Group Disability Insurance

Group Disability Insurance  

Overview

You and your family probably count on your income to help pay for living expenses such as food, clothing, mortgage, transportation, insurance, medical care, and so on. Realistically, it may be in your best interest to purchase insurance to help protect you against the financial effects of a disabling illness or injury as much as you likely already have life, homeowner's, auto and any other types of insurance.

 

The Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA)-sponsored Disability Insurance Plans can help protect your income. You have a choice of two plans: The Basic Plan or the Career Plan.

  • The Basic Plan provides disability protection for up to 5 years.
  • The Career Plan pays benefits up to age 65 for disabilities that start prior to age 60. For disabilities starting on or after age 60, benefits will be paid as follows:

 

Age Benefit Duration
60 60 months
61 48 months
62 42 months
63 36 months
64 30 months
65 24 months
66 21 months
67 18 months
68 15 months
69 and over 12 months

 

Coverage may not be available in all states.

 

Tell Me More

  • Have you insured your most important asset – your income?

    Why Should you Apply for the MSBA-sponsored Disability Insurance Plan?

     

    You've probably insured your car, your home and your life. We don't want you to lose your income if you suddenly had to stop working due to an accident or illness. Disability Insurance will ensure you still receive part of your salary, so you can continue paying your bills and providing for your family. Plus, you'll also be able to take advantage of rehabilitation programs with financial incentives.

     

    This Disability Insurance can help you protect your income with the Basic or Career disability plan.

     

    You can customize your own plan! You choose from varying benefit amounts and waiting periods to suit your personal income protection needs, as outlined in these materials.

     

    Take a minute to see how this Disability Insurance can help you.
     

    This information is only a brief description of coverages. For a complete description of coverage, refer to Group Policy 215425-1-G issued to the Minnesota State Bar Association and/or your certificate.

  • Eligibility

    You may apply for this coverage if:

    • You are a member of MSBA.
    • You are under age 60.
    • You actively work in your profession at least 30 hours per week.

    Acceptance into this Plan is subject to evidence of insurability. If you apply for Disability Income Insurance, you must provide MetLife evidence of your insurability. Depending upon the amount of coverage for which you apply, it may be necessary for you to have a medial exam, blood test, and urinalysis, all of which will be conducted at your convenience and typically at no cost to you.

     

    Before you request coverage, you must be a member in good standing of MSBA. You must be a member for 30 days before initiating your insurance requests. If you have any questions about membership, see the MSBA home page at www.mnbar.org.

Create Your Own Plan In Three Easy Steps

Create a plan that best suits your needs. Start by examining whether you presently have disability coverage and the benefits you would need if a disabling illness or injury strikes. Consider things such as the type of income protection benefits, if any, your employer offers; the amount of sick leave you’ve accrued; your age; your years to retirement; and the amount of money you have in savings.

  • 1. Choose Your Benefit Duration

    You may select among 2 plans:

    • Basic Plan/5 Year Plan: Benefits are payable up to 5 years (60 months).
    • Career/Reducing Benefit Duration Plan: This Plan pays benefits up to age 65 for disabilities that start prior to age 60. For disabilities starting on or after age 60, benefits will be paid as follows:

     

    Age Benefit Duration
    60 60 months
    61 48 months
    62 42 months
    63 36 months
    64 30 months
    65 24 months
    66 21 months
    67 18 months
    68 15 months
    69 and over 12 months
  • 2. Choose Your Benefit Amount

    You may apply for $500 to $10,000 per month (in $500 monthly benefit units), not to exceed 60 percent of your average monthly earnings for the 12 months immediately preceding your application. You can increase your coverage amount in the future if your salary increases, but you will need to reapply for additional benefits.

     

    Income does not include commissions, bonuses, overtime pay and other extra compensation. Business owners and self-employed members should consult with your plan administrator to calculate your monthly benefit amount.

