Big-john-wayne_small
Reputation: 318

Financial/Medical assistance or short-term disability offered to woman after child delivery in WA?

Are there any other options for financial or medical assistance outside of the FMLA act in the state of WA for new mother's. I'm just under a year at my current job (on contract) so I don't think I qualify under FMLA. Also, any other short-term disability companies other than Aflac you would recommend?

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  • Avatar_default_user_small
    Reputation: 874

    I don't know if this is what you are looking for, but do you have health insurance? You might be able to save some money if you are eligible for WA state free health insurance for you and your kids for up to something like 9 months after delivery. No deductible. Yes, believe it or not, funding hasn't been cut for that yet.

    My wife and I were going to pay through the nose for my work's insurance (it was going to be about 25% of my salary, and they charge 20% deductible for maternity care), but we found out had a low enough income to qualify for the state plan for pregnant women. AND we pay no deductible for maternity of delivery care. To top it off, the people who run the program are really nice. Check out this website and give them a call - they might have some good options. http://www.parenthelp123.org/pregnancy

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  • _mg_6294_small
    Reputation: 39

    Shannon,
    Washington law requires that your employer hold your job and provide certain benefits. The Washington Human Rights Commission issued regulations, which state:
    (4) Leave policies.

    (a) An employer shall provide a woman a leave of absence for the period of time that she is sick or temporarily disabled because of pregnancy or childbirth. Employers must treat a woman on pregnancy related leave the same as other employees on leave for sickness or other temporary disabilities. For example:

    (i) If an employer provides paid leave for sickness, or other temporary disabilities, the employer should provide paid leave for pregnancy related sickness or disabilities; ...

    (iv) If the employer permits extensions of leave time (e.g., use of vacation or leave without pay) for sickness or other temporary disabilities, the employer should permit such extensions for pregnancy related sickness or disabilities.

    (b) There may be circumstances when the application of the employer's general leave policy to pregnancy or childbirth will not afford equal opportunity for women and men. One circumstance would be where the employer allows no leave for any sickness or other disability by any employee, or so little leave time that a pregnant woman must terminate employment. Because such a leave policy has a disparate impact on women, it is an unfair practice, unless the policy is justified by business necessity.

    (c) An employer shall allow a woman to return to the same job, or a similar job of at least the same pay, if she has taken a leave of absence only for the actual period of disability relating to pregnancy or childbirth. Refusal to do so must be justified by adequate facts concerning business necessity.

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