Long Term Disability: Full-Time Employees

Information for: Full-Time Employees

FIT’s Long Term Disability (LTD) Insurance Plan insured by The Hartford, provides long-term income protection if you become disabled due to a covered injury, sickness, or medical condition. The monthly benefit amount you may receive, subject to approval by The Hartford and completion of a waiting period (Benefit Elimination Period), is equal to a percentage of your base salary in effect prior to your date of disability.  Below is a summary of coverage. For complete details, including the duration of benefit payments, please refer to the Long Term Disability Insurance Plan Booklet (.pdf).

Initial Enrollment 
You must select an LTD coverage option within 31 days of your hire date. Coverage is effective the first of the month coincident with or next following your date of hire*. You may select from four coverage options, each providing different benefit payment levels or benefit elimination periods.
 
Coverage Options and Costs
FIT provides Option A at no cost to you; the other enhanced options require after-tax payroll contributions. Initial coverage costs, which will be provided to you by a benefits representative, are based on your age, the option you select, and your base annual salary upon hire. 

Option A

Cost - Paid for by FIT
Benefit Amount  - 60% of base salary in effect prior to the date of disability, to a maximum benefit amount of $6,000 per month
Benefit Elimination Period - 180 days

Option B

Cost - Based on age and base salary, employee paid on an after-tax basis
Benefit Amount - 60% of base salary in effect prior to the date of disability, to a maximum benefit amount of $6,000 per month
Benefit Elimination Period - 90 days

Option C

Cost - Based on age and base salary, employee paid on an after-tax basis
Benefit Amount - 70% of base salary in effect prior to the date of disability, to a maximum benefit amount of $6,000 per month
Benefit Elimination Period - 180 days

Option D

Cost  - Based on age and base salary, employee paid on an after-tax basis
Benefit Amount - 70% of base salary in effect prior to the date of disability, to a maximum benefit amount of $6,000 per month.
Benefit Elimination Period - 90 days

If you enroll in an enhanced, employee-paid option, contributions may change on an ongoing basis each January 1 due to base salary changes. Rates are also based on age and may change on January 1; the first rate age band is for those under age 25 and changes to five-year rate age bands beginning at age 25 (i.e., ages 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, etc.). There is one rate band for those 65 or older.

Pre-Existing Conditions Information
If you experience a disability caused by, contributed by, or resulting from a pre-existing condition for which you received medical care in the three months before your coverage effective date, there is a 12-month benefit waiting period. This would run concurrently with your benefit elimination period.   Please review the Exclusions and Limitations section of the Long Term Disability Insurance Plan Booklet (.pdf) for more information.

Opportunities to Make Changes
You have future opportunities to change your LTD coverage option.  Changes to a higher benefit level require medical underwriting approval by The Hartford before becoming effective.

  • You may make a change during the Annual Benefits Open Enrollment period held in the fall.
    • If you elect a higher benefit level and The Hartford approves the change, it will become effective on January 1 unless the approval is made later than January 1*.  Your contribution amount will change going forward at the time of approval notification. 
  • Due to a change in family status, including, but not limited to, marriage or domestic partnership, birth of a child, or adoption of a child. Your change request must be made within 31 days of the family status change by notifying a benefits representative.  A coverage change will become effective if approved by The Hartford**.  Your contribution amount will change at the time of approval notification.

If you are approved for a higher benefit level and you experience a disability caused by, contributed by, or resulting from a pre-existing condition for which you received medical care in the three months before your new coverage effective date, there is a 12-month waiting period.  This would run concurrently with your benefit elimination period.  However, you may be eligible to receive your previously elected benefit level during the 12-month waiting period.

Applying for LTD Benefits
To receive LTD benefits, you must complete and submit an application and be approved by The Hartford.  During the benefit elimination period, you may receive income from other sources, such as your accrued leave banks or the Accident and Sickness Disability Plan benefit offered by the UCE of FIT Welfare Trust Fund, if enrolled.  You must exhaust all accrued leave banks before LTD benefit payments are payable to you if approved for LTD benefits. 
Hartford’s Travel Assistance (.pdf) services are free to you. 

*Hartford will defer your coverage effective date if you are absent from work on the date it would otherwise become effective due to specific reasons detailed in the plan booklet until you are actively at work for one full day.

The Hartford Contact Info:
Group Benefits Division, Customer Service
(800) 523-2233