be eligible for the LTD benefits (assuming he meets the definition of disability, which he should, but I just have to note this technicality in policy terms). This is pretty common. I am not sure if it is a law. But if not, I can't imagine any policy not having this provision. Otherwise, what would be the point in paying for LTD insurance if termination while on STD disqualified you from LTD. Most employers have a pretty set standard time that they terminate someone once they go out on disability. One benefit to going out on STD is that they may be less likely to terminate him quickly. And they may require him to go out on STD first and then "link" to LTD.  His Benefit Administrator should be able to confirm how it works. I assume it is a smaller company since you say they are not required to adhere to FMLA regulations. So you never know how a small company will behave. You are correct about waiver of Life insurance premiums once you go on LTD. As far as the dliema of whether or not it is ok to apply for STD and indicate an intent to return to work, yet applying for SSDI, yes it is ok to do that. They would probably encourage he apply for SSDI because it is likely an offset of the insurance company's benefits they'd pay him and it would save them money. My company actually pays a consultant firm who specializes in helping you get your SSDI quicker so you might ask if they offer that service. It can be a HUGE help to you in getting SSDI and minimizing the hassle. And the insurance companies pay the cost of the service. And most of the insurance companies care about their claimants too and really would want you to apply for SSDI for your own benefit.  It is a time consuming process. If you have dependents, you could also get dependent benefits. Unfortunately, melanoma is not on the compassionate list of diseases that automatically qualify for SSDI approval. Even if you do get approved quickly, there is a 5 month waiting period from date of onset. I don't know what they'd use for your husband's date of onset but if you are more than 5 months from date of onset, your benefits would be retro with SSDI and your private STD/LTD. So you could have some back pay coming to you. Another point to make regarding applying for STD on one hand as if he's returning to work (to try to save his job), and yet applying for SSDI, don't worry about that. SSDI and private disability insurance actually can use very different guidelines of what constitutes being disabled. Just because you're approved or denied for one, doesn't mean the other one will have the same determination so apply for both. You'll probably find SSDI is more lenient, but takes longer. Your private insurance will likely go by an occupation test (whether he can perform his occupation for a specified amount of time each day), and an earnings test (whether he can make a specified percentage of his salary). They could have other requirements, but these are pretty common. Just be sure to advise them of all doctor's records they need to gather to help your case. I hope this helped a little. Good Luck.

I too am in KC and a 7 year survivor. Small world. I go to MDA for my checkups, but go locally for a Derm. I use Dr. Angel at the Skin Cancer and Dermatology Center. I also recently used her PA (and I'm thinking her first name might have been Angel). Really like both of them. They are in Leawood across from Town Center Plaza on Roe. The clinic also has an office in LS but these particular doctors are only in Leawood. I did see someone else in an urgent situation this summer at LS. Can't remember her name but she was more concerned about the cosmetic appearance of doing a punch biopsy than she was about my risks. She pushed for a shave. I can get her name to you so you can avoid her if you want, but as long as you go to Leawood location, she won't be there. Other than that experience, I have been very pleased there for 7 years and everyone has been great. If I ever have a concern and they know I've had melanoma, they get me in asap. I highly recommend Angel and her PA in Leawood. I have a friend who sees Sabin and really likes her too and he is high risk (light hair and skin and lots of freckles). Sabin has acted aggresively with all of his moles.  Let me know if I can help further.

I too am in KC and a 7 year survivor. Small world. I go to MDA for my checkups, but go locally for a Derm. I use Dr. Angel at the Skin Cancer and Dermatology Center. I also recently used her PA (and I'm thinking her first name might have been Angel). Really like both of them. They are in Leawood across from Town Center Plaza on Roe. The clinic also has an office in LS but these particular doctors are only in Leawood. I did see someone else in an urgent situation this summer at LS. Can't remember her name but she was more concerned about the cosmetic appearance of doing a punch biopsy than she was about my risks. She pushed for a shave. I can get her name to you so you can avoid her if you want, but as long as you go to Leawood location, she won't be there. Other than that experience, I have been very pleased there for 7 years and everyone has been great. If I ever have a concern and they know I've had melanoma, they get me in asap. I highly recommend Angel and her PA in Leawood. I have a friend who sees Sabin and really likes her too and he is high risk (light hair and skin and lots of freckles). Sabin has acted aggresively with all of his moles.  Let me know if I can help further.

I too am in KC and a 7 year survivor. Small world. I go to MDA for my checkups, but go locally for a Derm. I use Dr. Angel at the Skin Cancer and Dermatology Center. I also recently used her PA (and I'm thinking her first name might have been Angel). Really like both of them. They are in Leawood across from Town Center Plaza on Roe. The clinic also has an office in LS but these particular doctors are only in Leawood. I did see someone else in an urgent situation this summer at LS. Can't remember her name but she was more concerned about the cosmetic appearance of doing a punch biopsy than she was about my risks. She pushed for a shave. I can get her name to you so you can avoid her if you want, but as long as you go to Leawood location, she won't be there. Other than that experience, I have been very pleased there for 7 years and everyone has been great. If I ever have a concern and they know I've had melanoma, they get me in asap. I highly recommend Angel and her PA in Leawood. I have a friend who sees Sabin and really likes her too and he is high risk (light hair and skin and lots of freckles). Sabin has acted aggresively with all of his moles.  Let me know if I can help further.

