Does long term disability kick in automatically once short term disab. runs out??

Question

I work for Progressive insurance company and they offer std and ltd automatically once employeed. They are trying to tell me that when my FMLA coverage runs out, they can fire me; from what I've found out, they cannot fire me until the day i'm released from my dr. back to work; however my dr. says i'll be out another month and i don't know if my std will last that long, so...does LTD normally just kick right in the day STD runs out? My HR dept is trying to s***w me, so need some advice.

I live in the state of FL, the company is headquarted in Ohio, if any of that 'law-applicable' info applies...

(And if you're an atty and know whether or not I can actually be fired while on std, that'd be great too, cause i'm getting mixed answers!!)

Answer 1

If you work for an insurance company you know nothing automatically kicks in

Answer 2

They do NOT have to hold your position open when you are sick.  They CAN fire you, if you're not coming to work.  

They DO have to give you the opportunity to buy your own coverage - LTD, STD, and Medical, through COBRA.  

LTD doesn't "kick in" until/unless you file a claim.  It has a waiting period - it could be anywhere from six months to a year disabled, before you become eligible for benefits.  No one here knows what that period is.  IT's ALSO going to depend on how disabled you are.  Most of the time, "pregnancy" is NOT something you can collect LTD for, as an example.

The FLORIDA laws apply to you - you work in their FL office, and live in FL.