If You Become Totally Disabled

If you incur a total disability and begin receiving benefits from the Boston University Long-Term Disability Benefits Plan, on or after January 1, 2016, you may continue your membership in the Boston University  Health Plan at the same contribution rate as for active employees for up to five years. The coverage for the health plan will end as of the end of the 5^th year of disability.

Human Resources will explain this feature to you upon notification of your disability.

For the first 24 months of your disability, your Health Plan will be your primary health plan provider (except as otherwise provided under coordination of benefits). After you have been disabled for 24 months, you must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B if you are eligible. At this time, Medicare will become your primary health plan provider, with your Health Plan as your secondary health plan provider. In other words, your claims will be paid by Medicare first; the Health Plan will pay for covered services (subject to required deductibles and coinsurance payments) to the extent that Medicare did not pay them. Thus, your overall health benefits will be the same as those of other Health Plan members in the same coverage option as you, except that part of your benefits will come from Medicare. There is, however, a monthly premium for Medicare Part B, which will become your responsibility upon your enrollment in Medicare.

Please note: You are responsible for applying for Medicare coverage after you have been disabled for two years. If you are disabled, your medical claims will be paid by the Health Plan as though you have Medicare coverage, unless you provide evidence that your application for Medicare coverage was denied.