Long Term Disability Plan

Lesley provides all benefits-eligible employees a group long-term disability (LTD) insurance program offered by Aetna Group Insurance. LTD insurance begins the first day of the month after you are actively employed if you have completed the required enrollment forms. LTD benefits are meant to partially replace your income you cannot perform the material and substantial duties of your job for a period due to extended illness or injury. The elimination period - the amount of time you must be out of work before benefits begin - is 90 days. If you have an extended injury or illness on either a part- or full-time basis and are considering applying for LTD, you should contact your human resources representative. Human Resources will provide you with a LTD application that you and your physician will need to complete. After these forms are completed, Human Resources will submit the claim to Aetna. Aetna will evaluate the claim and make a decision as to whether you qualify to receive LTD payments. Please refer to the Aetna summary plan description booklet, available in Human Resources, for more information.

Benefit Levels

If approved, Aetna will pay a monthly LTD benefit up to 60 percent of your monthly earnings. Regular monthly earnings do not include stipends, overtime payments, or other forms of extra compensation. The maximum monthly benefit that you can receive from Aetna is $9,000. Additionally, if you are receiving benefits under the LTD plan, Aetna will continue to make contributions to your retirement account assuming you were an active participant in the Lesley sponsored program through TIAA-CREF while actively employed. Again, LTD benefits begin after the 90-day elimination period has been completed.

Length of Benefit Payment

Benefits are paid up to a maximum period determined by the age at which the disability began. Note that monthly LTD benefits can cease if it is determined by Aetna and/or your physician determine that you are no longer partially or fully disabled or, if you do not provide proof that you are partially or fully disabled when requested by Aetna.

Employee Eligibility

All benefits-eligible employees of Lesley University can participate in the LTD and life insurance programs. Employees are considered eligible if they are regularly scheduled to work at least seventeen and one half hours per week. Additionally, a temporary employee who works at least seventeen and one half hours per week and is scheduled to work nine months or longer is considered an eligible employee. Work study students and adjunct faculty are not eligible for benefits. Eligible employees may participate in these plans the first day of the month following the date of hire, providing that the appropriate enrollment form(s) have been completed. Coverage ends on the last day of employment. LTD and life insurance are not offered to dependents of employees and/or spouses.

Cost

Lesley University pays the entire cost of the LTD insurance premium. Therefore, there are no costs associated with enrollment in this benefit.