What is the standard waiting period for coverage to start in short-term disability policies?

In short-term disability policies, the standard waiting period for coverage to begin is typically set between 7 to 14 days. This waiting period, also known as the elimination period, is the time that must elapse after a disabling event occurs before the benefits kick in.

This duration allows for a few reasons: it helps manage the insurer's risk and ensures that the claims being submitted are valid and based on more than just a temporary ailment. Many short-term disability plans are designed to cover a specific period, often starting after this waiting phase, which may vary slightly between different insurers. However, the 7 to 14 days is the most common range. This timeframe is short enough to provide timely support to those who are unable to work due to a medical condition while also aligning with the typical treatment and recovery processes for many short-term illnesses or injuries.

Other options suggest either a significantly shorter waiting period, such as 1 to 3 days or having no waiting period at all, which would be less common in practice, or a much longer waiting period of 30 to 45 days, which tends to apply to long-term disability coverage rather than short-term. Therefore, the answer of 7 to 14 days aligns well with industry