  • 3. Choose Your Waiting Period

    The waiting period, also known as the elimination period, is the amount of time you must be totally disabled due to a covered sickness or injury before benefits will begin to be paid. The waiting period begins on the first day you are totally disabled.

    You may select a waiting period of 30, 60, 90 or 180 calendar days. The longer the waiting period, the lower your premium payments will be.

Included Plan Features

 

Waiver of Premium

If you become totally disabled and are receiving monthly benefits from your plan, future premiums will be waived. The waiver of premium will stop when you are no longer eligible to receive a monthly benefit for the period of total or partial disability.

 

Survivor Benefit: Single Sum Payment In The Event of Your Death

If you die while you are Disabled and were entitled to receive Monthly Benefits under this certificate, Proof of your death must be sent to MetLife. The benefit amount will be equal to 3 times the lesser of: the Monthly Benefit You receive for the calendar month immediately preceding your death; the Monthly Benefit you were entitled to receive for the month you die, if you die during the first month that Disability benefits are payable. MetLife will reduce the benefit amount by any overpayment we are entitled to recover.

 

Rehabilitation Incentives

 

- Rehabilitation Program Incentive

If You participate in a Rehabilitation Program, We will increase Your Monthly Benefit by an amount equal to 10% of the Monthly Benefit. We will do so before We reduce Your Monthly Benefit by any other income.

 

- Work Incentive

While You are Disabled, We encourage You to work. If You work while You are Disabled and receiving Monthly Benefits, Your Monthly Benefit will be increased by Your Rehabilitation Program Incentive. Your Monthly Benefit as adjusted above will not be reduced by the amount You earn from working, except to the extent that such adjusted Monthly Benefit plus the amount You earn from working and the income You receive from Other Income exceeds 100% of Your Predisability Earnings as calculated in the definition of Disability. In addition, the Minimum Monthly Benefit will not apply.

 

- Limit on Work Incentive

After the first 12 months following Your return to work, We will reduce Your Monthly Benefit by 50% of the amount You earn from working while Disabled.

 

- Family Care Incentive

If You work or participate in a Rehabilitation Program while You are Disabled, We will reimburse You for up to $400 for monthly expenses You incur for each family member to provide:

 

  • Care for Your or Your Spouse’s child, legally adopted child, or child for whom You or Your Spouse are legal guardian and who is:
    • living with You as part of Your household;
    • dependent on You for support; and
    • under age 13.

 

The child care must be provided by a licensed child care provider who may not be a member of Your immediate family or living in Your residence.

 

  • Care to Your family member who is:
    • living with You as part of Your household;
    • chiefly dependent on You for support; and
    • incapable of independent living, regardless of age, due to mental or physical handicap as defined by applicable law.

 

Care to Your family member may not be provided by a member of Your immediate family.

 

We will make reimbursement payments to You on a monthly basis starting with the first Monthly Benefit payment until You have received 12 Monthly Benefit Payments. Payments will not be made beyond the Maximum Benefit Period. We will not reimburse You for any expenses for which You are eligible for payment from any other source. You must send Proof that You have incurred such expenses.

 

- Moving Expense Incentive

If You participate in a Rehabilitation Program while You are Disabled, We may reimburse You for expenses You incur in order to move to a new residence recommended as part of such Rehabilitation Program. Such expenses must be approved by Us in advance. You must send Proof that You have incurred such expenses for moving. We will not reimburse You for such expenses if they were incurred for services provided by a member of Your immediate family or someone who is living in Your residence.

 

Survivor Benefit: Single Sum Payment In The Event of Your Death

If you die while you are Disabled and were entitled to receive Monthly Benefits under this certificate, Proof of your death must be sent to MetLife. The benefit amount will be equal to 3 times the lesser of: the Monthly Benefit You receive for the calendar month immediately preceding your death; the Monthly Benefit you were entitled to receive for the month you die, if you die during the first month that Disability benefits are payable. MetLife will reduce the benefit amount by any overpayment we are entitled to recover.

