I ultimately ended up taking short term disability at work for recent health issues.
The benefit was approved right on initial submission and paid within 7 days of filing it and approved once more prior to it getting closed this month. The short term disability at my work is paid direct from the company and the insurance company is the claim management.
Anyway, the strange thing was after my last doctor visit I sent in my visit paperwork to my case manager that showed upcoming visits, treatment plan and even the doctor recommendations to continue short term leave due to inability to adequately perform my job duties. The claim was then shortly after not extended for the next month as per their closure response was that my condition no longer would stop me from doing my job duties. Again, odd being that this time the doctor specifically stated they would and have in fact stopped me from doing them. Previous month approvals didn’t even have the doctor recommendation within it yet was approved.
So now the claim is closed after I sent this information for the extension and I was told by them I can file an appeal but takes about 45 days to hear back. After my benefits department got notice the claim was closed I was asked emailed and asked to return with a doctors clearance note of which I’m physically not ready for and they even set it be on or within the next 20 days as I’m now considered on unauthorized absence yet still on leave so they cannot pay me any PTO instead for my leave since I have no return to work release filled out.
Needless to say I am very confused as if I file an appeal as the benefit was only good for another month anyway and will surpass their timeline requested to return also. In addition, even if approved again on appeal it would require a long term claim by that point. However, since I can’t return right now in full capacity I don’t have any other option but just finish recovery.
That said I wanted to get your recommendation on what you think is best at this point? Being that short term disability in it of itself is not job protected leave in my state and as the HR also mentioned this in their correspondence that they could let me go even if it got approved again. If I don’t return by the date requested I’d presume I’ll also let go as well by that time table as well.
Should I cut ties on my own accord? Ask for a severance? Should I even bother on a claim appeal? Or just let them let me go and look for another place of employment after I’m recovered? If anyone has any other suggestions I’m all ears. This whole thing is just a major headache that I was hoping to not deal with on top of everything else and around the holidays. I also don’t want to deal with a lawyer as to me it doesn’t seem worth the expense at this point.
Thanks you for reading and taking the time.