Short-term Disability (STD) Plan
The Standard base STD plan provides a benefit of 60 percent of your eligible earnings up to a maximum of $500 per week. Benefits under this plan are paid up to 22 weeks. If you are newly eligible for a disability as a result of a change to your benefits salary, you may be eligible to enroll without submitting Evidence of Insurability (EOI).
Short-term Disability Insurance
Short Term Disability insurance can help pay benefits if you become disabled and can’t work for a short amount of time. This coverage replaces a portion of your income when you can’t work because of a qualifying disability, including injury, physical disease, pregnancy or mental disorder.
You may receive weekly benefits that replace a specified percentage of your eligible earnings. Benefits begin after the waiting period explained below. You may also receive help returning to work if you need accommodations.
What Your Benefit Provides
Base coverage:
Full-time Employees: Base coverage provided by Miami-Dade County Public Schools at no cost to you 60 percent of your eligible earnings, up to a maximum benefit of $500 per week. Plan minimum $25 per week.
Part-time (B,E,F,L) Employees: Base coverage you can purchase, paid for by you 60 percent of your eligible earnings, up to a maximum benefit of $500 per week. Plan minimum $25 per week.
Buy-up coverage:
Full-time Employees: Buy-up coverage you can purchase, paid for by you and your Employer 60 percent of your eligible earnings, up to a maximum benefit of $1000 per week. Plan minimum $25 per week.
Part-time (B,E,F,L) Employees: Buy-up coverage not available.
Benefit Waiting Period
Full-time Employees:
Base coverage provided by Miami-Dade County Public Schools at no cost to you
- 30 days for accidental injury
- 30 days for physical disease, pregnancy or mental disorder
Buy-up coverage you can purchase, paid for by you
- 15 days for accidental injury
- 15 days for physical disease, pregnancy or mental disorder
Part-time Employees:
- May enroll in either 15 day or 30 benefit waiting period plan
How Long Your Benefits Last
Full-time Employees:
Base coverage provided by Miami-Dade County Public Schools at no cost to you
22 weeks
Buy-up coverage you can purchase, paid for by you
24 weeks
Part-time Employees:
Your maximum benefit period is 22 weeks for the 30 day plan or 24 weeks for the 15 day plan
Requests for coverage increases require that you answer health questions. Complete a medical history statement for approval online at https://bit.ly/2KQfkQJ.
You’ll be automatically enrolled in the base plan if you don’t elect coverage and the policy becomes effective. See the Important Details section for more information, including requirements, exclusions, limitations and definitions.
Additional Features
Return to Work Incentive
You will remain eligible for STD benefits while you are working if you meet the definition of disability. Your work earnings will not be deducted from your STD benefit, which is the benefit payable to you while you are working. Your STD benefit is proportional to your loss of earnings during a period of disability. See your group insurance certificate for additional information.
Help With Returning To Work
If a worksite modification would enable you to return to work, we can help your employer make approved modifications by covering some or all of the cost.
Health Advocate Select
While you are out on a short term disability claim, you can contact Health Advocate and be assigned a Personal Health Advocate who will help you navigate the complexities of the healthcare system. https://www.standard.com/eforms/18390.pdf
Evaluate What Makes Sense For You
As you consider Short Term Disability insurance, think about the expenses you would need to cover if you became disabled:
- Housing costs
- Utilities
- Groceries
- Medical bills
- Car insurance
- Child care costs
Your employer provides you with a basic level of disability insurance. Will that be enough for you? If not, you have the option to enroll in an enhanced level of disability insurance.
To estimate your insurance needs, you’ll need to consider your unique circumstances. Use our online calculator at www.standard.com/disability/needs.
How Much Your Coverage Costs
Your base policy is paid for by Miami-Dade County Public Schools and costs you nothing. If you choose to purchase buy-up coverage, you’ll have access to competitive group rates that may be more affordable than those available through individual insurance. You’ll also have the convenience of having your premium deducted directly from your paycheck.
Determine your premium by choosing a payroll cycle and following One of the following below:
-
- 10-months (20 Deductions) Annual Salary $_______÷52 x $.60 ÷10 x $.097 x 12÷20= $_____
- 11-months (24 Deductions) Annual Salary $_______÷52 x $.60 ÷10 x $.097 x 12÷24= $_____
- 12-months (26 Deductions) Annual Salary $_______÷52 x $.60 ÷10 x $.097 x 12÷26= $_____
- Part-Time Employees your monthly post tax premium is $9.84.
