Can I enroll in employer short term disability insurance even though I declined it 2 1/2 yr ago?

My employer's open enrollment apparently does not include their short term disability insurance (which employees pay 100% of premium.) They said since I declined it 2 1/2 years ago when I started I will never be eligible. My friend in the insurance business says this is FALSE.

Public Comments

1. True. You had the opportunity then and declined. You would have to wait until there is another enrollment period, if ever. Your friend has to realize, that whatever is in the master policy, ( the contract between the company and the insurer) prevails. NO company can sell of offer to sell anything in the state which has not been approved by that state's insurance commissioner. Ask them to show you a copy of the enrollment form and point out to you where it says you have only this chance to apply. I'm afraid you are going to be disappointed.
2. Your friend in the insurance business is too quick to say "false". If the employee pays, is it a policy they take on with each new hire? It might be a private policy, and not a group. If you HAVE to take it when you hire on, and you didn't then, and want to now, a main reason for refusal to let you, is adverse selection - example, you're planning on going out on maternity leave this year, and want the coverage for that, and then will drop it again. Can't make money that way, so maybe the terms of the policy are, it's available at hiring time only. Or maybe there's a year wait before maternity is covered (a year before conception, that is). I'd ask the HR for where it says that in writing. But there's not much else you can do, unless you want to find out which company it is, and complain in writing to the state insurance department.