 

30-Day Free Look

When you become insured, you will be sent a schedule of benefits summarizing your insurance coverage and how to obtain your Certificate of Insurance additional information. If you are not completely satisfied with the terms of your Certificate, you may contact AMBA at 800-501-5776, without claim within 30 days. Your coverage will be void from the start and you will receive a full refund—no questions asked!

 

Disability Income Insurance Exclusions

We will not pay for any Disability caused or contributed to by (1) War, whether declared or undeclared, or act of war, insurrection, or rebellion; (2) Your active participation in a riot; (3) Intentionally self-inflicted injury; (4) Attempted suicide; or (5) Commission of or attempt to commit or taking part in a felony.

Additional limitations for certain conditions such as alcohol/drug/mental; and pre-existing exclusions may apply to your coverage. Please review your Certificate of Insurance or contact your benefits administrator with any questions.

 

Premium Payment Options and Rates

You may select from the following convenient payment options:

  • Pre-authorized check draft: Premiums will automatically be deducted from your checking account on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual basis.
  • Direct bill: You will receive a billing invoice on a quarterly, semiannual or annual basis.

Rates for Basic and Career Plans are outlined on the rate charts shown below.

 

How to Calculate Your Premiums

Complete Steps 1 through 3, then:

  • Determine the number of $100 monthly benefit units (as described in Step 2) your plan will provide.
  • Multiply this amount by the monthly premium contribution per unit, based on your age and the waiting period you selected.

 

Example: A 45-year old member is applying for a $3,000 per month benefit and a 90-day waiting period under the Career Plan.

  • Rate/$100 monthly benefit x # of $100 units = Semiannual Premium
    • $11.70 x 30 units = $351.00 semiannual premium

     

    Premiums are based on your age at the time coverage becomes effective, and they increase on the premium due date on or after you reach a higher age bracket.

 

 

Basic Plan

Semiannual Premiums Per $100 Monthly Benefit From $500 to $10,000, not to exceed 60 percent of average monthly earnings.

Rates Shown Per Waiting Period

  • Basic Plan

    Semi-Annual Per $100 of Covered Benefit 30-Day Elimination Period 60-Day Elimination Period 90-Day Elimination Period 180-Day Elimination Period
    Age
    Under 30 $3.25 $2.73 $2.20 $1.80
    30-39 $4.28 $3.60 $2.90 $2.40
    40-49 $7.53 $6.32 $5.10 $4.20
    50-59 $13.43 $11.28 $9.10 $7.50
    60-64 $20.07 $16.86 $13.60 $11.20
    65-69 $24.49 $20.58 $16.60 $13.70
  • Career Plan

    Semi-Annual Per $100 of Covered Benefit 30-Day Elimination Period 60-Day Elimination Period 90-Day Elimination Period 180-Day Elimination Period
    Age
    Under 30 $7.38 $6.20 $5.00 $4.50
    30-39 $10.33 $8.68 $7.00 $6.40
    40-49 $17.26 $14.51 $11.70 $10.60
    50-59 $27.89 $23.44 $18.90 $17.10
    60-64 $27.59 $23.19 $18.70 $15.40
    65-69 $24.49 $20.58 $16.60 $13.70

Explanation of Disability Insurance Plan Benefits

 

Effective Date of Insurance

If You provide evidence of Your insurability and We determine that You are insurable, such insurance will take effect on the date We state in Writing, provided You are Actively at Work on that date.

 

If You are not Actively at Work on the date insurance would otherwise take effect, insurance will take effect on the day You resume Active Work.

 

Definition of Disability

Disabled or Disability means that, due to Sickness or as a direct result of accidental injury: You are receiving Appropriate Care and Treatment and complying with the requirements of such treatment; and you are unable to earn more than 80% of your Pre-Disability Earnings at Your Own Occupation from any employer in the National Economy; and unable to perform each of the material duties of Your Own Occupation for any employer in the National Economy.

