{"id":83,"date":"2018-11-07T09:00:47","date_gmt":"2018-11-07T16:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/?p=83"},"modified":"2025-04-28T11:36:35","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T06:06:35","slug":"what-is-considered-fmla-serious-health-condition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/07\/what-is-considered-fmla-serious-health-condition\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Considered FMLA Serious Health Condition?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for specific family and medical reasons. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of FMLA is what actually qualifies as a \u201cserious health condition.\u201d This blog breaks down the definition, the types of conditions that qualify, what doesn\u2019t meet the criteria, and what employers can request regarding medical certification.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><div style=\"color:#0E1851;margin-top:20px;font-size:28px;font-weight:bold;\">Related Webinars<\/div><div style=\"width:100%;height:auto;overflow:hidden;overflow-x:auto;margin:20px 0;\"><div style=\"width:calc(3 * 260px);\"><div style=\"width:250px;height:350px;background-color:#D2E0FF;background:url(https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/assets\/images\/wdt-back.png);background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:cover;border-radius:10px;margin-right:10px;float:left;text-align:center;padding:25px 10px 0 10px;cursor:pointer;\" onclick=\"location.href='https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/details\/1850\/fmla-2026?utm_source=cp_blog'\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:135px;height:135px;border-radius:50%;border:2px solid #2B58B5;padding:3px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/image.php?src=https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/uploads\/img_upload\/be9bd7c0b9625126f985b421036a9339.jpg&w=200&h=200&zc=1&s=1\" alt=\"Speaker\"><div style=\"color:#0E1851;margin-top:5px;font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;line-height:22px;max-height:65px;overflow:hidden;\">FMLA in 2026: New DOL Guidance, State Paid Leave Expansions & Compliance Risks Every Employer Must Know<\/div><div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div><div style=\"margin:10px auto 0 auto;display:inline-block;\"><div style=\"width:20px;float:left;\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" id=\"IconChangeColor\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\"><path d=\"M160 32V64H288V32C288 14.33 302.3 0 320 0C337.7 0 352 14.33 352 32V64H400C426.5 64 448 85.49 448 112V160H0V112C0 85.49 21.49 64 48 64H96V32C96 14.33 110.3 0 128 0C145.7 0 160 14.33 160 32zM0 192H448V464C448 490.5 426.5 512 400 512H48C21.49 512 0 490.5 0 464V192zM64 304C64 312.8 71.16 320 80 320H112C120.8 320 128 312.8 128 304V272C128 263.2 120.8 256 112 256H80C71.16 256 64 263.2 64 272V304zM192 304C192 312.8 199.2 320 208 320H240C248.8 320 256 312.8 256 304V272C256 263.2 248.8 256 240 256H208C199.2 256 192 263.2 192 272V304zM336 256C327.2 256 320 263.2 320 272V304C320 312.8 327.2 320 336 320H368C376.8 320 384 312.8 384 304V272C384 263.2 376.8 256 368 256H336zM64 432C64 440.8 71.16 448 80 448H112C120.8 448 128 440.8 128 432V400C128 391.2 120.8 384 112 384H80C71.16 384 64 391.2 64 400V432zM208 384C199.2 384 192 391.2 192 400V432C192 440.8 199.2 448 208 448H240C248.8 448 256 440.8 256 432V400C256 391.2 248.8 384 240 384H208zM320 432C320 440.8 327.2 448 336 448H368C376.8 448 384 440.8 384 432V400C384 391.2 376.8 384 368 384H336C327.2 384 320 391.2 320 400V432z\" id=\"mainIconPathAttribute\" stroke-width=\"1\" stroke=\"#ff0000\" filter=\"url(#shadow)\" fill=\"#FB0351\"><\/path><filter id=\"shadow\"><feDropShadow id=\"shadowValue\" stdDeviation=\".5\" dx=\"0\" dy=\"0\" flood-color=\"black\"><\/feDropShadow><\/filter><filter id=\"shadow\"><feDropShadow id=\"shadowValue\" stdDeviation=\".5\" dx=\"0\" dy=\"0\" flood-color=\"black\"><\/feDropShadow><\/filter><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"float:left;margin-left:5px;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;color:#FB0351;\">Jul 28th 2026 @ 01:00 PM ET<\/div><div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"font-size:12px;color:#2B58B5;margin-top:-10px;\"><strong>Speaker: <\/strong>Melissa Fleischer, Esq<\/div><div style=\"width:120px;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:12px;color:#FB0351;border:2px solid #FB0351;border-radius:30px;padding:1px 5px;margin:10px auto;\">Learn More<\/div><\/div><div style=\"width:250px;height:350px;background-color:#D2E0FF;background:url(https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/assets\/images\/wdt-back.png);background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:cover;border-radius:10px;margin-right:10px;float:left;text-align:center;padding:25px 10px 0 10px;cursor:pointer;\" onclick=\"location.href='https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/details\/184\/intermittent-fmla?utm_source=cp_blog'\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:135px;height:135px;border-radius:50%;border:2px solid #2B58B5;padding:3px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/image.php?src=https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/uploads\/img_upload\/be9bd7c0b9625126f985b421036a9339.jpg&w=200&h=200&zc=1&s=1\" alt=\"Speaker\"><div style=\"color:#0E1851;margin-top:5px;font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;line-height:22px;max-height:65px;overflow:hidden;\">Intermittent FMLA Leave: Understand The Requirements And Prevent Abuse<\/div><div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div><div style=\"height:45px;\"><\/div><div style=\"font-size:12px;color:#2B58B5;margin-top:-10px;\"><strong>Speaker: <\/strong>Melissa Fleischer, Esq<\/div><div style=\"width:120px;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:12px;color:#FB0351;border:2px solid #FB0351;border-radius:30px;padding:1px 5px;margin:10px auto;\">Learn More<\/div><\/div><div style=\"width:250px;height:350px;background-color:#D2E0FF;background:url(https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/assets\/images\/wdt-back.png);background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:cover;border-radius:10px;margin-right:10px;float:left;text-align:center;padding:25px 10px 0 10px;cursor:pointer;\" onclick=\"location.href='https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/details\/210\/fmla-forms?utm_source=cp_blog'\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:135px;height:135px;border-radius:50%;border:2px solid #2B58B5;padding:3px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/image.php?src=https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/uploads\/img_upload\/1734613313_b52cd0f6720de185fe87.png&w=200&h=200&zc=1&s=1\" alt=\"Speaker\"><div style=\"color:#0E1851;margin-top:5px;font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;line-height:22px;max-height:65px;overflow:hidden;\">How to Use FMLA Forms to Your Advantage<\/div><div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div><div style=\"height:45px;\"><\/div><div style=\"font-size:12px;color:#2B58B5;margin-top:-10px;\"><strong>Speaker: <\/strong>Susan Fahey Desmond<\/div><div style=\"width:120px;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:12px;color:#FB0351;border:2px solid #FB0351;border-radius:30px;padding:1px 5px;margin:10px auto;\">Learn More<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Definition of a \u201cSerious Health Condition\u201d Under FMLA<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under FMLA, a <\/span><b>serious health condition<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is defined as an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves either:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inpatient care (i.e., an overnight stay in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical care facility), or<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Continuing treatment by a healthcare provider.