Self Employed Women Now Eligible for Maternity Leave Pay

Maternity leave pay for self-employed women soundsonly sell short term disability insurance with pregnancy
like an oxymoron.  How can a self employed personbenefits through groups. And that sums up the
pay themselves for not working during maternityself-employed woman's dilemma: she does not qualify
leave? Short term disability insurance can be used tobecause she is not part of a group. She is a one
create maternity leave income for self employedperson act.
women planning a pregnancy. But you have to knowOr so she thinks.
when to start coverage, where to find the right policy,Where to Find the Right Policy
and secret tip in order to get coverage.A self-employed woman can obtain disability insurance
Short Term Disability Insurance pays a benefit for yoursold only to groups by leveraging her affiliation with a
normal labor and delivery. The benefit you receivelarger entity. A significant portion of self-employed
may greatly exceed the premium you pay, helping youwomen are therapists: physical therapists, occupational
to create maternity leave income. In addition, yourtherapists, speech therapists, etc. Many therapists
policy may pay additional benefits in case ofwork as independent contractors, or 1099 employees.
pregnancy complications, postpartum disorders,They are paid by an agency, or other entity based
accidents, and illnesses. Buying short term disabilityupon the number of patients they treat, and the hour
insurance is one of the smartest moves any womanbilled the patient.
can make before getting pregnant.The Secret Tip
Start Before Getting PregnantCertain insurers will sell short term disability policies with
Your short term disability policy needs to begin beforepregnancy and maternity leave benefits to 1099
getting pregnant in order to qualify for the maternityworkers. If the agency agrees to take withhold money
leave benefit. Most policies contain nine monthfrom contractor checks, and make the benefit
exclusion for normal delivery. Start your policy severalavailable to all W2 and 1099 employees, then the
months before conception.  That way if you deliverinsurer will be happy to issue policies to all qualified self
early, your normal delivery will fall comfortably outsideemployed workers.
the exclusion period. Your benefit will still greatlyNow self employed women who are planning a
exceed your premium paid. Why jeopardize a surepregnancy can purchase short term disability insurance
thing?before getting pregnant, get coverage for pregnancy
You have to buy a short term disability policy withand maternity leave, and enjoy her time bonding with
maternity coverage, and this is the quandary faced byher baby, without worrying about how to pay her bills.
most self employed women. Short term disabilityPlus, she gets extra protection in case of
programs sold direct to individuals do not provide thecomplications, accidents and illnesses. All she has to do
normal maternity leave benefit described above.is ask her agency to take the money from her check,
Insurers realize that women planning a pregnancy willand send it to the insurer.
be eager to buy such policies, and will self select,If only she knew which carrier to call, and how to get
making for an unprofitable enterprise.  So insurersher agency on board.