Obtaining Benefit Payments

The benefit waiting period, sometimes called the elimination period, is the number of days you must be disabled before IDI Plan benefits become payable.

Benefits are payable after 180 days of disability. Subject to the terms of the Recurrent Disability provision, these days need not be consecutive; they can be accumulated during a disability to satisfy an elimination period. Benefits are not payable, nor do they accrue, during an elimination period.

Recurrent Disabilities

If after the end of a disability you become disabled again within twelve months due to the same or related causes, it will be considered to be a continuing disability in order to determine the elimination period and the maximum benefit period applied to it.

Concurrent Disabilities

Concurrent disability means a disability caused by more than one injury and/or sickness. Benefits for a concurrent disability will be paid as if there was only one injury and/or sickness. Benefits will not be paid for more than one disability benefit for the same period.

Waiver of Premium

After 90 days of disability resulting from injuries or sickness not excluded from coverage, the insurance company will:

  • Refund any premiums for the policy that were due and paid while you were disabled; and
  • Waive the payment of premiums that thereafter become due for as long as the disability continues, but not beyond the maximum benefit period.

Taxation of Benefits

Generally, disability benefit payments are taxed as income only if the premiums are paid by your employer. Since you are paying the premiums for your IDI Plan coverage with after-tax earnings, any disability benefit payments that you receive under the IDI Plan will be tax-free.

For more specific information on the taxation of disability benefits, you can refer to IRS Publication 525—Taxable and Nontaxable Income, available at www.irs.gov.

How IDI Benefits Coordinate With Other Sources of Disability Income

The IDI benefits do not offset or reduce at time of claim for any other source of disability income benefits.