> Who is eligible for short-term disability insurance?
> What is the actual benefit I would receive if I became disabled?
> I have a large amount of sick leave so why should I purchase short term disability insurance coverage?
> How does short-term disability insurance interact with the County’s current sick leave policy?
> How does the County’s Shared Leave policy affect the short-term disability plan?
> How is the term “disability” defined?
> How long can I receive disability benefits?
> Since I’ll receive 60% of my gross weekly pay, can I use my sick leave to supplement my STD in order to get 100% of my weekly pay?
> Is there a pre-existing limitation provision?
> What happens if I enroll in this benefit after my initial eligibility period?
> Are the STD premiums deducted from my paycheck before taxes?
> If I am injured on the job, will I receive both Worker’s Compensation and short-term disability insurance?
> Are there any other exclusions or limitations?



Q: Who is eligible for short-term disability insurance?
A: You must be a full-time employee of Johnson County Government routinely working more than 40 hours or more per week and a U.S. or Canadian citizen or resident. Part-time, temporary, and seasonal employees, and full-time members of the armed forces are not eligible.

Q: What is the actual benefit I would receive if I became disabled?
A: The STD benefit is 60% of the first $1250 of weekly predisability earnings, reduced by deductible income (e.g., income from working at your job a few hours a week which combined with STD would exceed 100% of predisability earnings). Benefit is limited to earnings based on a 40-hr work week, except for certain Med-Act employees.

Q: I have a large amount of sick leave so why should I purchase short term disability insurance coverage?
A: In the event of multiple disabilities, you may not have enough sick leave to cover the period of time you are disabled (or partially disabled). With this short-term disability plan, you will receive disability payments each time you have a qualifying disability.

In addition, if you started with the County prior to July 1, 1993, you may be able to use your vacation and sick leave payouts upon retirement in order to increase your final average salary for KPERS retirement benefit purposes. You’ll want to review your specific situation carefully, but it may be in your best interest to save your sick leave in order to increase your retirement benefits.

Q: How does short-term disability insurance interact with the County’s current sick leave policy?
A: Johnson County Government’s short term disability plan with Standard is considered a "non-integrated" plan. That means that you do not have to use all of your accrued sick leave before you are eligible for short-term disability benefits. There is a 14 calendar day waiting period so you will have to use any available accrued leave to cover this waiting period.

Q: How does the County’s Shared Leave policy affect the short-term disability plan?
A: The short-term disability insurance does not negate or take the place of the County’s Shared Leave policy. The shared leave policy requires an employee to suffer a catastrophic personal illness. The phrase catastrophic personal illness is defined very narrowly. Contrast that definition with the definition of disability under the short-term disability insurance plan. You’re eligible for STD benefits if you are unable to perform, with reasonable continuity, the material duties of your own occupation. This definition is much broader than the catastrophic personal illness definition to qualify for shared leave. Therefore, it is quite possible to qualify for the short-term disability plan if you become disabled but would not qualify for the shared leave policy.

Q: How is the term “disability” defined?
A: You do not have to be completely and totally disabled to receive STD benefits. Under Standard’s plan, the term “disability” means if, as a result of physical disease, injury (non-occupational only), pregnancy, or mental disorder, you are unable to perform, with reasonable continuity, the material duties of your own occupation. This definition may also include a partial disability depending on how many hours per work you can work.

Q: How long can I receive disability benefits?
A: Your STD benefits end automatically on the earliest of:
> the date you are no longer disabled;
> the date your maximum benefits period ends (maximum benefits period equals 180 days including the applicable waiting period);
> the date you die;
> the date benefits become payable to you under any other disability insurance plan under which you become insured through employment during a period of temporary recovery;
> the date you fail to provide proof of continued disability and entitlement to STD benefits.

The maximum benefit period (combined with the applicable waiting period) should bring you to the 180 day waiting period for KPERS long-term disability which you are eligible for if you are a member of KPERS. Keep in mind however that the definition to qualify for KPERS disability benefits is much narrower than the definition under Standard’s short-term disability plan. Therefore, just because you qualify for the short-term disability benefit does not mean that you will automatically qualify for KPERS disability benefits.

Q: Since I’ll receive 60% of my gross weekly pay, can I use my sick leave to supplement my STD in order to get 100% of my weekly pay?
A: Yes. While you are receiving STD benefits, you must use any of your available, accrued sick or vacation leave in order to receive 100% of your weekly net pay.

Q: Is there a pre-existing limitation provision?
A: No. Unlike some short-term disability plans, there are no pre-existing limitation clauses with Standard’s short-term disability plan. In other words, assuming you are actively at work, you can currently have a pre-existing condition and still receive STD benefits if you become disabled as defined in the plan.

Q: What happens if I enroll in this benefit after my initial eligibility period?
A: If enrolling during our annual Open Enrollment, after your initial eligibility period, you will be subject to a late enrollment penalty. If you file a claim for anything other than an accidental injury during the first 12 months, your benefits will be payable after a 60-day waiting period. After 12 months of coverage, teh late enrollment penalty no longer applies, and the waiting period reverts to the 14-day elimination period.

Q: Are the STD premiums deducted from my paycheck before taxes?
A: No. In order for your STD benefits to be non-taxable, your premiums are deducted after taxes.

Q: If I am injured on the job, will I receive both Worker’s Compensation and short-term disability insurance?
A: No. Benefits are not payable for any period when you are eligible to receive Work Comp benefits. In other words, if you are injured on the job, you will not qualify for the short-term disability benefit, but workers’ compensation should cover that injury.

Q: Are there any other exclusions or limitations?
A: Yes. You are not covered for a disability caused or contributed to by the following: (1) an intentionally self-inflicted injury, while sane or insane; (2) a disability arising out of or in the course of any employment for wage or profit; (3) war, or any act or war; (4) loss of your professional license, occupational license or certification; (5) or your committing or attempting to commit an assault or felony, or actively participating in a violent disorder or riot.

In addition, benefits are not payable for:
> any period when you are not under the ongoing care of a physician;
> any period when you eligible to receive benefits under a workers’ compensation law or similar law;any period when you are confined for any reason in a penal or correctional institution;
> any period of disability when you are able to work in your own occupation and able to earn at least 20% of your indexed predisability earnings but you elect not to work;
> any period of disability when you are not participating in good faith in a plan, program or course of medical treatment or vocational training or education