Short-Term Disability Evaluation

Short term disability provides income replacement through insurance, typically 60 to 70 percent of your salary, but does not guarantee job protection. FMLA provides unpaid, job protected leave through federal law. Many employees use both simultaneously. FMLA protects your position while disability insurance replaces lost income.

The documentation requirements differ significantly. FMLA focuses on whether you have a serious health condition affecting work, while disability insurance requires comprehensive evidence that you are totally disabled from your specific occupation.

Insurance carriers require objective clinical evidence including standardized psychological test results with scored measures, comprehensive diagnostic assessment with DSM criteria, detailed treatment history showing prior interventions, functional capacity evaluation documenting specific limitations, occupational impact analysis for your particular job, mental status examination findings, prognosis and expected recovery timeline, and treatment recommendations supporting need for leave.

Standard therapy progress notes typically do not meet these requirements.

Short term disability evaluations typically last two to three hours. This extended time allows for comprehensive clinical interview, standardized psychological testing, functional capacity assessment, and discussion of findings and treatment recommendations.

The longer evaluation time is necessary to gather the objective data and detailed information insurance carriers require.

We provide thorough clinical documentation based on comprehensive assessment, but insurance companies make final approval decisions. Our evaluations are designed to meet or exceed typical carrier documentation requirements.

However, claim approval depends on your specific policy language, insurance company medical review process, your treatment engagement and response, and whether your condition meets your policy's definition of disability. We cannot guarantee approval but we provide high quality evidence to support valid claims.

Clinical reports and completed disability forms are typically delivered to your secure patient portal within five to seven business days after your evaluation. In urgent situations we make every effort to expedite delivery.

You'll receive email notification when documentation is ready for download.

No, this is a private pay service. Disability evaluations are typically not covered by health insurance because they are employment related assessments rather than clinical treatment. We accept all major credit cards and payment is due at time of service.

We can provide detailed receipts for possible HSA, FSA, or out of network reimbursement, though we cannot guarantee reimbursement. The evaluation fee covers all services including testing, report writing, and form completion at no additional charge.

Yes, we can provide supplemental evaluations and documentation for appeals. Contact us to discuss your specific situation. Appeals often require additional clinical information, updated testing, or clarification of functional limitations.

We can review denial reasons and provide targeted documentation to address insurance company concerns.

Your treating providers, typically your therapist and psychiatrist, are best positioned to document ongoing need for disability leave beyond the initial period. They can provide updated clinical information based on your treatment progress and response.

We can conduct follow up evaluations if your providers cannot provide necessary documentation, but you will need to upload treatment records showing your progress since the initial evaluation.

Duration depends on your condition, treatment response, and insurance policy limits. Initial disability periods typically range from four to six weeks for stabilization and intensive treatment. Some policies cover up to 26 weeks, while others have shorter limits.

Your treating providers reassess your capacity to work as treatment progresses and provide updated documentation to your insurance carrier.

Dr. Kupperman Caron is licensed in Illinois and Florida and holds PSYPACT authorization enabling telehealth services across participating states. You must be physically located in Illinois, Florida, or a PSYPACT state at the time of your evaluation.

Current PSYPACT states include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

If Dr. Kupperman Caron has availability and your clinical needs match her areas of expertise, ongoing therapy may be available to support your recovery while you connect with long term providers. We also provide referrals to therapists and psychiatrists in your area.

However, the evaluation itself is designed to provide documentation for your disability claim, not to replace comprehensive treatment from mental health specialists.

Dr. Kupperman-Caron spent 10 years as a staff psychologist in the VA healthcare system, where occupational disability assessment and functional capacity evaluation were core components of her clinical work.

This decade of experience evaluating disability claims, understanding insurance requirements, and assessing work related impairment ensures your evaluation meets the rigorous standards disability carriers require. She understands what medical reviewers need to see in documentation and how to present clinical findings in ways that support valid claims.