Macalester offers the following disability insurance in the event of a qualifying disability. The purpose of disability insurance is to protect and replace a portion of your income if you suffer a disabling injury or illness that keeps you from earning a living. 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.
Long-Term Disability Insurance
Policy Number: LK966085
Macalester provides long‐term disability (LTD) insurance for employees with a 0.50 FTE or higher through New York Life Group Benefit Solutions. Macalester pays 100% of the premium for you. You are automatically enrolled in the LTD program, so no action is required on your end.
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 New York Life Group Benefit Solutions. 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. For faculty, see Short Term Emergency Leave
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.
Benefit Rate Multiplier
| 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 Premium |
| $32,500.00 | / 52 = $625.00 | x 0.60 = $375.00 | /10 = $37.00 | x $0.290 = | $10.73 |
There are three different ways that you can file a claim.
- Call 1-888-842-4462 between 7:00 am – 7:00 pm and a representative will help you.
- Visit New York Life’s online portal to complete an online claim.
- Visit New York Life’s Resources page to complete the form and then sign and send it to New York Life Group Benefit Solutions.
- Employee Guide
- How to report a disability claim (PDF)
- Benefit Summary: Long Term Disability – Staff (PDF)
- Benefit Summary: Long Term Disability – CBU (PDF)
- Benefit Summary: Short Term Disability (PDF)
- Short-Term Disability Insurance Certificate of Coverage
- Long-Term Disability Insurance – CBU – Certificate of Coverage (PDF)
- Long-Term Disability Insurance – Certificate of Coverage (PDF)