Disability Insurance

Partners for Health offers short-term disability and long-term disability insurance to full-time central state government, state higher education and state offline agency employees through MetLife.

Disability insurance helps cover your living expenses by protecting a portion of your pre-disability income lost due to sickness, pregnancy or as a direct result of accidental injury. All accrued sick leave, annual leave, comp time and paid parental leave must be used before benefits are payable.

Members pay the full monthly premium for short-term disability insurance coverage. The state pays 100% of the monthly premium for long-term disability insurance option 3 for eligible central state government and state higher education employees. Eligible central state government and state higher education employees will pay the full monthly premium if they choose to enroll in long-term disability insurance options 1, 2 or 4. State offline agency employees will pay the full monthly premium if they choose to enroll in long-term disability insurance options 1, 2, 3 or 4.

For central state government and state higher education employees, member-paid premiums for long-term disability options 1, 2 and 4 adjust as of Oct. 1 each year if your salary is greater on Sept. 1 compared to the prior Sept. 1., or if you move into a higher age bracket.

For state offline agency employees, premiums adjust for long-term disability options 1, 2, 3 and 4 as of Oct. 1 each year if your salary is greater on Sept. 1 compared to the prior Sept. 1, or if you move into a higher age bracket.

• For a helpful list of responses to frequently asked questions, you can view this page: State Disability FAQ

Short-Term Disability Insurance replaces a portion of your income during a disability, which could last up to 26 weeks. Two coverage options are available for you to voluntarily select if desired. Employees pay the full monthly premium if enrollment is selected. Click here to see premium rates.

• Pick the benefit you want in Edison under STD.
• Action Required: Answers to medical questions will not be required if enrolling within 30 days of initial eligibility. After 30 days, application for enrollment during the annual enrollment period or other authorized time period will require completion of a MetLife Statement of Health form, and your application will be subject to review and approval by MetLife based on their underwriting rules for insurability.
• Find answers to frequently asked questions here, including information about disability due to pregnancy.

Long-Term Disability Insurance replaces a portion of your income during a disability expected to last longer than 90-180 days. Four coverage options are available. Click here for premium rates.

· The state pays 100% of the premiums for eligible central state government and state higher education employees enrolled in long-term disability option 3. If you select a different long-term disability option, you’ll pay the full premium.

· Employees who use this benefit will receive 63% of their monthly salary, up to $10,000 per month, following a 90-day waiting period. The maximum covered monthly salary is $15,873.02. For central state government and state higher education employees, LTD coverage options 1, 2 and 4 are also available, but employees are responsible for 100% of the premium.

• Eligible central state government and state higher education employees are automatically enrolled into long-term disability option 3 in Edison for coverage effective on the first day of the month following the completion of one full calendar month of employment. This is guaranteed issue coverage, and employees won’t have to answer medical questions.
• Central state government and state higher education employees cannot waive coverage because it is 100% employer paid.
• For central state government and state higher education employees, benefits received from long-term disability option 3 are considered taxable income and will appear on your W-2 because the premiums are paid by your employer. Benefits received from short-term disability or long-term disability options 1, 2 and 4 are not taxable income because premium payments are deducted post tax and paid by the employee.
• Employees off work on a long-term disability claim will continue under that claim and coverage until returning to work.

Information for State Offline Agency Employees

• Eligible, newly hired state offline agency employees may choose to enroll in options 1, 2, 3 or 4 during your first 30 days of becoming eligible for enrollment without answering medical questions.
• Action Required: After 30 days, application for enrollment during the annual enrollment period or other authorized time period will require completion of a MetLife Statement of Health form, and your application will be subject to review and approval by MetLife based on their underwriting rules for insurability. Premiums will be paid by the employees.

Why is Having Disability Insurance Important?

If you are unable to work due to sickness, pregnancy or as a direct result of accidental injury, disability insurance can help you pay your most important expenses. These include:

• Mortgage or rent
• Car payments
• Food
• Childcare
• Tuition
• Utilities

Important Information if You’re Thinking About Applying to Enroll in Coverage:

• You must use all your accrued leave (parental leave, sick, annual and compensatory time) and paid parental leave before your disability payments begin.
• Benefits payable during the benefit period may be reduced by other sources of income, such as worker's compensation, unemployment insurance and sick leave bank. See the certificate of coverage for a comprehensive list of other sources of income which may reduce the short-term and/or long-term disability benefit.

Short-term disability insurance replaces a portion of your income during a disability, which could last up to 26 weeks. It may be good for those who:

• Have little annual or sick leave.
• Take part in high-risk activities.
• Don’t have six months of emergency funds.

Resources:

• Short Term Disability Insurance Coverage Options
• Short Term Disability Insurance Rates (2025)
• Short Term Disability Insurance Rates (2024)
• Short Term Disability Exclusions
• Short Term Disability Insurance FAQ
• Short Term Disability Insurance FAQ – Pregnancy
• Short Term Disability Payable Benefit Period Calculation Examples

Long-term disability insurance replaces a portion of your income during a disability expected to last for an extended period of time. This period of time is typically longer than 90 or 180 days. It may be good for those who:

• Need their income to pay for housing, food and other bills.
• Would have trouble supporting themselves if out of work more than 90 days.