Learning, Sharing, and Teaching > Mini Money Mustaches

"Sick Leave" for Wife after Pregnancy

(1/5) > >>

Mgmny:
My wife and I are thinking about starting to try to have a kiddo in the next year or so, and so we wanted to dig through all of her employers paperwork to make sure we have all our ducks in a row (changing healthcare plans from cheap to better pregnancy/delivery care, higher FSA contributions, etc), and one thing we noticed is that she doesn't have a standard "short term disability" but rather a "Paid Sick Time" policy that seems very close to STD.

To be eligible, she needs to submit a note from her doctor every 21 days during the "sick time" indicating that she still can't work. If she has a normal, vaginal delivery, how long will a doctor give her? This will be our first mini mustache, so some quick googling shows everything between 6-12 weeks.

The only reason we really care is because at this point, she is eligible for 8 weeks at 60% pay during her "Paid Sick Time" and then up to another 19 weeks of $150 a week, which won't even cover the health insurance premiums!

If we wait to deliver the kiddo until March 1st, 2019 she will be eligible for 12 weeks at 60% pay.

At this point, we're leaning towards waiting until late summer to try to conceive so she can get another month's worth of pay, BUT if doctor's will only give her the approval for "paid sick time" between 6-8 weeks anyways, then it wouldn't matter and she would have to either go back to work or go on unpaid FMLA if we delivered prior to March 2019.

Any thoughts or experiences appreciated!!

Morning Glory:
Does your wife have vacation that she can use after the paid sick time runs out? I only got 5 weeks of disability (I have a week waiting period before STD kicks in) but was able to accumulate 7 weeks of PTO to get a 12 week leave. I had C-section the first time and vaginal the second time and the amount of STD didn't change. I think 6 weeks is standard and you only get more if you have major complications.

Mgmny:

--- Quote from: MrsWolfeRN on January 18, 2018, 12:33:36 PM ---Does your wife have vacation that she can use after the paid sick time runs out? I only got 5 weeks of disability (I have a week waiting period before STD kicks in) but was able to accumulate 7 weeks of PTO to get a 12 week leave. I had C-section the first time and vaginal the second time and the amount of STD didn't change. I think 6 weeks is standard and you only get more if you have major complications.

--- End quote ---

She does, but only 12 days a year for now. And we're already using 8 of them this fall for a trip to Italy, so she really won't have much left for the pregnancy. We're not really concerned about the time off aspect, but wondering if it makes sense to wait to have the baby in March 2019 if we can get another 4 weeks of "Paid sick time."

You're thinking that most doctors would just approve 6 weeks though anyways? If that's the case, she already has 8 weeks of "Paid Sick Time" available to her, so we don't need to wait until March to get another 4.

kimmarg:
6 weeks is utterly standard. Most doctors won't even blink at 8 weeks as 'sick'. 

I'm a red panda:
Most doctors (around here at least) won't write off more than 6 weeks after a vaginal delivery; but that is the standard in the US, so I don't think you'd get less. You aren't sick or disability after that point unless there are complications.  Her doctor might write her out of work before the delivery though if she has discomfort.



--- Quote from: Mgmny on January 18, 2018, 12:46:49 PM ---but wondering if it makes sense to wait to have the baby in March 2019

--- End quote ---

Man, people who can plan their deliveries to the month baffle me.  You're lucky if you are able to get pregnant exactly when you intend to, and then the baby comes exactly when you expect.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page