Disability Insurance

If you are unable to work due to a non-work-related illness or injury or childbirth, disability insurance may provide financial protection by replacing a portion of your pre-disability earnings.

You may change your disability elections at any time during the year; however, if you enroll in employee-paid coverage outside of your new-hire enrollment period, your disability benefits will be subject to an extended 60-day waiting period before benefits are payable.

Short-Term Disability Insurance

Employer-Paid Basic Short-Term Disability

The university offers employer-paid Basic Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance for your first 3 years of employment. Coverage is provided automatically at no cost to you and is administered by Standard Insurance.

Basic STD insurance provides 60% of your pre-disability salary, up to $45,000. Benefits commence after a 14-day absence from work following the use of all accrued leave. (You do not have to use all of your accrued leave before taking maternity leave.)

Coverage under Basic STD ends at midnight after 3 years of employment. You will receive a notification from Workday when you lose Basic STD coverage. You will then have 31 days from the date you lose coverage to change your STD enrollment, including your election for Supplemental STD insurance. As long as you enroll during the 31-day enrollment period, you will not be subject to the extended benefit waiting period. As long as you complete your enrollment within the 31-day window, your newly elected coverage will be effective retroactive to the date you lost Basic STD—there will be no break in coverage.

Note: You cannot opt out of Basic Short-Term Disability insurance.

Saving Sick Time

It is important for you to save your sick time for when you are actually ill and not use it as vacation days. If you no longer have employer-paid Basic Short-Term Disability, built-up sick time can help bridge the gap between your last working day and when Long-Term Disability insurance kicks in. Check your sick time balance in Workday:

  • From the Global Navigation Menu, select the Absence application.
  • Select Absence Balance in the View section.
  • Enter a date in the As Of field.
  • Select OK. The Ending Period Balance Including Pending Events column displays your leave balance for each category. Note: Balances are tracked in hours.

Employee-Paid Supplemental Short-Term Disability

While you have Basic STD coverage, you can elect optional, employee-paid Supplemental Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance, which provides 60% of the first $4,153 of your weekly pre-disability earnings.

If you do not enroll in Supplemental STD during your new-hire enrollment period, you will be subject to an extended benefit waiting period. Review the Short Term Disability Policy for more information.

The policy number for Short-Term Disability is 762885.

Employee-Paid Voluntary Short-Term Disability

When you lose Basic STD coverage, you can elect optional, employee-paid Voluntary Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance, which provides 60% of the first $4,153 of your weekly pre-disability earnings.

You will have an opportunity to enroll in Voluntary STD when you lose Basic STD coverage. If you do not enroll in Voluntary STD during the 31-day enrollment period, you will be subject to an extended benefit waiting period. Review the Short Term Disability Policy for more information.

Health Advocacy Select

If you qualify for STD leave, Health Advocacy Select can assist you. A Personal Health Advocate, typically a Registered Nurse, can support you with various services, including:

  • Scheduling appointments
  • Coordinating health care with providers and specialists
  • Managing out-of-pocket medical expenses
  • Resolving medical claims and billing issues
  • Finding resources for services that may not be covered through health insurance

Advocates are available Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. CT at 844-450-5543.

Long-Term Disability Insurance

Employer-Paid Basic Long-Term Disability

The university provides employer-paid Basic Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance. Coverage is provided automatically at no cost to you and is administered by Standard Insurance.

Basic LTD provides 60% of your pre-disability salary, up to $20,000. Benefits start after you have been out of work for 180 days or at the end of your accumulated sick leave, whichever is later.

If your claim is approved by Standard Insurance, you will receive monthly benefits for as long as you remain disabled, up to age 65. If your disability begins at age 60 or older, you will be eligible to receive benefits for a set period of time, depending on when your disability begins. See the Long-Term Disability Certificate for more information.

Note: You cannot opt out of Basic Long-Term Disability Insurance.

The policy number for Life, Disability, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment is 750976.

Employee-Paid Supplemental Long-Term Disability

You can enroll in Supplemental Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance, which provides 60% of your pre-disability salary, up to $500,000.

If you enroll after your initial benefits eligibility date, benefits will be subject to a 12-month pre-existing condition waiting period before benefits begin.

Convert LTD Insurance

If you leave the university, you can convert your LTD insurance to an individual policy.

Filing a Disability Claim

If you have a disability claim, call The Standard at 888-641-7194 or visit the website. You must have your policy number to submit a claim (shown in the callout box above).

If you go online, you'll need to set up an account to submit your portion of the claim. To get started, select File a Claim, then Insurance Benefits Through Work, then Start a Claim. You'll receive a confirmation email, and you can opt-in to text alerts on the status of your claim. The Standard will handle the remaining forms that must be completed by the university and your doctor.

Need help? Follow these instructions.