A serious health condition is an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves: Show
Non-Serious ConditionsThe following conditions do not qualify for the FMLA unless complications arise:
(a) For purposes of FMLA, serious health condition entitling an employee to FMLA leave means an illness, injury, impairment or physical or mental condition that involves inpatient care as defined in § 825.114 or continuing treatment by a health care provider as defined in § 825.115. (b) The term incapacity means inability to work, attend school or perform other regular daily activities due to the serious health condition, treatment therefore, or recovery therefrom. (c) The term treatment includes (but is not limited to) examinations to determine if a serious health condition exists and evaluations of the condition. Treatment does not include routine physical examinations, eye examinations, or dental examinations. A regimen of continuing treatment includes, for example, a course of prescription medication (e.g., an antibiotic) or therapy requiring special equipment to resolve or alleviate the health condition (e.g., oxygen). A regimen of continuing treatment that includes the taking of over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, antihistamines, or salves; or bed-rest, drinking fluids, exercise, and other similar activities that can be initiated without a visit to a health care provider, is not, by itself, sufficient to constitute a regimen of continuing treatment for purposes of FMLA leave. (d) Conditions for which cosmetic treatments are administered (such as most treatments for acne or plastic surgery) are not serious health conditions unless inpatient hospital care is required or unless complications develop. Ordinarily, unless complications arise, the common cold, the flu, ear aches, upset stomach, minor ulcers, headaches other than migraine, routine dental or orthodontia problems, periodontal disease, etc., are examples of conditions that do not meet the definition of a serious health condition and do not qualify for FMLA leave. Restorative dental or plastic surgery after an injury or removal of cancerous growths are serious health conditions provided all the other conditions of this regulation are met. Mental illness or allergies may be serious health conditions, but only if all the conditions of this section are met. Not every illness or ailment counts as an FMLA-qualified serious health condition.Under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), eligible employees have the right to take time off to care for a family member with a serious health condition or to recuperate from their own serious health condition, among other things. (For information on other circumstances in which you might be entitled to time off under the FMLA, see Taking Family and Medical Leave.) Colds and other minor health concerns don't typically qualify for FMLA leave; the law is intended to provide time off only for more serious ailments. As you'll see, however, the rules about what does and does not qualify as a serious health condition can get a bit complicated. What's a Serious Health Condition Under FMLA?The FMLA divides serious health conditions for which FMLA leave may be taken into these six categories:
Inpatient CareA condition that requires inpatient care—in other words, an overnight stay—at a hospital, hospice, or residential care facility qualifies as a serious health condition covered by the FMLA. An employee is entitled to FMLA leave for the time spent receiving inpatient care and for any period of incapacity or subsequent treatment connected to that inpatient care. Incapacity for More Than Three Days Plus Continuing TreatmentSomeone who is incapacitated (unable to work, attend school, or perform other regular daily activities) for more than three days also has a serious health condition, if the person requires continuing treatment from a health care provider. The three days need not be business days, but they must be consecutive. The "continuing treatment" part of the definition can be met in one of two ways. A person qualifies is either of these is true:
Pregnancy or Prenatal CareAn employee who is unable to work or perform other regular, daily activities due to pregnancy has a serious health condition. An employee need not be out for more than three days nor actually visit a doctor to qualify for time off under this subcategory. Visits to the doctor for prenatal care are also covered. The employee need not be incapacitated or suffering from medical complications to qualify; leave can be used even for routine check-ups. Chronic Serious Health ConditionsSome ongoing impairments require occasional time off, but the employee isn't always incapacitated or being seen by a doctor. These chronic conditions are covered by the FMLA if:
Conditions that may qualify in this category include diabetes, epilepsy, or asthma. Permanent or Long-Term IncapacityAn employee who is incapacitated permanently or for the long term by a condition that is not necessarily amenable to treatment has a serious health condition, as long as the employee is under the supervision of a health care provider. Terminal cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and advanced ALS would likely fall into this category. Multiple TreatmentsAn employee who must miss work for multiple treatments has a serious health condition if the treatments are for:
Surgery to reset a broken limb or repair a torn ligament might fit the first definition. Dialysis or cancer treatment would likely fit the second. Can I Take FMLA Leave for a Mental Health Condition?Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder can qualify an employee for FMLA leave. But as with physical illnesses and injuries, the employee's (or family member's) mental health condition must require any of the following:
Your employer can require you to provide certification of your condition from your health care provider, although a formal diagnosis is not necessarily required. For more information, check out the Department of Labor's fact sheet on the FMLA and mental health conditions. Conditions That Are Not Covered Under FMLAThe FMLA doesn't definitively state that particular illness or diseases are always, or never, serious health condition. Instead, the facts of each situation must be considered on their own. After all, one person's bout with bronchitis might result in a missed day of work and some coughing; another person's might result in an extended hospital stay for pneumonia. In this case, the first person would not have a serious health condition, but the second would. Nonetheless, there are certain ailments that don't typically qualify as serious health conditions, including:
Even these conditions aren't automatically excluded from coverage. After all, a headache might be caused by minor eye strain -- or by a cancerous brain tumor. The facts always dictate whether a particular employee's situation constitutes a serious health condition or not. Who Is Eligible for FMLA Leave?An employee must meet the following three conditions to be eligible for FMLA leave:
When to Contact an Employment AttorneyMost requests for FMLA leave are approved without incident. But you might want to contact an employment attorney if any of the following happen to you:
A knowledgeable employment attorney can negotiate with your employer on your behalf and, if necessary, file a lawsuit or a claim with your state's labor department. Can you get FMLA for anxiety?Yes. Assuming that you work for a covered employer and are eligible for FMLA leave, you may take leave for treatment visits and therapy sessions for the condition.
Is anxiety a serious health condition under FMLA?A serious health condition can include a mental health condition. Mental and physical health conditions are considered serious health conditions under the FMLA if they require 1) inpatient care or 2) continuing treatment by a health care provider.
What are the types of serious medical conditions?Serious health condition means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition which requires: Overnight hospitalization (including prenatal care), including the period of incapacity or subsequent treatment in connection with the overnight care.
Is depression considered a serious health condition for FMLA?Under the FMLA, a serious medical condition includes an impairment, illness, injury, or mental or physical condition that requires inpatient care or ongoing treatment from a health care provider. Depression can qualify as a serious medical condition under this law.
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