If you are having a baby or thinking of getting one, congratulations! As you might think about how pregnancy will change your life, you will also have some pragmatic questions about your job and the income affected. For example, how long can you take off? Will the insurance company cover the pregnancy and maternity? Fortunately, disability insurance companies cover pregnancy depending on the type of coverage or if the pregnancy involves complications.
Disability insurance for pregnancy: What is covered?
According to a survey, it has shown that women in the US take around ten weeks of maternity leave, and 25% of working women rejoin their work after a week.
Many women do take more time off work to take care of their newborns, deal with the physical difficulties of birth, and adjust to motherhood. Sometimes, women are not physically ready to return to work early and forced return to work may be dangerous to their health–but they think they cannot afford to take more leave from their jobs.
Under FMLA, eligible employees of the covered employer are able to take up to 12 weeks of leave in a year for the birth of a child. But, employers with less than 50 employees are excused, and employees are not eligible until they have worked for a year and a minimum of 1,200 hours during the year before leave starts.
Also, FMLA leaves are generally unpaid. The employers can grant you leave without threatening your job, but they will not pay for your leaves.
Some states have introduced laws requiring mandatory paid parental leave for eligible workers. But, in the US, most workers are not accessible to this right. Due to this, disability insurance is critical for women.
Complications during pregnancy that may require more time off
The rules mentioned above apply to a normal pregnancy where everything occurs ideally–but all pregnancies are not like that. Complications in pregnancy are common and can put both the baby and the mother at risk. Bed rest is often recommended, meaning the mother must take extra time off before the baby’s birth. Again, job-protected leave can be availed, but it will not be paid, which makes the women difficult to take leave for such a long period.
Approximately 8% of pregnancies involve complications that can hurt the baby or mother if left untreated. Some complications include gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, hyperemesis gravidarum, and placenta previa.
