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Eligibility and EnrollmentWho is eligible to participate in the STD Plan?Benefits eligible staff scheduled to work at least 17.5 hours per week a with at least one year of service are eligible to participate in the STD Plan. A minimum of 1 year of University service is required. Librarians are also eligible to participate in the STD Plan. Faculty should consult the Faculty Handbook pertaining to illness.
Can I cover my spouse or dependent child?No. The purpose of the Short Term Disability Plan is to protect the income of a covered employee, not the income of a family member.
Can I enroll in the STD Plan if I do not have one year of service?Yes. If you don't yet have a year of service and you are interested in STD coverage and you are a new employee, you must enroll online through Self Service within 31 days from the date of hire. Coverage will be effective the first of the month following your one year of service date. After initial eligibility, you may only enroll during Open Enrollment or with a qualifying family or employment status change. You will need to submit evidence of good health in order to participate in the STD Plan subject to approval by the claims administrator.
Do I need to re-enroll in future years to continue Short Term Disability coverage?No. You do not need to re-enroll to continue STD coverage from one year to the next.
Why should I consider participating in the STD Plan?There are many factors which you should consider.
In addition:
Can I drop STD coverage at any time?No. You may drop STD coverage only during Open Enrollment or within 31 days from the date of a change in family or employment status. Should you wish to obtain STD coverage at a future date, you must apply for coverage and demonstrate evidence of good health satisfactory to the claims administrator.
I'm currently pregnant, can I enroll in the STD Plan?Yes. If you are pregnant when enrolling, however, pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition and any claims resulting from it are not covered.
Effective Dates and ContributionsWhat is the cost?Example 1: The monthly premium for an individual age 31 earning $26,000 is
$5.63. Example 2: The monthly premium for an individual age 58 earning $45,000 is
$15
When does coverage begin?Coverage begins the first of the month following the month an individual accrues one year of service.
When does STD coverage end?Coverage ends at separation of employment. There are no conversion provisions.
Is the premium deducted on a pre-tax or after-tax basis?Contributions deducted from an employee's paycheck deducted on an after-tax basis subject to income tax and both Medicare and social security taxes.
I'm paid on a bi-weekly basis. Which paycheck is the STD premium deducted from?Contributions for the Short Term Disability Plan are deducted from the first and second paycheck of each month.
Will my contributions remain the same in future years?Short Term Disability contributions are based on an individual's age and salary. Contributions will change as an individual increases in age and salary. Contributions may also change based on the number and duration of Short Term Disability claims paid by the sponsoring insurance company. Premium rate changes will occur on a calendar year basis.
Do I continue making STD premium payments while I am receiving STD benefit payments?Yes. You must continue making premium payments while receiving STD benefits.
BenefitsWhat are the benefits?The Plan pays 60% of an individual's weekly wages up to a maximum benefit payment of $7,500 per month.
Are benefit payments subject to taxes?No. Benefit payments are not subject to income taxes.
What qualifies as a disability?A qualifying disability means that an individual in diagnosed by an employee's physician as not being able to perform his or her job duties.
Why is the benefit payment 60% of my salary?Insurance companies specializing in disability plans believe that the purpose of a short term disability plan is to protect loss of income until an employee is able to return to work. It's generally believed that providing complete income replacement (100%) does not encourage employees to return to work. Many STD plans provide 60% income replacement benefit.
Can the benefit payment be made directly to my bank account by direct deposit?Yes. Benefit payments are made through the University's payroll system.
How do I submit a claim for STD benefits?To report or submit a claim, a covered employee should first contact a Benefits Counselor to discuss the application process as well as the utilization of accumulated sick, vacation and personal floating holiday time prior to receiving STD benefit payments. A completed claim form should be completed by the employee's physician and submitted to the Benefits Division. The claim form will then be forwarded to the University's Office of Risk Management which serves as the Claims Administrator. A Risk Management representative and/or a Medical Consultant physician may contact the employee's physician directly to clarify information presented on the claim form or seek additional information to process the claim quickly and accurately. They may also ask about the nature of the employee's illness or injury, and whether it is occupational or non-occupational; that is, whether it occurred as a result of the employee's job. If a claim is denied, the employee will receive notification from the Claims Administrator and information on the option to appeal the denial decision. The claim form
Why is there a waiting period before benefits begin?The purpose of the Short Term Disability Plan is to help employees avoid or minimize the financial burdens that may result from an extended non-work related accident or illness. A waiting period establishes that an injury or illness is a prolonged illness and not a 3 day cold or the 24 hour flu. It also results in insurance companies specializing in Short Term Disability plans as well as self funded plans offering lowered premiums contributions. Northwestern University's STD plan has a 14 day waiting period.
Does the plan provide benefits in the event of pregnancy?Yes. Generally, 30% of all submitted STD claims are maternity related.
How do I continue health insurance coverage while I am disabled?During the period an individual is receiving Short Term Disability benefits, he or she may continue health insurance coverage through the University by paying his or her premium share by payroll deduction. The University will continue to contribute its share of the total monthly premium.
How do I appeal if my application for short term disability is denied?There is a formal appeal process which you may pursue should your application be denied for short term disability benefits. Please contact the Benefits Division directly for information about the appeal process.
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| Plans | Type of Employee | Life Change Event | Benefits FAQ | Benefits Forms | Provider Contact Information Human Resources Home | Jobs | Training & Development | Benefits | Payroll | HRIS | Forms | Policies & Procedures Staff Handbook  | Holiday Schedule | Human Resources Staff.Northwestern Home | Northwestern Calendar: Plan-It Purple | Northwestern Sites A-Z | Northwestern Search Human Resources 720 University Pl. Evanston, IL 60208 Phone: 847-491-7513 Fax: 847-467-2288 E-mail:benefits@northwestern.edu Last updated 11/12/2009 World Wide Web Disclaimer and University Policy Statements © 2009 Northwestern University |
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