.avif)
Board-certified doctors handle your evaluation and FMLA paperwork.
.svg){kind=small}
A board-certified healthcare provider reviews your case and completes your Short Term Disability, FMLA, or Paid Leave certification online within 24 hours.
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
Short term disability approval depends on a few factors:
1. Policy eligibilityYou must be enrolled in a short term disability plan, either through your employer, a state-mandated program (in CA, NY, NJ, RI, HI, and a few others), or a private policy you purchased individually. Coverage terms, waiting periods, and benefit amounts vary by plan.
2. A qualifying medical condition that prevents you from working: Your condition must prevent you from performing the duties of your job, as certified by a licensed healthcare provider. Unlike FMLA, which protects your job during leave, STD replaces a portion of your income while you're unable to work. The certification must document your diagnosis, functional limitations, expected duration, and treatment plan.
3. Meeting the elimination period: Most STD plans have a waiting period (typically 7–14 days) before benefits begin. You must remain unable to work through this period to qualify for payment. If these criteria are met and your documentation is complete, your insurance carrier or state program is required to process your claim according to your policy terms. The carrier's role is to review the certification against policy requirements, not to change them. Many STD claims also require periodic recertification (typically every 4–6 weeks) to continue receiving benefits.
FMLA approval depends on a few key factors:
1. Employment eligibility
You must have worked for your employer long enough and be working for an employer that is covered under FMLA. Employers with more than 50 employees are covered under FMLA.
2. A qualifying medical condition
Your leave must be for a condition that qualifies under FMLA. A licensed healthcare provider must evaluate your situation and certify that you meet one of these qualifying conditions.
If both of these criteria are met, your employer is required to grant FMLA leave. The employer’s role is to review the certification for completeness and administer the leave, not to change the requirements. Paid leave approval is dependent on your state specific rules and requirements.
93% of customers who apply for FMLA through Trust Medical receive it and over 80% qualify for additional protections. Additionally, for all customers who receive medical certifications from Trust Medical 99% have no issues when submitting their doucmentation to their employers.
Most physical and mental health conditions qualify for at least one type of leave protection. The same condition often qualifies for multiple programs simultaneously. This includes, FMLA for job protection, state paid leave for income replacement, and disability for extended coverage. Here's how each works.
Conditions That Qualify for FMLA
- Birth and care of a newborn child.
- Adoption or foster care placement of a child.
- Care for a spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition.
- The employee’s own serious health condition that prevents them from attending work.
>90% of Trust Medical's patients get FMLA for their own serious health condition.
Conditions That Qualify for State Paid Leave
It depends on the state because each has its own forms and requirements. That said, the qualifying conditions for state paid leave are broadly similar and typically include: your own serious health condition, caring for a family member, bonding with a new child, or pregnancy-related needs.
Thirteen states plus DC currently have paid family and medical leave programs. These states are: California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New York, Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon, Colorado, DC, Delaware, Minnesota, and Maine. Maryland launches in 2028.
Conditions That Qualify for Disability Certification
The conditions that qualify for disability are broadly similar to paid leave and FMLA. The conditions include:
- Pregnancy and childbirth recovery (4-6 weeks vaginal delivery, 6-8 weeks C-section)
- Surgery recovery
- Severe injuries
- Mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, and PTSD
- Chronic condition flares (migraines, fibromyalgia, lupus)
- Cancer treatment
Five states have mandatory disability programs (California, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Hawaii), while many employers offer private short-term disability insurance. Disability benefits typically replace 50-90% of your wages for up to 26-52 weeks depending on the program.
Yes. Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health conditions qualify if they meet the "serious health condition" criteria, meaning you need continuing treatment from a healthcare provider. This includes conditions requiring medication, regular therapy, or that prevent you from working for 3+ days.
51% of Trust Medical patients get FMLA and paid leave for mental health. We can help you even if you don't have a preexisting diagnosis.
If you’re requesting an FMLA, disability, or paid leave certification with a start date further in the past, we’ll need existing medical documentation that shows you were evaluated or treated during that earlier period. This is required to ensure the certification is accurate and compliant.
For disability, most policies require notice within a defined window, often 30, 60, or 90 days from the date you became disabled. File outside that window and the claim is typically denied, regardless of merit. It's important to be aware that employer-sponsored plans vary widely. Some allow retroactive filing if you have good cause (you were too ill to file, you didn't know you were covered). Others are strict. For state disability, each state has its own rules and its best to check when filing.
We complete Disability, FMLA or Paid Leave forms within 24 hours of your consultation with the healthcare provider.