 

For purposes of determining whether a Disability is the direct result of an accidental injury, the Disability must have occurred within 90 days of the accidental injury and resulted from such injury independent of other causes.

 

If you are disabled and have received a Monthly Benefit for 12 months MetLife will adjust your Pre-Disability Earnings only for the purposes of determining whether you continue to be disabled and for calculating the Return to Work Incentive, if any. We will make the initial adjustment as follows: MetLife will add to your Pre-Disability Earnings an amount equal to the product of your Pre-Disability Earnings times the lesser of 7%; or the annual rate of increase in the Consumer Price Index for the prior calendar year.

 

Termination of Disability Benefits

Disability benefits will stop on the earliest of: the date you are no longer totally disabled or partially disabled; the date of your death; or the end of the maximum benefit period for total or partial disability or for mental disorders.

 

Termination of Insurance

Your insurance under the Policy will cease on the first to occur of: 1. the date the Group Policy ends; 2. the the date insurance ends for Your class; 3. The end of the period for which the last premium has been paid for You; 4. The date You cease to be in an eligible class, if You are not Disabled on that date; 5. the last day of the calendar month in which You ceased Active Work, if You are not Disabled; 6. the last day of the calendar month you retire; 7. the date you attain age 70; or 8. the date You cease to be a Member of the Participating Association.

 

Questions? Call Us!

A licensed representative will be happy to assist you with any questions you may have. Call AMBA at 800-501-5776.

 

Administered by:

AMBA Administrators, Inc.
Customer Service
PO Box 14533
Des Moines, IA 50306

 

 

Underwritten by:

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
New York, NY 10166

 

PLEASE NOTE

The information you supply when you fill out your Application can make the medical underwriting process quicker and easier. By providing complete and accurate information, you avoid delays that may occur while we wait for missing information to be received and shorten the time needed for underwriting decisions and approvals. Complete medical information should include the name of the physician(s) or hospital(s), street address (and suite or room number), city, state and zip code. Also, a brief description of the nature of illness or injury, symptoms, treatment and results. The insuring company relies on your answers and statements. Misstatements or failures to report information on your Application may be used as the basis for denying or reducing claim benefits, or even invalidating your insurance.

Like most group benefit programs, benefit programs offered by MetLife contain certain exclusions, exceptions, waiting periods, reductions, limitations, and terms for keeping them in force. Ask your MetLife group representative for costs and complete details.

Forms


Insurance Enrollment Form And Brochure

These form(s) are in Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF) format and are available for downloading and printing.

 

 

Contact Us

We're here to help! Please contact us in whatever manner is most convenient for you.

 

 Address
AMBA
4050 114th Street
Urbandale, Iowa 50322
 Phone
1-800-501-5776
 Hours
 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Monday-Friday
 Email
[email protected]

 

FAQs

Answers about the plan, including eligibility, options, enrollment, customer service and more.
  • How do I apply?

    You can download an application at the top of this page and mail in a completed application. Or, to confirm eligibility and complete an application over the phone, call toll free 1-866-986-2774 to speak to an agent.

     

    Acceptance into the plan is subject to evidence of insurability as determined by the insurance company. Depending upon the amount of coverage for which you apply, it may be necessary for you to have a medical exam, blood test, and urinalysis, all of which will be conducted at your convenience and typically at no cost to you.

  • What if I have second thoughts after I apply?

    When you become insured, you will be sent a schedule of benefits summarizing your insurance coverage and how to obtain your Certificate of Insurance and additional information. If you are not completely satisfied with the terms of your Certificate, you may contact AMBA at 800-501-5776, without claim within 30 days. Your coverage will be void from the start and you will receive a full refund—no questions asked! 
  • Do I have to meet with an insurance agent?

    Issuance of this policy is handled through the mail. You can review the materials in the privacy of your home and purchase your policy directly through the mail without meeting with an agent. You can, of course, talk to a licensed representative if you'd like by calling 800-501-5776.

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