Birthing Parents: Know Your Maternity Benefits
April 2024
Congratulations and welcome to parenthood! While there are many things to consider, first and foremost is the health and safety of you and your child—the last thing should be how to manage this stage of your life on your own. ALPA’s Family Assistance, Retirement and Insurance (R&I), and Pilot Peer Support or your airline’s equivalent committees stand ready to assist you and your family along this entire journey.
We have all heard about the morning sickness, constant nausea, and other side effects that pregnancy can bring. If, after consulting with your health-care provider, you both determine that you can no longer safely operate an aircraft, your next decision is to start the disability process. This is where your Family Assistance and R&I committees will be able to guide you in the right direction.
We suggest inquiring about your allotted time off, compensation during time off, and potential changes to insurance premiums by referencing your collective bargaining agreement, company policies, and maternity and disability summary plan documents. Questions to consider while reviewing these documents are how much time off is afforded, if you are paid for any portion of time off, and if your insurance premiums will change. You should also be entitled to disability benefits, but be on the lookout for mandatory carve-outs for state benefits depending on where you are based. This means that the state, if applicable, will pay first and then your disability benefits will make up the rest of the payment up to your disability plan’s cap, if one exists.
Depending on the timing of your absence and how your disability plan is written, you may be able to remain on the same disability claim from conception, pregnancy, and postpartum. Typically, most health-care providers will authorize remaining on disability until six weeks postpartum for a vaginal delivery and eight weeks for a cesarean section.
As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to any member of your Family Assistance, R&I, or Pilot Peer Support committees as you navigate this exciting time in your life.