Hello,

It's me again, the insurance/disability person. If he gets approved for SSDI while he is on STD, it would likely just be an offset of his STD benefit. Most policies work that way. So it doesn't give you both amounts in full, but being approved for both does get you a little more money than just getting STD/LTD or SSDI. The elimination period is your waiting period, and it goes by onset date. Onset date of disability is typically the last day worked. But it is not 180 days from the date STD ends. STD and LTD share the same onset date. So you do have STD you can be paid for 12 weeks (?). That covers the first 3 months. Then if approved by SSDI, their waiting period is only 5 months. So you'd have a 2 month period without any benefits. Month 5 would only be SSDI payments. And month 6 would start the LTD payment. Again, most STD and LTD policies will reduce their benefits by SSDI. Now the part I am not sure about is how SSDI determines their onset date. But assuming they determine it the same as STD/LTD does, then my timeline I've listed should be somewhat accurate. I am so glad to know that mucosal melanoma stage iv is on the compassionate list of immediate SSDI approval. Again, you may want to check with your benefits administrator. I am just telling you how our plans work, and I think they are pretty common. I'm sorry you're going through this. This disease stinks. I am almost 10 years out and having some things going on that my regular doctors can't figure out. I'm having some tests done soon to rule out some other things, but melanoma always has to be in our minds. My uncle and grandma both died from it so my family has dealt with it for years. Heartbreaking. I wish you the best and hope I've helped a little, even if just to bring some questions to light that you might want to ask the Benefits Administrator.

Hello,

It's me again, the insurance/disability person. If he gets approved for SSDI while he is on STD, it would likely just be an offset of his STD benefit. Most policies work that way. So it doesn't give you both amounts in full, but being approved for both does get you a little more money than just getting STD/LTD or SSDI. The elimination period is your waiting period, and it goes by onset date. Onset date of disability is typically the last day worked. But it is not 180 days from the date STD ends. STD and LTD share the same onset date. So you do have STD you can be paid for 12 weeks (?). That covers the first 3 months. Then if approved by SSDI, their waiting period is only 5 months. So you'd have a 2 month period without any benefits. Month 5 would only be SSDI payments. And month 6 would start the LTD payment. Again, most STD and LTD policies will reduce their benefits by SSDI. Now the part I am not sure about is how SSDI determines their onset date. But assuming they determine it the same as STD/LTD does, then my timeline I've listed should be somewhat accurate. I am so glad to know that mucosal melanoma stage iv is on the compassionate list of immediate SSDI approval. Again, you may want to check with your benefits administrator. I am just telling you how our plans work, and I think they are pretty common. I'm sorry you're going through this. This disease stinks. I am almost 10 years out and having some things going on that my regular doctors can't figure out. I'm having some tests done soon to rule out some other things, but melanoma always has to be in our minds. My uncle and grandma both died from it so my family has dealt with it for years. Heartbreaking. I wish you the best and hope I've helped a little, even if just to bring some questions to light that you might want to ask the Benefits Administrator.

Hello,

It's me again, the insurance/disability person. If he gets approved for SSDI while he is on STD, it would likely just be an offset of his STD benefit. Most policies work that way. So it doesn't give you both amounts in full, but being approved for both does get you a little more money than just getting STD/LTD or SSDI. The elimination period is your waiting period, and it goes by onset date. Onset date of disability is typically the last day worked. But it is not 180 days from the date STD ends. STD and LTD share the same onset date. So you do have STD you can be paid for 12 weeks (?). That covers the first 3 months. Then if approved by SSDI, their waiting period is only 5 months. So you'd have a 2 month period without any benefits. Month 5 would only be SSDI payments. And month 6 would start the LTD payment. Again, most STD and LTD policies will reduce their benefits by SSDI. Now the part I am not sure about is how SSDI determines their onset date. But assuming they determine it the same as STD/LTD does, then my timeline I've listed should be somewhat accurate. I am so glad to know that mucosal melanoma stage iv is on the compassionate list of immediate SSDI approval. Again, you may want to check with your benefits administrator. I am just telling you how our plans work, and I think they are pretty common. I'm sorry you're going through this. This disease stinks. I am almost 10 years out and having some things going on that my regular doctors can't figure out. I'm having some tests done soon to rule out some other things, but melanoma always has to be in our minds. My uncle and grandma both died from it so my family has dealt with it for years. Heartbreaking. I wish you the best and hope I've helped a little, even if just to bring some questions to light that you might want to ask the Benefits Administrator.