You don’t need a formal diagnosis to qualify for Disability, FMLA or Paid Leave. The healthcare provider will focus on understanding what you’re going through and whether your situation qualifies for protected leave. While they don’t diagnose or treat, they can help certify your leave and guide you toward appropriate next steps so you can take time off and focus on feeling better.
We offer online FMLA, Paid Leave, and Disability certification. This includes the following:
- Intermittent FMLA Certification
- Continuous FMLA Certification
- Reduced Schedule FMLA Certification
- Return to Work Forms
- Paid Leave Forms
- Employer Short Term Disability
- State Disability
- ADA
Each service requires a 10-minute video consultation with one of our board-certified healthcare providers and we have a 99% acceptance rate with employers given our adherence to a high standard of medical care as well as professional documentation. We also have 4.8 stars on Trust Pilot from thosands of patient visits.
Here’s the step-by-step process:
Complete the medical intake: This is a short form that helps us expedite your consult.
Book a 10-minute video appointment: Choose a time that works for you.
Attend your video consultation: During the 10-minute video visit, the healthcare provider will discuss your condition, and treatment options if needed. They will also inform you on the call whether you qualify for FMLA, paid leave, or any other programs. They will also let you know if there are any steps you need to take in order to qualify.
Receive your paperwork: Your completed certification paperwork will be provided to you within 24 hours of the video visit.
To book an appointment, simply visit our website, complete the intake, pay a $50 deposit to reserve your spot, and schedule your 10-minute video consultation with one of our Board-Certified healthcare providers. After booking, you’ll receive an email with further instructions, including the intake form and portal registration.
Your completed certification paperwork will provided to you via email within 24 hours after your video visit. You will have 24/7 access to this information.
Employers can verify certifications through our dedicated employer verification line here: 844-282-2731. This line is staffed from 8am-8pm, Monday through Sunday. by real humans who are deeply experienced in medical leave, fmla, paid leave, and disability. Your employer can use our verification process to confirm the authenticity of the forms and that they were issued from our offices. During the employer verification call we maintain your medical privacy per HIPAA regulations.
People trust us because Trust Medical is built for every person who touches your medical certification.
Your HR team gets a complete, properly formatted document with everything they need to process your leave without follow-up. Your employer gets documentation that meets Department of Labor standards. And you get peace of mind as well as guidance on how to take time off to take care of your health and come back stronger.
We have a team of board certified medical providers, labor law experts, and medical leave specialists who are deeply experienced in navigating the complexities of FMLA and Paid Leave to make sure you can take time off and rest easy that your job is protected and you have the income you need to get through your medical situation.
Every medical certification we produce includes the clinical detail, diagnostic specificity, and functional limitation language that employers and HR professionals expect to see. We don't cut corners and that's why we offer a 100% money-back guarantee. Not because things go wrong, but because we're that confident in what we deliver.
We have follow up appointments available if you need to extend your leave.
Follow-up video appointments are available for $75.00. A follow-up may be recommended if you need additional time off to make progress in your recovery. During a follow-up, the healthcare provider reassesses your situation and, if appropriate, can update or extend your certification.
FMLA: Up to 12 weeks in a 12-month period for most qualifying reasons. Military caregivers can take up to 26 weeks. You can take it all at once, or intermittently (a few days/hours at a time) for chronic conditions. The 12 weeks resets based on your employer's chosen method (calendar year, your anniversary, etc.).
Short term disability (STD): Typically covers up to 3–6 months of leave, depending on your policy. Most employer-sponsored and private STD plans cap benefits at 13 or 26 weeks. State programs vary, California SDI covers up to 52 weeks, New York DBL covers up to 26 weeks, New Jersey TDB covers up to 26 weeks.
State paid family and medical leave: Available in a growing number of states (CA, NY, NJ, MA, WA, CT, CO, OR, RI, DC, and others). Provides paid leave for your own medical condition or to care for a family member. Duration varies, but most states offer 8–12 weeks per year, some go up to 26 weeks for certain situations.
Stacking these programs: Many people use more than one at the same time. For example, you might use FMLA for job protection, STD for income replacement, and state paid leave on top of that, all running concurrently. Whether you can stack depends on your employer, your state, and your specific situation. The total time you can take off depends on your specific combination of coverage.
There is an initial $49.99 booking fee to secure your appointment. The remaining balance will be charged after your video consultation.
No, our services are self-pay only. We do not bill insurance providers, and all payments are made out of pocket. We strive to keep our prices transparent and affordable.
No, FMLA itself is unpaid. However, you can use sick leave, or vacation days during FMLA. Additionally, some states have separate paid family leave programs, state disability programs, and you might also qualify for short-term disability benefits through your employer. Trust Medical can help you with certification for paid leave or disability.
