What's Disability Insurance?

Disability insurance is protection against the loss of salary income in the event of a disabling illness or injury.

MTEA's group disability insurance plans offer options for salary protection that you can tailor to your individual and family needs - at excellent group rates. You also pay premiums through convenient payroll deductions.

Over 1,600 teachers participate in the MTEA group plans. The Union Security Insurance Company underwrites our plans.

3 Types of Salary Protection Plans Offered

Plan 1 pays benefits whether you are on sick leave pay or not.

Plan 2 pays benefits only after your accumulated sick leave is exhausted. (It's "Sick Leave Coordinated.")

Plan 3 provides extended benefits in the event of long-term/ permanent disability. (It's "Long-Term Disability.")

All plans pay cash benefits when you are medically unable to work due to illness or injury, as certified by your doctor.

Your options:

• Select Plan 1
• Select Plan 2
• Select Plan 1 & 2
• Select Plan 1 & 3

A Healthy Note

If you are in good health, you may enroll for maximum coverage under all 3 plans - as long as your monthly cash benefits do not exceed 2/3 of your monthly salary rate.

Tips on coverage to fit your needs

Whether you are already enrolled in 1 or more of the plans or are applying for the first time, the following tips will help you select coverage based on your income, age, and sick leave accumulation.

With Little Sick Leave...

If you have just a few days of sick leave accumulated, you should enroll in Plan 2.

For example, if you are a new teacher, you have earned very little sick leave. With only a few sick days, you would quickly become eligible to collect benefits from Plan 2. In addition, the premium cost is low.

Advantage of Plan 1

If you want more coverage or if you have a great deal of sick leave accumulated, you should enroll in Plan 1. This plan pays benefits whether you are receiving sick leave pay from MPS or not.

Plan 1 is a good option for veteran teachers. As the risk of a disabling illness increases with age, many teachers want the option of not using their sick leave so that they can qualify for Board paid health insurance during retirement. With Plan 1, you can receive a monthly benefit when you are unable to work, and you can opt to not use your MPS sick leave.

Should You Drop Plan 2?

Unless you use up your sick leave, you will not receive Plan 2 benefits.

Depending on your age and sick leave accumulation, you may wish to drop Plan 2 and increase your benefits under Plan 1 (and Plan 3).