Long-Term Disability (LTD) Policy

Administered by
 New York Life – all payments are made by New York Life.

Cost
 The University pays the premiums.

Enrollment
First day of the month following date of hire (or date of hire if hire occurs on first work day of a month). If the employee is not in active service on the date their insurance would otherwise be effective, it will be effective on their first day of active service.

Coverage
 After meeting a six-month elimination period while disabled, a covered employee may be eligible to receive disability payments that can be as much as 66 2/3 percent of their pre-disability monthly salary, up to a $10,000 monthly income benefit maximum.

Monthly disability payments will be reduced by disability benefits received from Social Security, Worker's Compensation, working income, and other sources (as determined by the LTD plan). The minimum monthly income benefit is $100. In certain cases disability coverage may also provide return-to-work incentives that can alter monthly benefits for a limited period of time.

(Exception: An active employee who is determined to be totally disabled after reaching the age of 68 1/2 is eligible for disability benefits only up to a maximum benefit period of one year.)

Note: There are numerous provisions and limitations that are not mentioned in this summary. Please see the LTD section of the Plan Document for more detailed information (see also: Certificate of Coverage in the red box at the top of this page).

Procedures for Applying for Long-Term Disability

  • If an employee has a serious health condition, which makes them unable to perform their job, they should contact Human Resources to discuss short term disability and Family Medical Leave. If it appears that the employee will not be able to return to work after short term disability, they should begin the process of filing for Long-Term Disability (LTD) with New York Life. If the employee is already on short term disability with New York Life, New York Life will help the employee transition to LTD, if eligible.
  • Disability may entitle employees to Social Security disability benefits. Once an employee has begun the long-term disability application process, they must also apply for Social Security disability benefits with the Social Security office. New York Life will assist employees with the Social Security filing process.
  • Once an employee is approved for LTD, they are no longer considered an active employee. Their active employment will end effective the day before the LTD effective date.
  • If the employee is covered by a University health insurance and/or dental plan, the employee and/or any eligible dependents will be offered continuous coverage under a COBRA plan at the employee's expense.
  • All optional benefits the employee may have are discontinued when the employee goes on LTD. Some optional benefits may be continued directly through the vendor.
  • If the employee is eligible for Social Security disability and Medicare, the University will offer the employee a Medicare supplement plan, which is currently paid for by the University. This plan does not cover prescription drugs. It is the disabled employee’s responsibility to notify Human Resources when they have been approved for Medicare (usually 24 months after disability began) so they can be placed on the Medicare Supplement for Disabled employees.
  • If the disabled employee would prefer, they may continue COBRA coverage until it expires before moving to the University provided Medicare supplement plan. Please refer to the COBRA section of the Plan Document for more information. If the employee chooses not to go on the University provided Medicare supplement plan when they go onto Medicare or when the COBRA benefit expires, they will not be able to enroll at a later time.
  • If the employee is no longer determined to be disabled (New York Life makes this determination) then the employee is no longer eligible for the University provided Medicare Supplement plan.

Health Coverage at Age 65
 Medicare coverage for disabled staff hired after July 1, 1992, and disabled faculty hired on or after September 1, 2003, will end when the employee turns 65. Please refer to the Insurance for Retirees page for information regarding medical insurance.

If the disabled employee was determined to no longer be disabled prior to age 65 then they would not be eligible for the University post retirement Medicare Supplement.

Life Insurance
 Life insurance may continue under certain circumstances when an employee has been classified by the LTD carrier as disabled.

Tuition Remission
 Full-time employees who are approved for LTD may be eligible for the tuition remission benefits that would have been theirs had they not become disabled (see Tuition Remission for further information).

Retirement
 If an employee is approved for LTD by the LTD carrier and is receiving disability payments, they should contact the LTD carrier to determine if they are eligible to receive retirement plan contributions. Monthly payments to the employee's University-sponsored retirement plan may be continued for those employees who were enrolled in a retirement plan when the condition causing the disability occurred. The disability plan may continue to contribute to the employee's retirement account until LTD benefits cease or until the employee closes their retirement account, whichever occurs first.

Note: Certain references have been made concerning other contracts and benefits such as life insurance, long-term disability insurance, short-term disability insurance, and medical insurance. These references are provided as general guidance and are not a replacement or supplement to the terms and provisions of the actual contracts or benefit referenced. For specific information concerning these policies, please see the Plan Document.