Long Term Disability Program

This program, administered by Prudential Insurance Company of America, provides financial protection to those who have elected coverage in an amount equal to 40% or 60% of your basic monthly earnings to a maximum monthly benefit of $10,000. Because you pay for your LTD benefits with post tax dollars, benefits are tax-free.

• Benefits begin after 180 days of disability.
• Benefit Duration: For disabilities beginning prior to age 60, benefits are payable to your normal Social Security Retirement Age. For disabilities beginning after age 60, benefits are pro-rated to age 70 with a minimum duration of 12 months.
• Enhanced benefits include a Conversion provision and a Critical Illness benefit:
  • Conversion means that you can convert your coverage to an individual policy if you leave the University for other employment.
  • Critical Illness benefits pay an additional amount for certain conditions. See the Benefits Office or your description of benefits for additional details.

Pre-existing Condition Limitation

A pre-existing condition limitation will apply during your first year on the plan or when you increase your coverage. If you received treatment, consultation, care or services; took prescription medication or had medications prescribed or had symptoms or conditions that would cause a reasonably prudent person to seek diagnosis, care or treatment in the three (3) months before your insurance or any increase in the amount of insurance takes effect, Prudential will not cover you if you become disabled from a disability that results from such pre-existing condition for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months from the date your insurance or your increased amount takes effect. After the twelve (12) month waiting period, a pre-existing condition(s) would be covered per the standard Prudential policy.

ELIGIBILITY: If you do not enroll within 31 days of the date you are first eligible, you will not be able to enroll until the next annual open enrollment, unless you experience a Qualified Status Change. See Change in Benefits Election after Change in Life Status (Qualified Status Changes, but specifically, you may change your Long Term Disability coverage if you experience a qualified status change that relates to one of the following events:

•  Events that change your legal marital or Qualified Domestic Partnership status (including marriage, commencement of Qualified Domestic Partner relationship (as evidenced by filing an Affidavit of Qualified Domestic Partnership), divorce, legal separation, annulment or the death of your Spouse, or termination of a Qualified Domestic Partner relationship); or
•  Events that change the number of your dependents (including birth, adoption or placement for adoption, or the death of a dependent, including a Qualified Domestic Partner).

All active, regular employees at the University are eligible, provided that you are an exempt or non-exempt employee regularly scheduled to work 17.5 hours or more a week, with a minimum 90 days employment period. 
or faculty member with at least a half time (as determined by the academic department), two- semester appointment
See pages 5-8 of the Summary Plan Description for Benefits Eligible Employees for full Eligibility information for Staff, Faculty, Dependents, and Retirees.
 
Coverage Type

• The 40% coverage level rate is $0.247 per $100 of earnings
• The 60% coverage level rate is $0.579 per $100 of earnings
• Examples:
  • LTD 40 – $30,000/$100.00 x $0.247/12 = $ 6.18 per month or $74.16 per year
  • LTD 60 – $30,000/$100.00 x $0.579/12 = $14.48 per month or $173.76 per year
  • LTD 40 – $50,000/$100.00 x $0.247/12 = $10.29 per month or $123.48 per year
  • LTD 60 – $50,000/$100.00 X $0.579/12 = $24.13 per month or $289.56 per year

For more information, see also Long Term Disability on the HR section of AccessTufts.

Forms:
Long Term Disability Plan Description
 
Evidence of Insurability Letter/Short Form Health Statement - All applications to enroll or to increase the amount of Supplemental Employee, Dependent Life or LTD insurance during Open Enrollment OR at a Qualified Status Change event OR to request more than 3x for Supplemental Employee at New Hire, will require an Evidence of Insurability form and approval from the insurance company. The form should be submitted to Prudential by December 31^st.  Prudential will then let advise if the request has been approved. *Note the process has changed from last year. Instead of completing the Request form and sending to TSS/Benefits who forwards to Prudential, the Request form with attached Short Form Health statement should be returned directly to Prudential- fax to (617) 587-5998 or mail to:

The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Attention: Melissa O’Brien, 800 Boylston Street, 14th Floor, Boston, MA 02199

Retiree Information Letter - see pg 2 for LTD information upon retirement