Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance

When the unexpected happens, you need the financial security that a disability plan can give you and your family.

Short and long-term disability plans offer you just that. Disability insurance plans help you when you can't work for weeks or months due to an illness, injury, or pregnancy-related condition. Think of it as income protection, protecting your livelihood during difficult times.

Nextep offers a number of disability plan options. See your enrollment portal in your Elevate by Nextep™ account for the plan(s) available to you.

See Plan Details

Disability Plan Features

Affordable costs
Income replacement
Guarantee issue when signing up during initial eligibility

12-month pre-existing exclusion
Direct deposit option available
Covers illness, injury, or pregnancy-related conditions

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Here's a quick overview:

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Short-Term Disability (STD)

If an off-the-job injury or illness keeps you from working for a short amount of time, the STD plan steps in to replace a percentage of your paycheck for a limited time period. Covered conditions include:

Pregnancy and childbirth
Recovery from surgery
Illnesses
Digestive disorders

Injuries
Chronic illness flare-ups
Mental health occurences
Drug or alcohol rehab

STD Resources

Long-Term Disability (LTD)

Long-Term Disability (LTD) kicks in where Short-Term Disability (STD) leaves off. If you have a more serious, long-term condition that keeps you from working, this coverage pays a portion of your pay for months, or even years.

Covered events include:

Musculoskeletal disorders
Cancer
Cardiovascular issues
Mental health issues
Neurological disorders
Pregnancy complications
Acute injuries

Events NOT covered include:

Short-term issues
Pre-existing conditions
Self-inflicted injuries
Injuries resulting from war
Injuries during incarceration
Illegal or ciminal activities
Injuries while driving intoxicated

LTD Resources

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How it Works

Elimination Period

When you experience a covered injury, there's a short waiting period before your disability insurance becomes effective. For STD, the benefit would typicall become effective on your 8th or 15th day of disability, depending on your plan parameters.

File a Claim

File a claim with the insurance carrier. Payments will come directly to your home address, covering 50-60% of your regular pay depending on your plan selection(s).

Get better!

Both short and long-term insurance payments continue until the end of the covered period or when you are well enough to return to work, whichever comes first.

When you're on the mend, work with your manager to create a return-to-work plan. In the case of long-term disability, payments could continue all the way to age 65 in cases of a severe edisability.

Elevate by Nextep App - Disability Insurance

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Answers to Your Questions

Receipt of this info does not guarantee benefit eligibility. Different plans and tiers may vary based on your goegraphical area, company's benefit portfolio, and eligibility criteria. Log in to your enrollment portal in your Elevate by Nextep™ account or mobile app to see the specific plans available to you.

When it's time to enroll, you can view pricing for all plan options right in your Elevate by Nextep™ account or mobile app. As you click through the enrollment screens, a running tally will track and display your monthly costs in real time.

Need help choosing? Use the built-in Decision Support tool to get tailored benefit recommendations based on your unique lifestyle and budget.

You should file an STD claim as soon as you think your disability will last as long as the elimination period. You don't have to wait until the elimination period has passed to file a claim. LTD claims require a bit more collaboration since this benefit is designed to replace a portion of your income for a potentially long time.

To file a claim online for STD or LTD, visit MetLife for step-by-step instructions:
File a Claim
You can also contact MetLife at 1-800-GET-MET8 for help processing your claim.

Think of the elimination period as a waiting room. It's simply a waiting period defined by your plan before your disability payments may begin. It helps distinguish between a temporary fever or injury, for example, and a more serious condition that disables you from working.

If you hold both STD and LTD coverage and experience a longer-term condition that prevents you from working, there may come a point when your STD coverage period ends and it's time to transition to your LTD benefit payments. In this case, you will file two separate claims: First, for your STD benefits, and second, for LTD.

STD payments only last for a short, limited amount of time. Your LTD benefit payments will continue until you return to work or you reach age 65, whicever comes first.

Answers Specific to Short-Term Disability (STD)

STD insurance protects your assets by providing a weekly payment while you are experiencing a short-term illness or recovering from an accident. Our STD plans will pay you a percentage of your regular weekly salary while disabled, up to a dollar amount specified by your plan per week.

STD benefits begin on the designated day of a qualifying disability and may continue up to the plan's established consecutive weeks, or until you return to work.

If your short-term disability lasts longer than the time allowed in the plan, payments end and LTD benefits, if elected and depending on your condition, may continue to replace a portion of your pay.

A number of short-term illnesses and conditions are eligible under STD.

See the list

Answers Specific to Long-Term Disability (LTD)

Long-term disability (LTD) protects your assets by providing a monthly income while you are experiencing a long-term disability. Nextep's LTD policies will pay you a percentage of your monthly regular salary while you are disabled. The maximum benefit is a specified dollar amount per month.

LTD benefits begin after the plan's indicated days of continuous disability and may continue until the plan's established time period, or when your disability ends. If disability occurs at or after age 61, benefits may be paid for a reduced period for certain plans.

STD and LTD both do not cover disability on any day that you are confined in a correctional institution for conviction of a criminal act or other public offense.

A number of long-term illnesses and conditions are eligible under LTD. Get a quick overview of what is and is not covered.

See the list

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