What duration is typical for short-term disability insurance coverage?

Typically, short-term disability insurance coverage is designed to provide income replacement for individuals who are temporarily unable to work due to illness or injury. Usually, this duration is up to six months. The purpose of this type of coverage is to bridge the gap between an immediate loss of income and the time when longer-term disability benefits might kick in, if necessary.

Short-term disability insurance usually starts providing benefits after an elimination period—a brief period following the onset of the disability. The aim is to support the insured during a time when recovery is expected to happen relatively quickly, thus the coverage period is capped at around six months. This timeframe is generally seen as sufficient for most individuals to recover from temporary health issues without long-term implications on their income or employment status.