Disability Insurance
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What It Is Eligibility Features Payment Options How To Apply Contact Educational Info |
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What It IsDisability insurance protects your income when a covered sickness or injury prevents you from working. The NYSUT Member Benefits Trust-endorsed plan provides tax-free benefits to help meet your living expenses if you become partially or totally disabled. NYSUT Member Benefits Trust-endorsed Disability Insurance Plan is underwritten by Unimerica Life Insurance Company of New York and is administered by Marsh Affinity Group Services. The Unimerica Life Insurance Company of New York's Disability Plan is a NYSUT Member Benefits Trust (Member Benefits)-endorsed program. Member Benefits has an expense reimbursement/endorsement arrangement of 5% of gross premiums for this program. All such payments to Member Benefits are used solely to defray the costs of administering its various programs and, where appropriate, to enhance them. The Insurer pools the premiums of Member Benefits participants who are insured for the purposes of determining premium rates and accounting. Coverage outside of this plan may have rates and terms that are not the same as those obtainable through Member Benefits. The Insurer or Member Benefits may hold premium reserves that may be used to offset rate increases and/or fund such other expenses related to the plan as determined appropriate by Member Benefits. Member Benefits acts as your advocate; please contact Member Benefits at (800) 626-8101 if you experience a problem with any endorsed program. Agency fee payers to NYSUT are eligible to participate in NYSUT Member Benefits Trust-endorsed programs.
EligibilityThe Disability Plan is available only to members and agency fee payers age 64 and under who work 20 hours or more per week. Acceptance into the plan is subject to evidence of insurability, which is determined by the insurance company. Depending on the amount of coverage you apply for, you may be required to have a medical exam, blood test and urinalysis, all of which will be conducted at your convenience and at no cost to you. The plan is not available to PSC/CUNY (PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund offers an Optional Disability Insurance Plan), NYSPA, NYSUT associate members, spouses/certified domestic partners, or retirees.
FeaturesYou can customize your plan based on your present disability coverage and the benefits you might need if you suffer a disabling illness or injury. You can choose:
The long-term, 5-year, and short-term disability plans provide additional benefits:
Your satisfaction with the plan is 100% guaranteed. If, when you receive your Certificate of Insurance, the plan is less than what you expected, just mail it back to the Plan Administrator within 30 days. Your money will be promptly refunded and your insurance canceled.
Payment OptionsRates are calculated based on your age, monthly benefit amount, length of waiting period and method of payment you choose. Options include:
How To ApplyYou must complete the Disability Insurance Plan application. The plan is medically underwritten. To request a brochure and application, call the Plan Administrator, Marsh Affinity Group Services, toll-free at (888) 38-NYSUT (888-386-9788), weekdays from 9:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time. You can click on the Marsh Affinity link below to download a brochure and application.
ContactFor specific information on the plan, complete rate charts, an application or to speak with a representative, call the Plan Administrator toll-free at (888) 38-NYSUT (888-386-9788), weekdays from 9:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time. NYSUT Member Benefits Trust-endorsed Disability Insurance Plan is underwritten by Unimerica Life Insurance Company of New York and is administered by Marsh Affinity Group Services.
Educational InfoThe Disability Insurance Consumer’s Guide can be downloaded below (in pdf format), is available to all members and agency fee payers, and provides clear, objective information. This guide answers such questions as “Do I really need it?” “What exactly is it?” “What should I look for in a policy?” and more.
For reasons why you need disability insurance, download this brief informational flyer (in pdf format). |