SDI vs Employer STD carrier

InTwoPlaces

My doc sent a document to EDD in California for my SDI benefits. He wrote that in his opinion I should not work until January 2012. I have not heard from them and they have paid my SDI benefit without any problem.

Now I have problem with AETNA,(who is my employers insurance carrier) they are saying that I should have worked between my last chemo and the start of my radiation, therefore I can't fulfill my 6 months STD  leave and because of that they will deny me LTD. If I am not returning to work on July 10th they will take that as a voluntary termination from my side.

They also said that because they refuse my STD and LTD  my SDI will be terminated.

Can they really do this? I thought since I have never had any problem with SDI that my doctors recommendation would be enough. Can my SDI benefits be taken away by a decision from AETNA??

Sorry, I'm very confused over this....

I really hope someone can help me understand!!

lauri

I was on CA SDI then switched at 6 months to the employer's LTD ... don't think Aetna has any say over SDI decisions by EDD.  You paid for SDI by payroll deductions which are separate from your company's premiums for private STD.  LTD payments backed out the amount of SDI, however. 

How long between your last chemo and start of radiation ??  I had a treatment "vacation" of a few weeks, and there was no question about my going back to work in between ... my doctor even built in about a month AFTER the end of radiation before she certified me well enough to go back to work.

Can someone from HR intercede for you with Aetna ?

InTwoPlaces

I had 3 1/2 weeks between the chemo and rads. The people from Aetna told me that they "allowed" one week after last chemo to recover and that I should have gone back to work before my radiation.

hymil

One week to recover from chemo, ?? Get real, they are in living in cloud-cuckoo land! I had two months between Mx and rads, and nobody suggested i should go back, my docs were quite clear I was not fit, and I had another month after rads finished, What's the point of asking a doctor if you are fit to work, if they are going to ignore what s/he says? Or do they know your personal health better than the docs?

InTwoPlaces

Hymil, I agree with you and I asked the lady if she had ever gone trough chemo.

Does anyone know if I was (am) supposed to get paid from Aetna? I never got an money from them. Is that the reason why they are involved in my disability....???