The approval process for long-term disability insurance (LTD) benefits can be both time-consuming and stressful. As a result, individuals who have received their approval are understandably reluctant to do anything to jeopardize their benefit payments. At the same time, becoming disabled does not mean an individual gives up wanting to enjoy the activities still available to them. For this reason, questions about LTD travel restrictions and guidelines are very common. Traveling while on long-term disability can indeed pose challenges, but in many respects these can be practical as much as procedural. While no advice for travel on LTD benefits will apply to every situation, keeping a few general principles for preparedness and accountability in mind can make traveling on long-term disability a feasible option for many people.
Can You Travel While Being on Disability?
Individuals who had active travel itineraries prior to becoming disabled often question whether traveling while on long-term disability will be restricted. Those who have distant friends and family may also wonder about LTD travel restrictions and guidelines, and whether traveling on long-term disability may jeopardize their benefits.
The answers, generally, are that traveling while on long-term disability benefits is not usually prohibited outright, but some policies may impose limits on the duration of travel, especially out of state or out of the country. Those who do have questions about traveling internationally while on long-term disability will also wish to review the terms of their policies to determine whether any location-specific restrictions apply, such as avoiding areas subject to an active “do not travel” advisory from the United States State Department. In terms of how LTD travel restrictions and guidelines may affect your continued eligibility for disability benefits, then assuming you adhere to any policy requirements concerning duration and location of travel, any risk to your long-term disability benefits will most likely derive from your activities while on the trip.
How Long Can You Travel on Disability?
Most advice for travel on LTD benefits needs to come with the disclaimer that you should always check the terms of your specific policy. Insurance policies are a type of contractual arrangement, so unless a provision is subject to specific requirements under state or federal law, generally the assumption is that you will have agreed to the insurance company’s terms by enrolling in the policy.
Advice for Travel on LTD Benefits: Examine Policy Terms
Most of the few federal regulations that apply to disability insurance are restricted to employer-sponsored group plans, while state regulations are more often concerned with such matters as establishing minimum requirements for appeal procedures and notifications of policy terminations than with the details of policy provisions related to travel, so keep in mind the importance of thoroughly understanding the LTD restrictions and guidelines specific to your own policy as you are considering your options for traveling while on long-term disability.
Advice for Travel on LTD Benefits: General Factors To Consider
With all of that said, there are three general points individuals preparing for potentially extended travel may wish to consider as they make their plans:
- Most travel restrictions under LTD policies apply primarily to travel outside the country. A few may apply specifically to travel outside your own state. Policy provisions for specific modes of travel, such as by boat, are another point you may wish to check.
- Policies that impose limitations on the length of time an individual can be “away” while still receiving benefits may vary widely, from a matter of weeks to as much as a year, but generally will not affect any obligations you may have as far as submitting regularly updated medical evidence concerning your condition. Extended travel can put your benefits in jeopardy if it interferes with your ability to fulfill those documentation requirements, regardless of what the policy terms have to say about travel itself.
- There may be some locations in which you are unable to access your benefit payments. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) only requires notice if an individual receiving SSDI payments is going to be outside the United States for more than 30 days, but maintains a list of countries in which SSDI recipients will not be able to access their electronically deposited benefits. LTD benefits may encounter similar issues with accessing benefits, even when eligibility is unaffected, so be sure to confirm any limitations on access to benefit payments while you are traveling.
Another consideration that can sometimes overlap with LTD travel restrictions and guidelines is health insurance coverage, so keep in mind that you may need to coordinate LTD benefits with other types of coverage as you prepare to travel.
LTD Travel Restrictions and Guidelines: Coordinating Long-Term Disability With Health Insurance Coverage
Unlike most LTD policies, health insurance plans often strictly limit benefits for individuals who seek care while traveling, and it is not unusual for health insurance providers to require the purchase of a separate, travel-specific policy or rider to ensure that medical care is still covered while an individual is traveling. The requirements are particularly common for international travel, but some policies also strictly limit coverage of non-emergency care for individuals traveling domestically outside their states of residence. Restrictions on health care coverage can impact your LTD benefits if gaps interfere with your ability to secure required documentation, so for that reason as well as to protect your own health you may wish to review not just advice for travel on LTD benefits, but the travel provisions listed under the terms of your health insurance policy.
Can You Take a Vacation While on Long-Term Disability?
Individuals receiving LTD benefits are not typically expected to give up all activities and never leave their homes except to attend medical appointments. In this sense, there is generally no prohibition on traveling while on long-term disability to take a vacation.
Traveling While on Long-Term Disability: Expect Your Activities To Be Monitored
At the same time, usually there is an assumption that the physical and mental demands a person meets regularly in his or her leisure time are also physical and mental demands the individual is capable of meeting for work. Many long-term disability insurance providers hire private investigators to conduct surveillance on individuals applying for or currently receiving LTD benefits, so as a rule it is generally safest to assume that anything you do while on vacation will be known to the company paying your long-term disability benefits.
Advice for Travel on LTD Benefits: Know Your Limitations
Just because you can do something for fifteen minutes once every two or three months does not mean that you can, or should be expected to, do the same thing for eight hours per day, five days per week. Even insurance adjusters can usually acknowledge that there are likely to be some differences between what a person may be able to do occasionally, for a short period of time, and what the same person can do consistently enough to meet the requirements of even a part-time job.
Generally, however, if you are traveling while on long-term disability, you will want to consider both the medical advice from your care team and the definition of disability you had to meet in order to qualify for benefits under the terms of your policy. Keep in mind also the specific limitations you cited in filing your claim. Planning vacation activities that fall within these parameters can often be sound advice for travel on LTD benefits and for protecting your personal health as well.
Plan Carefully for Traveling on Long-Term Disability
The first step to traveling while on long-term disability insurance is to safeguard your help. Communicate with your medical team prior to making any travel arrangements and get sound medical advice, including guidance on activities you should limit and how you should handle the need for regular healthcare appointments.
The next step is to review the terms of your insurance policy: Examine any LTD travel restrictions and guidelines specified in the policy terms. Be sure to consider not just limitations on your itinerary, but also practical matters such as how you will access benefit payments if you make an extended trip, especially out of the country. You may also want to consult with a disability law attorney to get advice for travel on LTD benefits. Remember that your activities on vacation, like those at home, will likely be subject to some surveillance by the insurance company. Rather than chafing under a sense of restriction, let the expectation of monitoring serve as a reminder to avoid any excessive exertion while traveling on long-term disability that might jeopardize your health as well as your benefits. Put contingency plans in place in case your condition unexpectedly deteriorates, and follow your physician’s advice in pacing to make sure you can enjoy your trip.
Understanding Your Rights While Traveling on Long-Term Disability
Ultimately, traveling while on long-term disability is not prohibited, but it must be approached with careful planning and an understanding of your specific policy. Be proactive in reviewing any LTD travel restrictions and guidelines, and pay close attention to how your activities align with the limitations outlined in your claim. If your LTD benefits are reduced, reasons and actions will likely be documented and scrutinized, especially if your travel or activities appear inconsistent with your stated medical condition. The most prudent advice for travel on LTD benefits is to stay informed, follow your doctor’s recommendations, and maintain clear documentation of your ongoing disability. With preparation and mindfulness, it is possible to enjoy meaningful travel experiences without risking the benefits you depend on.
