Current Provider: UNUM
Website: unum.com
The LTD voluntary supplemental option provides income protection after 180 days of disability. The LTD supplemental benefit is 66-2/3% of your stated regular base salary up to $600,000 (maximum benefit of $33,333 per month) during an extended medical leave resulting from a serious illness or injury. The insurance company pays this benefit directly to the employee.
ELIGIBILITY
Regular full-time and part-time faculty and staff who have completed 6 consecutive months of benefits-eligible service and whose stated regular base salary exceeds $160,000 are eligible to elect the LTD supplemental option. Full-time faculty are defined as a regular or visiting faculty member who works 100% of the required full-time workload. Part-time faculty are defined as a regular or visiting faculty member who works 50% or more but less than 100% of the required full-time workload. Regular full-time staff employees are defined as benefits-eligible employees who regularly work either 37.5 or 40 hours per week and regular part-time employees are defined as benefits-eligible employees who regularly work at least 20 hours per week but less than 37.5 hours per week.
DESCRIPTION OF BENEFIT
Long-Term Disability (LTD) supplemental benefits of 66-2/3% of stated regular base salary (maximum benefit of $33,333 per month) begin after 180 days of disability. The insurance company (Unum) is responsible for approval or denial of LTD claims. An employee is considered disabled when Unum determines that:
- They are limited from performing the material and substantial duties of their regular occupation due to their sickness or injury; and
- They have a 20% or more loss in indexed monthly earnings due to the same sickness or injury; and
- They are under the regular care of a physician.
The loss of a professional or occupational license or certification does not, in itself, constitute disability. Unum may require an examination by a physician, other medical practitioner and/or vocational expert of their choice. Unum will pay for this examination. Unum can require an examination as often as it is reasonable to do so. Unum may also require a covered employee to be interviewed by an authorized Unum Representative. Benefits may be reduced by other sources of income and disability earnings and are subject to maximum periods of payment depending on your age at disability. See the SPD on the Plan Documents page of the Human Resources website for further details.
ENROLLMENT
Employees must enroll in this benefit in order to be considered eligible. Enrollment information will be sent in the month of the eligible employee’s 6 month anniversary or when their stated regular base salary increases to more than $160,000 and they will have 30 days to complete the enrollment form. Employees who decide not to enroll when first eligible may enroll at any time in the future; however, they will be required to complete a statement of health and be approved by Unum Provident, the insurer of the LTD plan.
FILING A CLAIM
Staff: If an employee has an open Short-Term Medical Disability (STMD) claim and is unable to return to work after 180 days of disability, an LTD claim will be transitioned to the Unum LTD team for review. Employees can contact Unum at 866-371-5723 from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm CST. Employees must provide required documentation to the insurance company. Faculty: Please contact the WashU benefits team at 314-935-2332 or via email at mytimeoff@wustl.edu after 3 months of medical leave to receive an application if the leave is expected to continue beyond 6 months. Faculty members who have also elected the voluntary LTD buy-up option should contact the WashU benefits team at 314-935-2332 or via email at mytimeoff@wustl.edu after one month of medical leave to receive an application if the leave is expected to continue beyond 3 months.
COST OF THE BENEFIT PREMIUMS
The cost of LTD supplemental benefit coverage is paid by the employee with after tax dollars. The cost is based on the employee’s stated regular base salary amount in excess of $160,000 and age as set forth in the following chart:
| Age | Rate per $100 of Salary |
|---|---|
| Under age 30 | .064 |
| 30 – 34 | .115 |
| 35 – 39 | .125 |
| 40 – 44 | .199 |
| 45 – 49 | .294 |
| 50 – 54 | .482 |
| 55 – 59 | .613 |
| 60 – 64 | .657 |
| 65 or older | .666 |
To calculate an individual premium amount:
- Subtract $160,000 from stated regular base salary (maximum of $600,000).
- Divide this amount by 12 to determine the excess covered monthly salary (if less than $1,000, use $1,000).
- Find the employee’s age on the chart above and the rate. Move the decimal point two places to the left, since this is the rate per $100 of excess covered monthly salary.
- Multiply the excess monthly covered salary by that figure to find the monthly cost.
For example: A 42 year old employee whose stated regular base salary is $400,000 annually would calculate their monthly cost as follows:
- $400,000 minus $160,000 equals $240,000
- $240,000 divided by 12 equals $20,000
- $0.199 changed to 0.00199 for calculation
- $20,000 times 0.00199 equals $39.80 per month
MISCELLANEOUS
Following LTD approval:
- Benefits eligibility continues and employees remain financially responsible for the cost of benefits (which are billed monthly) while on LTD. If health benefit premium contributions are not paid timely, health benefits coverage may be terminated.
- If an employee was contributing to the Retirement Savings Plan immediately prior to becoming disabled, the University’s contribution to the 403(b) will be paid directly to the Retirement Savings Plan account by the insurance company. The amount of the contribution is based on the contribution formula in effect at the time of the disability claim approval. The amount of the contribution is calculated on the regular base rate of compensation paid immediately before becoming disabled.
- Holidays do not extend the leave period or augment pay.
- Sick and vacation do not continue to accrue. Employees are not eligible to utilize sick leave while on LTD.
Eligibility for coverage ceases on last day worked. Unum will provide coverage for a payable claim which occurs while a faculty member is covered under the plan. See the summary plan description for more information. If anything herein is in conflict with the Plan Document, the Plan Document supersedes. The University reserves the right to modify this plan in whole or part at any time.