Question
If I am diagnosed with a condition 6 months into my policy, does this count as a "pre-existing condition" that won't ever be eligible for long term disability?
My policy says that conditions arising during the first year since getting long term disability insurance are considered pre-existing and excluded from coverage. My workplace provides short term disability for the first year, but it sounds like if I'm diagnosed during the first year, I will never be eligible for the long term disability coverage. Is that correct? Or am I able to switch from the short term to long term after the first year?
Answer
In most policies if you never had any treatment for the condition, or should not have known to get treatment since the policy was issued, then you should be covered. If you had symptoms of your condition prior to issuance of the policy, then it would be pre-existing and you would not be covered.
