Long-Term Disability Insurance
The Long-Term Disability provider is the Standard Insurance Company. Voluntary Long-Term Disability (LTD) is designed to pay a monthly benefit to you in the event you cannot work because of a covered illness or injury. This benefit replaces a portion of your income, thus helping you to meet your financial commitments in a time of need. Before benefits would be payable, the disability would have to extend past a certain waiting period, called the elimination period. In general, benefits would be reduced by certain governmental disability benefits such as workers' compensation payments, Social Security disability payments, etc.
To learn more about the LTD benefit, please refer to the Long-Term Disability policy or the Long-Term Disability Booklet.
Quick Information Links
Eligibility
Employees are eligible for this benefit.
Enrolling
New employees can enroll in Voluntary LTD by completing the State Employees’ Life Insurance Enrollment/Change Form. Employees can also enroll during the Annual Change period by selecting Long-Term Disability on the online benefits enrollment tool.
Return all enrollment forms to Health Care and Benefits Division, PO Box 200130, Helena MT 59620-0130.
Cost
The monthly contribution per member is $9.90 regardless of age or income level.
Benefit Amount
The monthly LTD benefit is 60% of your pre-disability earnings, the amount you were earning before you became disabled, reduced by deductible income.
The LTD benefit amount is determined by multiplying your pre-disability earnings by the specified benefit percentage. This amount is then reduced by other income you receive or are eligible to receive while LTD benefits are payable. This other income is referred to as deductible income.
Benefit Duration
If you become disabled, and your claim for LTD benefits is approved by the benefit plan, LTD benefits become payable after you have been continuously disabled for 180 days and remain continuously disabled. LTD benefits are not payable during this benefit waiting period.
If you become disabled before age 65, LTD benefits may continue during disability until you reach age 65. If you become disabled at age 60 or older, the benefit duration is determined by your age when disability begins as indicated in the table below.
| Age when Disability Begins | Maximum Benefit Period |
| 60 through 64 | 5 years |
| 65 through 68 | To age 70 |
| 69 and above | 1 year |
Advantages of LTD Coverage
- It covers your inability to work in your own occupation for the first 24 months you are disabled, whereas many other benefits require you to be totally disabled from all occupations.
- It covers disabilities that occur 24 hours a day, both on and off the job
- If your employer makes an approved work-site modification that enables you to return to work while disabled, the plan will reimburse your employer up to a pre-approved amount for some or all of the cost of the modifications.
- While LTD benefits are payable, you may qualify to participate in a rehabilitation plan that prepares you to return to work. If you qualify, the plan may pay for return to work expenses you incur, such as job search, training and education, and family care expenses.
- If you die while LTD benefits are payable, and on the date you die you have been continuously disabled for at least 180 days, a survivors benefit equal to three times your unreduced LTD benefit may be payable.
- If the group policy terminates, LTD benefits will continue as long as you are eligible to receive them.
Claiming Benefits
Contact Michele Jones at (406) 444-1854 or via e-mail to request a claim packet. The claim packet contains instructions for claiming your long-term disability benefits.
Contact Standard Insurance Company
The Standard Insurance Company (800) 843-7979
