COVID-19 Questions About Individual Disability Insurance

If you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 and you meet the definition of disability in your policy, you will likely be eligible for benefits if your disability extends beyond the waiting period. IDI benefit waiting periods generally extend beyond a quarantine period. Being quarantined, furloughed or unable to work due to COVID-19 concerns, without a disability, wouldn’t qualify for benefits.

Furloughed individuals already covered under an individual disability insurance policy — including GSI plans — for which premiums continue to be paid would be eligible for disability benefits, if they meet the definition of disability in the policy.

No, we evaluate COVID-19 as we would any other medical condition.

No. If the employer has approved work-from-home arrangements due to COVID-19 public health concerns, we will consider the covered employee actively at work under the IDI policy.

When GSI coverage terminates, the portability provision in the IDI policy will be available to the employees according to the terms of the policy. Employees can maintain coverage and preserve the group-discounted rates as long as they agree to pay the premiums as they become due. When a GSI group is terminated, The Standard will send employees a letter with direct billing options.

The Standard will reevaluate each case on an annual basis, as usual. We reserve the right to modify the plan at any time due to underperformance or noncompliant plan terms. If action is needed, The Standard will provide 90 days of written notice. However, The Standard will work with affected employers on a case-by-case basis.

Platinum Advantage policies, and Protector Platinum^SM policies in New York, may be suspended for individuals during active military service only. Suspensions for any other reason are not available. GSI or employer plans may not be suspended.

Employees applying for GSI who are working full time from home can answer “yes” to the Actively at Work question. Working from home will not affect policy issuance. If the employee is unable to work they should answer “no” and provide details. Furloughed applicants will not be considered to be actively at work. Furloughed applicants can apply for coverage after they return to work and can satisfy the eligibility requirements. Please note: The Standard offers a rolling Actively at Work requirement for all cases that is typically 180 days of full-time work. This means an applicant not meeting the AAW requirement can re-apply after being at work full time for 180 days.

For GSI coverage to become effective, the new employee will need to meet the requirements for coverage which include being actively at work. Furloughed employees are not considered to be actively at work. However, the employee can apply for coverage after they return to work and can satisfy the eligibility requirements.