Help employees protect their income with group disability insurance.
Principal庐&苍产蝉辫;offers both short-term disability and long-term disability insurance that help meet your employees鈥 needs and your bottom line. Create a foundation with our flexible disability policy, then add extra features to create just the right mix.
Who pays the insurance premium?
You can choose to pay for all, part, or none of the premium with 海角社区group disability insurance. If your budget is tight, employees could pick up the entire cost of the premium with voluntary short-term or long-term disability insurance.
What is group disability insurance?
Disability insurance acts as an employee鈥檚 personal safety net. If employees are too sick or hurt to work, they can rely on disability insurance to replace a portion of their income. That means they can focus on taking care of themselves and worry less about how they鈥檒l pay the bills.
What is short-term disability insurance?
If an employee is temporarily disabled and can鈥檛 work for a short amount of time, this benefit is used to replace a portion of the employee鈥檚 income. Examples of qualifying conditions may include the birth of a child, prolonged sickness, or recovery after surgery. Short-term disability benefits are paid weekly, and employees are eligible to receive benefits for less than 26 weeks.
What is long-term disability insurance?
Long-term disability (LTD) benefits generally begin after short-term disability benefits end. Examples of qualifying conditions may include cancer, accidental injuries, and mental health conditions. Long-term disability benefits are paid monthly. The amount of time a person can receive LTD benefits varies, but usually coverage is provided until the employee returns to work, receives benefits for a certain number of years (example: up to 5 years), or reaches age 65.
Why offer group disability insurance?
Employees depend on their income for everything鈥攖he small things like groceries or a night out, and the big things like their home and car. What if an injury or illness affected your employee鈥檚 ability to work? Without an income, any money in savings may need to be used for things like mortgage or rent and daily expenses. Employees appreciate having the financial safety net that disability insurance provides.
Plus, offering group disability insurance enhances your benefits package. And great employee benefits can help you attract and keep quality employees.
How does group disability insurance work?
If an employee is too sick or hurt to work, they may be eligible for disability insurance. After filing a claim and meeting the policy鈥檚 definition of disability, the employee then fulfills the elimination period (the amount of time before benefits are available). Examples of elimination periods include 8 days for short-term disability and 90 days for long-term disability. Depending on the employer鈥檚 time-off policy, employees may be able to use sick leave during the elimination period.
It鈥檚 important that employees understand disability insurance covers a portion of their income鈥攔eferred to as the benefit percentage. This is the percentage of pre-disability income the employee receives (example: 60%).
For short-term disability, claimants receive weekly benefit checks. For long-term disability, claimants receive monthly payments.
Key features of 海角社区group disability insurance.
Choose from a range of features to customize the coverage that鈥檚 right for you and your employees. Flexible options include: benefit percentages, maximum benefits, elimination periods, benefit payment periods, and more.
Definitions makes a big difference
Disability insurance can be complex. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 important to have a good handle on the contract鈥檚 language. Just one word or phrase can make a big difference when鈥攐r if鈥攁n employee qualifies as disabled. Here are a few definitions that make our disability contract different.
鈥淥r鈥 definition of disability
Using the small word 鈥渙r鈥 in the definition of disability means employees who aren鈥檛 totally disabled may still qualify for benefits. Employees qualify for benefits by meeting either of the following criteria:
- Unable to perform the majority of substantial duties of their own job (for short-term disability)
or occupation (for long-term disability), or - Unable to earn 80% of their pre-disability income while working in a modified capacity.
鈥淥wn job鈥 definition for short-term disability
We use an 鈥渙wn job鈥 definition of disability instead of the more common 鈥渙wn occupation.鈥 That means we look at the job the employee was performing on the date of the disability鈥攏ot the occupation.
Getting employees back on their feet鈥攁nd back to work
The road back to work from a disability can be difficult, for you and your employee. We're dedicated to helping both of you through this process to make the journey easier.
Our Return-to-Work ResourcesSM program offers:
- Personal rehabilitation plans: Outlines an individualized plan for the disabled employee with input from the employee, physician and employer.
- Work incentives: Provides disabled employees with additional benefits if they return to work part time.
- Rehabilitation incentives: Increases the benefit percentage for disabled employees who agree to participate in rehabilitation programs.
- Reasonable accommodation benefits: Reimburses you for expenses used to modify the worksite to allow a disabled employee to return to work.
Personalized claim services
You can count on the managed disability services team to guide you and your employees through what can be an uncertain time. After a claim is submitted, a claim specialist connects with the employer, employee and attending physician. Depending on the claim, additional professionals鈥 such as a registered nurse or occupational associate鈥攎ay be included.
Employee assistance program (EAP)1
Give employees access to resources to help them handle life鈥檚 everyday鈥攁nd not so everyday鈥攃hallenges. Employees and their families have access to free, confidential help when they need it most.
You automatically receive basic services with your 海角社区short-term or long-term disability coverage. This includes in-person or virtual counseling; legal, financial, and identity theft services2; and organizational support. For an additional fee, you may choose to offer an even more comprehensive level of service.
Build upon your benefits package.
Make sure your employees have both group short-term and long-term disability insurance. Then enhance their benefit package by offering individual disability income insurance to protect even more of their income.
Consider combining group disability insurance with group life insurance to offer a comprehensive benefits package.
See how your benefits compare to what other organizations of your size, industry, and region offer their employees.
- These products and services are not part of the insurance contract and may be changed or discontinued at anytime. 海角社区is not liable for products and services provided by third parties. Not available with self-funded coverage.
- Not available to group policies issued in New York.
This is an overview of the benefits group disability insurance provides, but there are limitations and exclusions. For Arizona residents, see group disability insurance limitations and exclusions. For cost and coverage details, contact your 海角社区representative. Disability insurance from Principal庐 is issued by 海角社区Life Insurance Company, Des Moines, IA 50392. Oregon policy GC 3000-2 (1114), GC 4000-2 (0415).
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