Can you get Aflac if you have a pre-existing condition?

Understanding Aflac’s Pre-Existing Condition Policy.

When you get hurt or ill, disability insurance will prevent you from losing your income. Your rates will increase if your risk of being disabled is higher. When determining premiums, insurance companies take into account your age, career, medical history, working occupation, the state where you live, and lifestyle, in addition to the amount of coverage.

If you have pre-existing problems, you can get disability insurance without having to pay higher rates, but your benefits will not cover accidents or illnesses brought on by your pre-existing condition – this is referred to as an exclusion.

Aflac offers one of the most competitive short-term disability insurance plans in the nation.

What do we mean by a pre-existing condition?

A pre-existing condition in the context of insurance is a health problem you have that can affect your eligibility for the insurance coverage you’re attempting to obtain. Pre-existing condition exclusions are in place to safeguard insurance companies against consumers who purchase a policy after becoming ill. You are protected from potential risk by insurance providers. They wager that you won’t become disabled while paying for the coverage, allowing them to pay benefits when claims are filed.

Insurers evaluate your pre-existing condition based on the care you received for it. Your doctor’s visits and any prescriptions you are taking will be included in your medical records, which disability insurance companies like Aflac will carefully review in search of anything that can aggravate your health situation.

However, if you are aware of any symptoms when you initially apply, insurance companies expect you to be honest about any conditions you may have. Otherwise, they may refuse to provide you with benefits when you most need them.

In more direct words: A “Pre-existing Condition” is any illness, disease, infection, disorder, or injury for which, within the 12 months before the Effective Date of coverage, medical advice, consultation, or treatment was recommended or received or for which there were symptoms that would typically prompt a responsible person to seek diagnosis, care, or treatment.

Disability brought on by a Pre-Existing Condition is not covered unless it manifests itself 12 months after the coverage’s effective date.

Short-term Disability Insurance

Depending on the insurance company, your pre-existing condition may affect whether you are eligible for disability insurance and how much you would have to pay for coverage. Additionally, it depends on how severe the ailment is and whether the coverage covers it.

There are several scenarios where you can be denied coverage as well. For example, if you have a mental or behavioral issue, such as anxiety, you can potentially be denied disability insurance. When you apply for disability insurance, your insurer may view you as a higher risk and treat your anxiety as a pre-existing condition if it necessitates medical attention or medication. When you submit a claim for benefits, you can be refused if you fail to disclose any pre-existing ailments that you have, and the underwriters somehow fail to learn about them.

Providing complete information when you apply is the greatest method to guarantee that you’ll obtain disability insurance benefits if you get sick or injured and are unable to work. A licensed agent at Medicare Nationwide can help you compare disability insurance quotes and probably even discover a long-term disability policy from other carriers that suits your needs if you have a pre-existing condition.

Aflac Short-term Disability Plan

When you become incapacitated, you could lose your capacity to work and your savings or retirement assets. There are too many financial responsibilities that you can’t turn a blind eye to. Your financial planning involves and heavily relies on disability insurance. Fortunately for us, a wide range of benefits are available from Aflac for both total and partial disability. Benefits for partial disability may be offered to assist make up for missed wages even if you are still in the capacity to work. Aflac’s Disability Services are available in all the US states, with the exception of Puerto Rico, Guam, or the Virgin Islands.

The point to note is Aflac doesn’t coordinate disability benefits. Aflac policyholders affected will get paid immediately, regardless of any other disability insurance you might have, such as Social Security.

The Aflac Benefit

Unless you specify otherwise, Aflac provides cash payments directly to you. This implies that you will have more money to use for whatever you decide, whether it is more living expenses, continuous medical charges, or other costs.

• It is offered for sale individually. Depending on your salary and financial demands, you can select the plan that is best for you.
• Enjoy the benefits of Guaranteed-issue on your insurance policy. Therefore, there is no need for a medical questionnaire. Although the feature varies by state, so check beforehand.
• For each day that you are disabled, you get a cash payment. The guaranteed payout gives you $1000 every five consecutive years, simply for retaining their policy and the rider.
• The policy is guaranteed renewable up to 75 years of age.

**Pregnancy and childbirth-related disabilities are compensated for the same amount as covered illnesses. The policy won’t start paying out disability compensation for childbirth until ten months have passed since it went into effect. Unless you provide proof that your Disability lasts longer than these time limits, the maximum term of Disability coverage allowed for Disability caused by childbirth is six weeks for non-cesarean deliveries and eight weeks for cesarean deliveries, less the Elimination Period.

Even if the Disability is brought on by more than one sickness, injury, or both at the same time, benefits will only be awarded for one Disability at a time.

In What Conditions does Aflac not provide Short-Term Disability Coverage?

• A disability that is being treated beyond the United State’s borders.
• Anytime the policy’s coverage violates any trade or economic sanctions imposed by the United States. Such coverage shall be unlawful and unenforceable if it breaches U.S. economic or trade sanctions.
• Made a fraudulent claim under this policy or any past claims under any other Aflac coverage for which you got benefits for which you were not legally entitled and for which payment was fraudulently induced.
• Injuries to pre-existing conditions or disabilities brought on by those conditions will not be covered until they start more than 12 months after the coverage’s effective date.
• Disability resulting from any bacterial, viral, or microorganism infection or infestation, or any condition brought on by an insect, arachnid, or other arthropod bite or sting, shall be considered a Disability resulting from an Injury and shall be covered to the same extent as a Disability resulting from Sickness.
• Pregnancy/ childbirth within the first ten months of the coverage’s start date (pregnancy complications will be covered to the same amount as a sickness)
• Whether sane or insane, intentionally inflicting bodily harm on oneself or making an attempt at suicide.
• Having cosmetic surgery or other non-medically necessary elective operations
• Receiving dental care, unless it is necessary due to an injury
• Being actively serving in any of the armed forces or units supporting them, such as the National Guard or Reserve (Aflac will, upon receipt of written notice of military service, refund all premiums as are applicable to such persons on a pro-rata basis); or being exposed to war or any act of war, whether declared or undeclared.
• Organ donation within the first 12 months of the policy’s start date.
• Emotional or mental illnesses. However, the policy will pay for covered disabilities brought on by senility or senile dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, that appear while the policy is in effect.

The exclusions vary from state to state; it’s advised to check with our insurance specialists for detailed information on the YES and NO of Aflac short-term disability insurance.

Our Thoughts

Regarding your need for short-term disability coverage, we think the American Family Life Assurance Company is a good life insurance carrier. Stable pricing, fair coverage, and reliable customer service are readily available to you. Health care is no small investment; it’s only fair to be cautious.

Please get in touch with us if you want to learn more about AFLAC as your ideal short-term disability insurance provider or to examine their rates. Your agent will prioritize your wishes, needs, and resources over anything else when recommending Medicare.

Prefer to talk on the phone?  Contact us at 1-888-559-0103.