Long-Term Disability - Pre-Existing

[Guest Marie]

Are group long-term disability contracts usually written that if a person goes on STD leading to LTD in the first year of employment and has a pre-existing condition, that the employee is never eligible for long-term disability for the pre-existing condition?

[LRDG]

Most Group LTD policies have an eligibility period, usually 1 year of employment, before EE is eligible to participate in GLTD plan.

Once eligibility is met, EE or ER begins contributing to GLTD premiums and a 1 to 2yr waiting period begins, depending on policy terms. The waiting period limits claims to a period of 1 to 2 yrs after eligibility is met.

There is often a look back period that allows insurer to consider insureds medical history if a claim is made within first 5yrs of the policy, which could result in pre-existing condition exclusion.

I believe once the 5yr 'look back' is satisified a pre-existing condition could be covered by GLTD.