Group Disability

Group Disability Insurance provides partial income replacement when your employees are unable to work due to illness or injury. This kind of insurance provides a reasonable and adequate substitute for lost income in the event of a disability while establishing a definite benefit plan with known and budgetable costs for the employer. Group Disability Insurance policies are offered in 4 general product types:

Short-Term Disability Insurance (STD)

This is often referred to as Accident and Sickness insurance. It provides benefits for a limited period of time, typically 26 weeks or less. Short-term disability usually provides coverage for accidents or illnesses outside of work when Worker's Compensation insurance does not apply. In California, employer sponsored STD plans supplement the State Disability Insurance (SDI) plan.

Long-Term Disability Insurance (LTD)

This income insurance provides benefits for an extended period of time, usually preceded by a 3 to 6 month waiting period. Monthly benefit payments may continue to age 65 or through normal working years.

Voluntary Long Term Disability for Members of Associations and Affinity Groups

This coverage can be offered by sponsoring organizations (employers, associations and affinity groups) for purchase by its employees or members. This insurance typically replaces up to 60% of eligible earnings in the event the member becomes disabled. The sponsoring organization chooses the period of time before coverage begins (usually a minimum of 90 days) and the period of time during which the Insured can receive benefits - from 2-year durations to plans that can potentially provide benefits until the Insured reaches age 65.

Integrated Disability

This is a combination plan, which pays certain benefits (weekly) for the initial short-term period of the contract, and then switches to a different benefit payment (monthly) for disabilities which continue into a long-term period of the contract. The concept of integration helps employers better manage the costs associated with the various types of disability (short- and long-term). It can also make it easier for employees to get access to professional assistance programs sooner, helping them resume a more productive lifestyle faster and more easily. And, should their disability go longer term, the seamless transfer usually means they suffer no interruption of benefits.

Here's a list of some of the carriers we currently work with:

• Guardian
• Hartford Life Insurance
• Standard Insurance
• UNUM

To request a quote for group disability insurance, contact the Santa Monica Office at 310-829-9491, the Tucson Office at 520-290-0724 or submit a group quote request.