Disability

Once you are approved for coverage, you will be eligible to collect your short term disability insurance benefit starting on the 1st day of total disability due to an accident or the 8th day of total disability due to an illness or pregnancy related claim. You must be under the care of a physician.

The State of Minnesota’s plan allows employees to choose their coverage amount in increments of $100. The minimum benefit amount you can enroll for is $300 per month and the maximum cannot exceed 66.67% of your gross monthly salary.

• If you are a newly hired employee or have been rehired after a break of at least 30 days, you must enroll in the plan within 30 days of your first day of employment or rehire. Your coverage will take effect on the 31st day of employment.
• Active employees who become newly insurance eligible must enroll within 30 days of becoming eligible. Your coverage will take effect on the date of your eligibility change, or your 31st day of employment, whichever is later.

What if I choose not to enroll when I first become eligible?

If you do not enroll during your initial enrollment opportunity, you may be required to provide Evidence of Good Health which is subject to medical underwriting and The Hartford’s approval. You may also be responsible for the cost of physical exams or other associated costs if they are required during that process. Please note that coverage could be declined.

If you want to make a change to the amount you have elected for short term disability you need to submit an Optional Application, which can be found on the Find a Form page.

• You can submit an Optional Application at any time.
• If you are increasing your STD coverage you may be required to provide Evidence of Good Health which is subject to medical underwriting and The Hartford's approval.
• You do not need to provide Evidence of Good Health to decrease your STD coverage

The cost of your short term disability coverage depends on the monthly benefit amount you select. You can find the STD rates in the current Rate Guide.

Contact Ochs Inc. for questions about Life, AD&D, Short Term Disability, and Long Term Disability

• 651-665-3789
• 800-392-7295
• Email Ochs
• Ochs Website

Long Term Disability Insurance benefits begin after you have been totally disabled for a period of time known as the elimination period. It is the latter of 6 consecutive months or the exhaustion of any Employer-sponsored short term disability benefits. Attempts to return to work for a period of 30 days or less during the elimination period will not interrupt or extend the elimination period. You must be under the care of a physician to receive benefits.

The State of Minnesota’s plan allows employees to choose their coverage amount in increments of $50 for amounts of $300 to $1,000, then in increments of $100 for amounts greater than $1,001. The minimum benefit amount you can enroll for is $300 per month and the maximum allowed is 60% of your gross annual salary.

• If you are a newly hired employee or have been rehired after a break of at least 30 days, you must enroll in the plan within 30 days of your first day of employment or rehire. Your coverage will take effect on the 31st day of employment.
• Active employees who become newly insurance eligible must enroll within 30 days of becoming eligible. Your coverage will take effect on the date of your eligibility change, or your 31st day of employment, whichever is later.

What if I choose not to enroll when I first become eligible?

If you do not enroll during your initial enrollment opportunity, you will be allowed to enroll for coverage or increase your coverage during any of the State’s annual open enrollment periods without Evidence of Good Health.

You can increase your coverage during any annual Open Enrollment without Evidence of Good Health. If you want to decrease the amount you have elected for LTD outside of Open Enrollment you need to submit an Optional Application, which can be found on the Find a Form page.

• You can submit an Optional Application at any time.
• You may not increase your LTD coverage outside of Open Enrollment.
• You do not need to provide Evidence of Good Health to decrease your LTD coverage.

The cost of your long term disability coverage depends on the monthly benefit amount you select. You can find the LTD rates in the current Rate Guide.

• If a period of disability begins within 730 days of your effective date of coverage, that disability is subject to the pre-existing condition limitation provision. If the disabling condition is found to be preexisting, benefits are not payable for that disability. This provision applies to all employees who enroll for coverage.
• A pre-existing condition means any accidental bodily injury, sickness, mental illness, pregnancy, or episode of substance abuse for which you received medical care during the 365-day period before your effective date of coverage, or the effective date of a change in coverage.
• All manifestations, symptoms or findings which result from the same or related disability, or from any aggravations of a disability, are considered to be the same disability for the purposes of determining a pre-existing condition.
• Medical care is received when a physician is consulted or medical advice is given, or treatment is recommended, prescribed by, or received from a physician. Treatment includes, but is not limited to medical examinations, tests, attendance or observation, as well as the use of drugs, medicines, medical services, supplies or equipment.
• If you elect to increase your monthly benefit amount during any of the State’s annual open enrollment periods, that incremental amount of increase will be subject to the full preexisting condition limitation.
• This limitation does not apply to any period of disability that is not related to a preexisting condition as defined.
• Here are a few examples of how this provision is applied:
  • Example 1) Jane was treated for kidney stones 6 months ago, and enrolls for coverage shortly thereafter (so she received treatment during the 365-day period prior to her effective date). She will not have coverage for problems related to her kidney stones until she has been continuously covered under the plan for 730 days (2 years). However, she is covered for disabilities unrelated to kidney stones during that 730 day period. Any disability related to kidney stones that begins after 730 days of being continuously insured would be covered.
  • Example 2) Bob was treated for an ulcer 1-1/2 years ago and has not had any medical care (as defined above) since. If Bob enrolled for long term disability coverage now, any disability related to his ulcer condition would be eligible because he has not received treatment for his ulcers during the 365- day period prior to his effective date of coverage.

Contact Ochs Inc. for questions about Life, AD&D, Short Term Disability, and Long Term Disability

• 651-665-3789
• 800-392-7295
• Email Ochs
• Ochs Website

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OCHS - Administrator for Life and Disability find more information regarding your life and disability insurance, including claim filing forms and instructions, plus tools to help you determine your life and disability coverage needs.