We care about Aflac’s policyholders affected by the recent weather:
To help provide relief for California policyholders residing in Santa Cruz County who were affected by the coastal storms, Aflac will provide a premium grace period starting Dec. 23, 2024, and ending Apr. 15, 2025. This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims and leniency for any other action required under the policy. Aflac will provide a replacement copy of the policy upon request by the policyholder.
For Network Dental and Vision Members:
This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims; relaxation of prior authorization, precertification, and referral requirements; access to appropriate out-of-network providers due to unavailability on in-network providers or the members’ displacement; and leniency for any other action required under the certificate. A replacement copy of the certificate will be provided upon request by the certificate holder. Affected members should contact Aflac Benefit Solutions (formerly Argus Dental and Vision) at 855-819-1873, Option 1, for assistance.
We care about Aflac’s policyholders affected by the recent wildfires:
To help provide relief for California policyholders residing in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties affected by the wildfires, Aflac will provide a premium grace period starting Jan. 7, 2025, and ending Mar. 10, 2025. This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims and leniency for any other action required under the policy. Aflac will provide a replacement copy of the policy upon request by the policyholder.
For Network Dental and Vision Members:
This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims; relaxation of prior authorization, precertification, and referral requirements; access to appropriate out-of-network providers due to unavailability on in-network providers or the members’ displacement; and leniency for any other action required under the certificate. A replacement copy of the certificate will be provided upon request by the certificate holder. Affected members should contact Aflac Benefit Solutions (formerly Argus Dental and Vision) at 855-819-1873, Option 1, for assistance.
New messages from Aflac |
View Notifications opens a dialog
Close X dismisses the notification alert
Navigating the world of insurance can be daunting. Here at Aflac, we want to help with any barriers in the way of getting the support you need. First, we'd like to help you understand the difference between short-term and long-term disability.
Short and long-term disability insurance can be very helpful depending on the situation you find yourself in. However, they serve specific purposes and have different coverage lengths. Short-term disability can help you cover expenses for a temporary period of time following a sickness or injury, while long-term disability can give you income support for several years.
Our short-term disability insurance and long-term disability insurance is only offered through your employer. However, our supplemental plans like cancer insurance and critical illness insurance can be purchased directly through Aflac. These plans pay cash benefits directly to you (unless otherwise assigned) that can go toward recovery and treatment or everyday bills like electricity and groceries.
Table of Contents
Short-term disability insurance is a plan that provides income assistance when a covered health event puts you out of work for a temporary period of time.1 Typically, cash benefits from short-term disability insurance plans can help you with missed income for up to twelve months, but this depends on the specific company and plan you choose.2
For example, if you were to break your arm and your job requires heavy lifting, it wouldn’t be possible to do your work while recovering. Instead of missing income while you’re healing, you can collect a certain amount of money if you already have a short-term disability insurance plan in place.
Employers that offer their employees short-term disability insurance through payroll deduction may help employees feel safe and protected if an unforeseen incident were to impact their ability to work short-term.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Help cover yourself and your family with coverage from Aflac.
Get StartedLong-term disability is a plan offered through your employer that can help provide income support for multiple years if you experience a long-term or permanent illness or health event. This type of plan is much more common if an accident or illness permanently impacts your ability to work.1
If you don’t have a long-term disability plan in place, it may be difficult to balance out the missed income from years of being unable to work. Long-term disability plans are designed to help make those years more financially stable.3
There are a few key differences that set short and long-term disability plans apart:
The amount of short-term or long-term disability coverage you need depends on your financial situation and budget. If you think you’ll need financial assistance in case you suffer an incident that prevents you from working, disability insurance may be right for you. Aflac short-term disability insurance comes with competitive premiums that can fit most budgets.
Now that you’ve explored the differences between short and long-term disability insurance, you may have a better idea of which one will be more helpful for your current needs. If you’re still unsure about disability insurance or have further questions, we recommend scheduling a chat with an agent.
Regardless of what you decide, it’s important to note that you have options. Suppose you have a medical history that points to a potential long-term cancer diagnosis or a critical illness. In that case, there may be alternative routes that provide you with better coverage.
Short-term and long-term disability can both give you added financial security while you recover from an incident that puts you out of work. Aflac offers short-term disability insurance that you can get through your employer. If you would like to explore getting a short-term disability or long-term disability plan proactively, we recommend starting the conversation with your employer if it’s not already offered. We are always here to answer any additional questions you may have.
Get Started
Wondering if short-term disability covers mental health? Learn how short-term disability insurance works and whether you can use it for mental health illnesses.
Short-term disability insurance can help protect your income if you’re unable to work. Learn how short-term disability works and what it covers.
Wondering if short-term disability covers mental health? Learn how short-term disability insurance works and whether you can use it for mental health illnesses.
Short-term disability insurance can help protect your income if you’re unable to work. Learn how short-term disability works and what it covers.
1 Rippling People Center - Short-term disability: How it works and qualifications. Updated November 22, 2024. Accessed February 27, 2025. https://www.rippling.com/blog/how-does-short-term-disability-work.
2 Stratus HR - What Qualifies for Short Term Disability: How Does It Work and Who is Eligible? Updated June 3, 2024. Accessed February 27, 2025. https://stratus.hr/resources/how-does-short-term-disability-work.
3 TrueNorth - The Importance of Long-Term Disability Insurance for Professionals. Published July 17, 2024. Accessed February 27, 2025. https://truenorthcompanies.com/blog/insurance/the-importance-of-long-term-disability-insurance-for-professionals.aspx.
4 U.S. Chamber of Commerce - Short-Term vs. Long-Term Disability: What’s the Difference? Updated January 31, 2025. Accessed February 27, 2025. https://www.policygenius.com/disability-insurance/disability-insurance-elimination-periods/.
5 Policygenius - What are elimination periods in disability insurance?. Updated November 21, 2023. Accessed February 27, 2025. https://www.policygenius.com/disability-insurance/disability-insurance-elimination-periods/.
Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.
Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.
Short-Term Disability, A57600 series: In Arkansas, Policies A57600AR & A57600LBAR. In Delaware, Policies A57600DE & A57600LB. In Idaho, Policy A57600IDR. In New York, Policy NY57600. In Oklahoma, Policies A57600OK &A57600LBOK. In Oregon, Policies A57600OR & A57600LBOR. In Pennsylvania, Policies A57600PAR &A57600LBPA. In Texas, Policies A57600TX &A57600LBTX. In Virginia, Policies A57600VA &A57600LBVA.
Coverage may not be available in all states, including but not limited to DE, ID, NJ, NM, NY, VA or VT. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on state and plan levels. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact policy and rider forms for benefit details, definitions, limitations, and exclusions.
Aflac WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999
Z2400203R1
EXP 3/26
