Recurring Disabilities
Absences Due to the Same or Related Causes
If you return to work and then are absent again due to the same and/or a related serious health condition, the amount of time you have been back at work determines whether the later absence is counted as part of the same STD absence or a new STD absence, subject to approval by the Claims Administrator.
Recurrence within 26 Weeks of Return to Work
If you return to work and then are absent again due to the same or a related serious health condition within 26 weeks of your return to work, the absence will be treated as one continuous period of disability. This means any remaining STD Benefits can begin immediately, without an unpaid waiting period, at the level of STD Benefits to which you are entitled, subject to approval by the Claims Administrator.
If you return to work and then are absent again due to the same or a related serious health condition within 26 weeks of your return to work, but you had already used all of your 25 or 26 weeks of STD Benefits (depending on the Operating Company), you will not be eligible for any additional STD Benefits and will have to apply for Long Term Disability benefits.
Recurrence More Than 26 Weeks After Return to Work
If you return to work for 26 weeks or longer, an absence due to the same or a related serious health condition will be treated as a new STD event. For example, if you had been absent from work for exactly 8 weeks following surgery, returned to work for 28 weeks and then were absent again due to complications from the surgery, the new absence would be considered a new STD event and a new period of disability. You would have to satisfy the unpaid waiting period and have the absence approved by the Claims Administrator in order to be eligible for STD Benefits.
Absence Due to New Serious Health Condition Before You Return to Work
If you are out on approved STD absence and suffer from a second and unrelated serious health condition before returning to work from the first serious health condition, the entire absence is treated as one STD leave for which you can receive up to 25 or 26 weeks of STD Benefits (depending on the Operating Company) related to the new serious health condition.
Absence Due to New Serious Health Condition After You Return to Work
If you return to work and are absent again due to a new serious health condition, you are immediately eligible to apply for STD Benefits of up to 26 weeks related to the new serious health condition and will be subject to the 7-day unpaid waiting period.
In all cases, you must satisfy the eligibility requirements and qualifications for STD Benefits, and your claim must always be approved by the Claims Administrator.