- Part-Time Employees your monthly post tax premium for upgrade is $15.83.
Note: If you elect the Buy-up Short Term Disability coverage,
your monthly rate is $0.097 per $10 of weekly benefit.
Eligibility Requirements
A minimum number of eligible employees must apply and qualify for the buy-up plan before the coverage can become effective. If this requirement is not met, this plan will not become effective.
To be eligible for coverage, you must be:
- An active employee who is compensated by the Board in accordance with the Board's general practices.
-
- Full-time Employment: at least 25 hours weekly
- Part-time (B,E,F,L) Employment: at least 10 hours weekly
- A citizen or resident of the United States or Canada
Temporary and seasonal employees, full-time members of the armed forces, leased employees and independent contractors are not eligible.
Employee Coverage Effective Date
To become insured you must:
- Meet the eligibility requirements listed above
- Serve an eligibility waiting period,*
- Apply for coverage and agree to pay premiums
- Receive medical underwriting approval (if applicable)
- Be actively at work (able to perform all normal duties of your job) on the day before the scheduled effective date of insurance
* If you are already a member on the group policy effective date, you are eligible on that date. If you become a member after the group policy effective date, your Base coverage becomes effective after you have met your 90-day waiting period and your Buy-up coverage becomes effective on the first day of the calendar month following the first payroll deduction as a member.
If you are not actively at work on the day before the scheduled effective date of insurance, your insurance will not become effective until the day after you complete one full day of active work as an eligible employee.
All late applications (applying 31 days after becoming eligible), requests for coverage increases (including requests to insure predisability earnings that are greater than the last amount for which evidence of insurability was required), amounts over the guarantee issue amount and reinstatements are subject to medical underwriting approval. Employees eligible but not insured under the prior short term disability insurance plan are also subject to medical underwriting approval. Please contact your human resources representative or plan administrator for more information regarding the requirements that must be satisfied for your insurance to become effective.
Definition of Disability
You are disabled if you meet either of the following definitions:
- You are disabled if, as a result of physical disease, injury, pregnancy, or mental disorder you are unable to perform with reasonable continuity the material duties of your own occupation; or
- You are partially disabled when you work for your employer but, as a result of physical disease, injury, pregnancy, or mental disorder are unable to earn more than 80% of your Predisability Earnings.
Tools and Resources
Exclusions
Subject to state variations, you are not covered for a disability caused or contributed to by any of the following:
- An intentionally self-inflicted injury, while sane or insane
- War or any act of war (declared or undeclared, and any substantial armed conflict between organized forces of a military nature)
- An activity arising out of or in the course of any employment for wage or profit
Limitations
Short Term Disability benefits are not payable for any period when you are:
- Not under the ongoing care of a physician in the appropriate specialty, as determined by The Standard
- Eligible to receive benefits for your disability under a workers’ compensation law or similar law
When Your Benefits End
Your Short Term Disability benefits end automatically on the date any of the following occur:
- You are no longer disabled
- You maximum benefit period ends
- The date you begin working for an employer other than your Employer, or become self-employed
- The date long term disability benefits become payable to you under a group long term disability policy issued by us
- You pass away
Deductible Income
Your benefits will be reduced if you have deductible income, which is income you receive or are eligible to receive while receiving Short Term Disability benefits. Deductible income includes:
- Amounts under unemployment compensation law or similar law
- Amounts under any state disability income benefit law or similar law
- Earnings from work activity while you are disabled, plus the earnings you could receive if you work as much as your disability allows
- Any amount you receive by compromise, settlement or other method as a result of a claim for any of the above
When Your Insurance Ends
Your insurance ends automatically when any of the following occur:
- The date the last period ends for which a premium was paid
- The date your employment terminates
- The date the group policy (or your employer’s coverage under the group policy) terminates
- The date you cease to meet the eligibility requirements (insurance may continue for limited periods under certain circumstances)
- The date Miami-Dade County Public Schools ends participation in the group policy
Office of Risk and Benefits Management
1501 N.E. 2nd Avenue, Suite 335
Miami, Florida 33132
Mon - Fri, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET
www.dadeschools.net
305-995-7129
FBMC Service Center
Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
1-855-MDC-PS4U (1-855-632-7748)