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Employees: Change to long-term disability benefit

Change to long-term disability benefit

The employee-paid long-term disability (LTD) benefit will change starting January 1, 2022. PEBB-eligible employees will automatically be enrolled in employee-paid LTD, if not already enrolled.

Note: Your long-term disability benefit is different from the state鈥檚 new long-term care benefit, which is called . Long-term disability replaces a portion of your income due to accident, illness, or pregnancy. You can reduce or decline your employee-paid LTD coverage at any time. Long-term care pays for the cost of care when you need assistance with activities of daily living and is not currently part of your PEBB Program benefits.

The LTD benefit will offer a minimum 90-day waiting period with two coverage level options. You have been defaulted into the coverage level that covers 60% of the first $16,667 of your monthly predisability earnings. You have the option to reduce your employee-paid LTD to a lower-cost 50% coverage level, with a maximum benefit of $8,333. You also have the option to decline the coverage. If you reduce or decline the employee-paid benefit during annual open enrollment and later decide to enroll or increase your benefit, you will need to provide evidence of insurability and be approved by The Standard.

  • During open enrollment, November 1 through 30, 2021, you can reduce or decline your 2022 automatic enrollment in employee-paid LTD using .
  • You also have the option to reduce or decline your employee-paid LTD coverage by submitting the 2022  form to your payroll or benefits office.
  • Any time after open enrollment, you can reduce or decline your employee-paid LTD coverage by submitting the  form to your payroll or benefits office. Note:  When completing the form, please select one of the three employee-paid LTD options:  60%, 50% or decline.  If you do not select one of these three options, you will automatically be enrolled in the 60% income replacement LTD coverage.

If you don鈥檛 actively reduce or decline your LTD benefit election by December 31, 2021, you will be enrolled in the 60-percent plan, and the premium will be deducted from your paycheck for January 2022 coverage.