Disability Insurance

Macalester offers the following disability insurance in the event of a qualifying disability. If you are disabled by a condition that was treated within the last 3 months, or caused a prior disability within the last 12 months, it may be subject to a pre-existing condition exclusion.

Contact Employment Services for enrollment and enrollment changes.

Insurance Group Minimum FTE Paid By Coverage Period
Long Term Disability Staff and Faculty 0.50 FTE Macalester Greater than 90 days
Short Term Disability Staff 0.50 FTE Employee Less than 90 days
Short Term Emergency Leave Faculty See Short Term Emergency Leave

Long-Term Disability Insurance

Policy Number: LK966085

Macalester provides long‐term disability (LTD) insurance for you through Cigna. Macalester pays 100% of the premium for you. Benefit-eligible employees (0.50 FTE or greater) are automatically enrolled in the LTD program.

Long-Term Disability Plan Highlights

Group Waiting Period Benefit Amount Maximum Benefit
Faculty 90 days 60% of basic monthly earnings $10,000 per month
Staff (Non-CBU) 90 days 60% of basic monthly earnings $10,000 per month
Staff (CBU) 90 days 66 2/3% of basic monthly earnings $10,000 per month
  • Benefit amounts could be reduced by deductible sources of income and disability earnings.
  • Benefit duration is to age 67 when a qualifying disability occurs before age 62. Disabilities occurring after age 62 have limited benefit durations. Your certificate contains more detailed information.
  • Some disabilities may not be covered and some disabilities may have limited coverage under this plan. Refer to your certificate for more information about plan limitations and exclusions.
  • Rehabilitation and Return to Work Assistance: When you participate in this program as a disabled employee, an additional 10% of your gross disability payment may be paid to you up to $1,000 maximum per month.
  • Dependent Care Expense Benefit: While participating in the Rehabilitation and Return to Work Assistance program, you may receive additional payments to cover certain dependent care expenses.

Short-Term Disability Insurance

Policy Number: VDT962903

Macalester offers staff members an optional short‐term disability plan through Cigna. Staff members with a 0.50 FTE and above are eligible for this benefit.  This plan is paid by you and intended to cover qualifying disabilities due to accidents and illnesses off the job. This plan provides total and partial disability protection (as defined in the contract) and is portable with the benefits not integrated with other income sources.

Should I elect Short-Term Disability Insurance?

If your combined sick and vacation balance is higher than 465 hours (pro-rated per FTE), short-term disability insurance would not provide a great deal of benefit for you. If your sick leave balance is less than 465 hours, you may want to elect short-term disability insurance and elect a waiting period in alignment with your available sick and vacation balances. Please contact Employment Services for assistance in enrolling in Short-Term Disability Insurance.

How are premiums and benefit coverage determined?

If you elect this benefit when you begin your employment with Macalester, coverage will begin on the first of the following month and your premiums and benefits will be based on your age and salary as of your date of hire. If you elect this benefit at Open Enrollment, coverage will begin on the first of the following year and your premiums and benefits will be based on your age and salary as of the first of the coverage year. The maximum weekly benefit is $2,000.

Employee Premium Rates

Choice 1 Choice 2 Choice 3
Benefit Period 12 weeks 11 weeks 9 weeks
Benefit Maximum 60% 60% 60%
Benefit start 8th day 15th day 30th day
Your Age Rate Rate Rate
0-24 $.776 $.545 $.207
25-29 $.819 $.612 $.294
30-34 $.678 $.507 $.231
35-39 $.502 $.387 $.169
40-44 $.363 $.290 $.127
45-49 $.387 $.313 $.139
50-54 $.469 $.380 $.169
55-59 $.603 $.480 $.215
60-64 $.725 $.568 $.256
65-69 $.775 $.647 $.295
70+ $.775 $.647 $.295

Calculate Your Monthly Premium

Example (Age 42; Choice 2)
Annual Wages Weekly Wages
(Annual Wages / 52)		 Weekly Benefit
(60% of Weekly Wages)		 Round Down and Divided by 10 Multiplied by rate Monthly cost
$32,500.00 / 52 = $625.00 x 0.60 = $375.00 /10 = $37.00 x $0.290 = $10.73

Resources

Related Benefit Forms