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This definition may seem broad, but it ensures coverage for a wide range of conditions\u2014both chronic and temporary\u2014that require time off for treatment or recovery. It\u2019s important for employers and employees to fully understand this definition to avoid confusion or mismanagement of leave.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For more clarity on<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/05\/fmla-eligibility-rules-and-requirements\/\"> <b>FMLA eligibility rules and requirements<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, this detailed guide covers who qualifies and under what circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Types of Serious Health Conditions Under FMLA<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some examples of serious health conditions that typically qualify for FMLA leave include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Chronic conditions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> such as asthma, diabetes, or epilepsy, which require periodic visits to a healthcare provider and may cause episodic incapacity.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pregnancy and prenatal care<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including severe morning sickness, doctor\u2019s appointments, or incapacity due to pregnancy.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Long-term or permanent conditions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as Alzheimer&#8217;s disease or cancer, even if the employee is not receiving active treatment.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Conditions requiring multiple treatments<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as chemotherapy, dialysis, or physical therapy.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Surgical procedures<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that involve a period of incapacity or inpatient care.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To explore this topic in more depth, check out our blog on<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/20\/difference-between-fmla-and-ada\/\"> <b>types of serious health conditions under FMLA<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and how they intersect with ADA protections.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Does Not Qualify as a Serious Health Condition?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not every medical issue meets the FMLA threshold. Examples of conditions that generally <\/span><b>do not qualify<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Minor illnesses such as the common cold, flu (unless complications arise), or earaches<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Routine dental or orthodontia problems<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cosmetic treatments (unless complications develop)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upset stomachs or headaches that do not require continuing treatment<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, even conditions that seem minor at first can escalate into something more serious. For instance, a viral infection that leads to hospitalization would then likely qualify under FMLA.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Medical Certification Requirements<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employers are allowed to request medical certification to support the need for FMLA leave. Here\u2019s what employers and employees need to know:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>What Employers Can Request<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employers may ask for certification that includes:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact information of the healthcare provider<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Date the condition began and its expected duration<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A statement that the employee is unable to perform the functions of their job<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Information on the need for intermittent or continuous leave<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Deadlines for Submitting Certification<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employees must typically provide the requested certification within 15 calendar days of the employer\u2019s request. If the documentation is incomplete or insufficient, the employer must give the employee a chance to correct the issue.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Recertification Rules<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employers may request <\/span><b>recertification<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every six months in connection with an absence<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the circumstances of the leave change significantly<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the employer receives information casting doubt on the leave\u2019s validity<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employers must remain cautious and consistent with how they request and handle certification to avoid legal pitfalls. If you suspect misuse of leave, our blog on<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/11\/uncovering-fmla-abuse\/\"> <b>uncovering FMLA abuse<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can offer insights and strategies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To deepen your understanding, don\u2019t forget to check out our expert-led <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/subject\/2\/fmla\"><b>FMLA webinars<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> covering real-life scenarios, legal updates, and best practices for managing leave effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding what is considered a serious health condition under FMLA is critical for both employers and employees. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The definition extends beyond hospital stays and includes ongoing treatment, chronic conditions, and any health issue requiring serious and structured care. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, not all illnesses or treatments qualify, and employers must manage leave requests with proper documentation and procedural accuracy.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Not every illness condition counts in FMLA, learn what is considered FMLA serious health condition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":85,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[7],"class_list":["post-83","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hr-blog","tag-fmla"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6405,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83\/revisions\/6405"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/85"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}