Short term disability for Hep C patients

[Steen719]

My husband has Hep C (actually is negative after treatment), but will most likely need a liver transplant in a year or two. He works contract for a facility and takes no benefits. I have health insurance that covers him. He needs short term disability for the time he will be unable to work (3-6 months) after the transplant. He plans to and should be able to go back to work. He is 55 and other than the Hep c, is in good shape, non-drinker, non-smoker. If he is unable to he can apply for disability. Does anyone know of an insurance company that we can get short term disability for him? It would not be affiliated with him employment, but a separate policy that we would pay for monthly.
Thank you for any help you can give me.

[cjsam]

I believe it is something like 70 percent are denied their first time, most have to appeal with a lawyer, and once you do the stats are much more promising (i forget them off the top of my head)

[nygirl7]

It's all a big pain in the neck trying to get money that technically should be ours anyway since we earned it and contributed to it!

I hope somebody has better more recent info than me, I just remember when I tried it was hard but if you can get one of the lawyers like you see on tv it's supposed to help a lot since they usually deny most men off the bat the first time on principle.  Stupid but true.

Good luck!

[Steen719]

Thank you.  I'm finding out it is going to be a problem.    He would be eligible for SS Disability if they would approve him.  He has not missed one single day of work in the 22 years that I have known him.  Thank you for responding to me.

[nygirl7]

I don't think so if he has already been diagnosed - even though he successfully treated - wouldn't they say it's pre-existing some such or other as a way to negate any claim?

I'm not sure but I know we are still disqualified for life insurance after being treated even if we are cured so it just seems the same probably applies.

Of course, I hope that is wrong and you do find somebody.  Would he be eligible for SSI or social security of some sort somehow?  That one I would start working on getting copies of all of your paperwork from doctors together right now because it is really hard to do - took me over year and I had had a broken back and a dent in my brain at the time.  They just don't want to give up any $$$ unless they have to!