Key Information
For residents of:
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and West Virginia.
Benefits-at-a-Glance
Short-Term Disability (STD)
When a valuable employee is absent from his or her job due to an injury or illness, continuing to pay compensation out of your pocket can be devastating to your bottom line. A Short-term Disability Benefit package from EPIC can hedge against such losses, as well as help you avoid some unemployment claims.
Your sales representative can help you choose from our list of elimination periods, which determine when benefits start. Options include 1st day accident, 8th day sickness; 8th day accident, 8th day sickness; and others.
Standard benefit periods available from EPIC are 13, 26, and 52 weeks. However, other benefit periods may be considered with underwriting approval.
A variety of STD benefit levels are available. You may choose from the following:
- A flat amount, where each employee is covered by the same benefit, within their pre-disability earnings
- A scheduled plan, where benefit levels are determined by categories such as occupation or length of service
- An earnings benefit, where benefit levels are 50%, 60%, or 66-2/3% of the employee's average weekly salary
- Maximum STD benefits for groups are:
- Group Size 2-9 -- $750
- Group Size 10-24 -- $1,000
- Group Size 25+ -- $1,500 - Choice of offering your employees a buy-up option
You may select up to six classes under the scheduled plan. If you purchase both Base Term Life and STD insurance and elect earnings or occupational class options for both benefits, the class schedule must be the same.
Short-term Disability offers the following features and benefits:
- Survivor Benefit (included in the premium): Should the insured die while receiving STD benefits, their designated beneficiary will receive an additional three weekly STD benefit payments.
- Maternity (optional for groups of less than 15; included in the premium for groups of 15+): This enhancement extends the STD coverage to include an insured's pregnancy-related disabilities.
- First Day Hospital (optional benefit): If the insured becomes hospitalized due to an injury or sickness, the benefit waiting period will be waived and benefit payments will start immediately.
- Partial Disability (optional benefit): A partially-disabled employee can receive up to 80% of their pre-disability pay from part-time work, STD benefits, and other sources, and still qualify for STD coverage. Since your employees don't have to be concerned about losing benefits or starting a waiting period over again, this option encourages them to return to work.
- Pre-Existing Limitation - Base and Voluntary STD has a pre-existing limitation of 6/12. Credit will be given to insureds with prior group STD coverage.
- Integration with Other Income Benefits - If an insured receives income from the United States Social Security Act, or other sources as stated in the certificate, the weekly STD benefit will be reduced by this income.
When you offer your employees Short-term Disability Insurance, you're offering peace of mind. Your employees can rest assured a reliable source of income will assist their financial needs should the unexpected happen.
