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Continuation of Health and Dental Insurance
The state’s share of the health and dental premiums will cease at the end of the month in which your employment terminates, your paid leave is exhausted, or your FMLA is exhausted. You must pay the full monthly premium for any insurance coverage you choose to keep. You will be directly billed by the insurance carrier. To be eligible to continue coverage upon termination, you must have maintained continuous coverage while you were still considered an employee. You have two options for continuing your health and/or dental insurance when your employment terminates due to LTD benefits approval.
Your two options are the Retired/Disabled Direct Pay Group or the COBRA Group. You must decide which group to join when your employment terminates. If your employment terminates prior to your approval for LTD benefits, COBRA will be your only option. You will be given an opportunity to move from the COBRA Group to the Retired/Disabled Direct Pay Group once your LTD benefits are approved.
Back to topCOBRA Group
After your employment terminates, you may continue coverage in this group for a maximum of 18 months (29 months if approved for disability by the Social Security Administration at any time during the first 60 days of COBRA coverage). You will be sent information about continuing coverage through COBRA within two weeks of the date of your final paycheck.
When your COBRA continuation period ends, you will be offered an opportunity to purchase an individual health and/or dental plan.
Back to topRetired/Disabled Direct Pay Group
You may continue coverage in this group for as long you receive monthly LTD benefits. Applications to join the Retired/Disabled Direct Pay Group may be obtained from your HRA. When long term disability benefits are terminated, you are no longer eligible to remain in the Retired/ Disabled Direct Pay Group for health and dental coverage unless you are drawing a monthly IPERS pension benefit.
Back to topContinuation of Life Insurance after LTD Approval
If you are approved for long-term disability before you reach the age of 60, your basic and supplemental life insurance may continue without insurance premium payments, provided that your life insurance coverage remained in force until LTD benefits become effective. This is known as "waiver of premium". If you are approved for waiver of premium, life insurance premiums are waived for as long as you receive LTD benefits.
Supplemental life insurance premium payments must continue during the qualifying period for LTD. If your long-term disability benefits are terminated, your life insurance will no longer be continued through waiver of premium. The life insurance carrier is obligated to allow you to convert to an individual policy. If you are over the age of 60 when you become disabled, you have up to 90 days from the date you cease active work to convert or port your life insurance to an individual policy.
Back to topDeferred Compensation after LTD Benefits Approval
When your employment with the State of Iowa is terminated, you may leave your money in your deferred compensation investments or request a taxable distribution or rollover.
For more specific RIC program information or to obtain forms, you can visit the Iowa Retirement Investors' Club (RIC) website or speak to a RIC team member at 866-460-4692.
Back to topWorker’s Compensation
If you have applied for Worker's Compensation benefits and LTD benefits, please notify your LTD claims examiner if there are any changes in your Workers' Compensation benefits.
Please be sure to also notify your Workers' Compensation claims examiner of any LTD benefits you receive.
Some Workers' Compensation benefits may be offset by LTD benefits or LTD may be able offset by certain Workers' Compensation benefits. This will depend on the type of Workers' Compensation benefit being paid. Please ensure you coordinate with your Workers' Compensation examiner on this issue.
Annual Open Enrollment Period
If you continue your insurance coverage with the State of Iowa’s Retired/Disabled Direct Pay Group or the COBRA Group, you will be able to participate in the annual open enrollment period, which will allow you to change your health plan every year that you are eligible for coverage.
You can continue your group health and group dental coverage separately or together. You do not have to elect to continue coverage in both plans.You can also change your health and/or dental coverage from family to single coverage at the time you continue coverage. Your benefits as a member of either the Retired/Disabled Direct Pay Group or the COBRA Group are identical to benefits for the plan you held as an active employee. You may drop your state group plan completely. However, there is no provision for rejoining the group at a later date.
Back to topSocial Security
You may want to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits at your nearest Social Security office. LTD benefits are reduced by any SSDI received by you and and your dependents as a result of your disability. You can obtain Social Security information at 800-772-1213. Explain your situation and ask for assistance. (See the sections on the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System and the Peace Officers Retirement System below).
Back to topIowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS)
If you are covered by the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS) and become eligible for LTD benefits, call an IPERS retirement specialist at 800-622-3849 or email i[email protected] to learn if you qualify for disability benefits and how your retirement benefits are affected by disability.
Back to topPeace Officers Retirement System (PORS)
If you are a peace officer employed by the Iowa Department of Public Safety and become eligible for LTD benefits, the POR may provide a disability income. Contact your HRA to learn if you qualify for a disability benefits.
Back to topEmployment Status
If you are approved for long-term disability benefits, your employment with the State of Iowa is terminated.
Back to topRecall Provisions
If your physician has released you to return to work, you may qualify for and have recall rights to some state job classifications. To receive application information regarding recall, contact your former department HRA or call a Department of Administrative Services representative at 515-281-5889.
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