Income Security
Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
Basic
As an employee, you are automatically provided with County-paid Basic Life and Basic AD&D Insurance coverage equal to 1½ times your annual salary up to a maximum of $200,000 for full-time employees; up to $100,000 for part-time employees, through The Standard. Coverage amounts in excess of $50,000 are subject to imputed income for tax purposes.
If you die while covered by the Basic Life and Basic AD&D Insurance Plans, your beneficiary will receive a benefit from the insurance plan. If your death is the result of an accident, your beneficiary will receive an additional AD&D benefit in the same amount as the life insurance benefit. If an accidental injury results in the loss of limb, sight, hearing or speech, the plan will pay a lump-sum benefit to you. The amount of the AD&D benefit will depend on the nature and severity of your injury.
Public Safety AD&D
Beneficiaries of public safety officers receive an additional benefit of $50,000 or 100% of the AD&D insurance benefit, whichever is less, if injured in a Line of Duty accident for which AD&D insurance benefits are payable.
Additional Life and AD&D
In addition, eligible employees have the option of purchasing up to an additional $400,000 (subject to a 4X annual income cap), in $10,000 increments.
Eligible employees have the option to purchase up to $400,000 ($10,000 increments) in Spouse Life and AD&D Insurance and up to $20,000 ($10,000 increments) in Child Life and AD&D coverage, at discounted rates. Employees must be enrolled in Additional Life and AD&D in order to purchase coverage for their eligible spouse and/or dependent child(ren). Coverage for your spouse cannot exceed coverage elected by the employee for Additional Life and AD&D. Children are insured from live birth until age 26 for the full benefit amount elected.
To file a claim, please contact the Benefits Team.
A Few Notes on Life and AD&D
Requests greater than Guarantee Issue
If you are requesting Additional Life/AD&D for the first time as a new hire and you request an amount over $200,000 you will be subject to Evidence of Insurability. If you requesting Additional Life/AD&D for your spouse/civil union partner, within your new hire eligibility period and you request an amount above $30,000 your spouse/civil union partner will be required to submit Evidence of Insurability. During annual enrollments, you may increase your or your spouses life insurance by submitting Evidence of Insurability. Children’s coverage never requires Evidence of Insurability. The Evidence of Insurability link can be found through My Benefits.
Accelerated Benefit
An Accelerated Benefit is included with your life insurance coverage. With this benefit, you may withdraw up to 75% of your Life benefit to a maximum of $500,000, of your combined basic Group Life and Additional Life insurance coverage if you become terminally ill, have a life expectancy of less than 12 months and meet other eligibility requirements. This benefit allows you to use the proceeds as you desire – whether to cover medical expenses or to maintain your quality of life. The amount paid under the combine Accelerated Benefit provision including an interest charge would reduce the amount of basic Group Life and Additional Life insurance payable upon your death.
Benefit Reduction
The benefit of these plans begins to reduce at age 70. Please read the Plan documents for details.
Coverage after Separation from Service
If you leave employment, these benefits offer a portability option to continue a term policy or may be converted to an individual policy. Eligibility requirements apply. Refer to the Coverage Highlights for the amounts you may be able to purchase. This must be declared within 31 days of separation.
Travel Assistance Services
The Standard includes a travel assistance program that provides a full range of 24-hour medical, legal and travel assistance services to you and your dependents when you travel more than 100 miles from home or in a foreign country for trips of up to 180 days. Information about this benefit can be found on MyBenefits.
Life Services Toolkit
This free service provides employees with additional services such as estate planning, financial planning, health and wellness, funeral arrangements, etc. The Life Services Toolkit also provides services to your beneficiary to assist them in the event of your death.
Rates
Employee Life and Spousal Life rates are age-rated.
DISABILITY INSURANCE
Arapahoe County provides a disability program to all eligible employees to help replace income in the event you are unable to work due to a non-work-related illness or injury. Time away from work for pregnancy and childbirth are both covered under the disability plan. You must be enrolled in the plan prior to the illness, accident or pregnancy to be covered. Replacement income protects your family’s financial security. These plans are administered through The Standard.
Short-Term Disability (STD)
Short-Term Disability provides a partial replacement of your weekly earnings in the event you become disabled from a nonwork-related illness or injury. Short-Term Disability is a voluntary plan for eligible employees who enroll. Short-term disability benefits start after a 14-day waiting period*. Once you have been approved by The Standard, your benefits will run for the maximum period based on the disability or seven consecutive weeks, whichever is less, up to 60 days. A week is defined as seven days, counting both weekends and holidays that happen to fall within your disability period. Additional limits may apply based on the severity of the disability: Natural birth may be capped at six weeks of benefit and cesarean delivery may be capped at eight weeks of benefit.
The Short-Term Disability benefit is 60% of your base salary up to $2,500 per week. Should you need this benefit (and are enrolled), it is your responsibility to contact The Standard at 800-378-2395 to file a disability claim.
*If you enroll in STD after your initial eligibility period or you enroll during an annual enrollment period, and you have a disability caused by a medical condition (pregnancy, disease, surgery, etc.) during the first 12 months of being insured, your benefit waiting period will be extended to 60 days, therefore, no benefits will be payable. If you have any type of disability caused by an accident, your benefit waiting period will be 14 days. Once you have been insured under the plan for 12 continuous months, the extended benefit period will no longer apply and benefits would begin after you satisfy the 14 Day Waiting Period.
If you are approved for disability benefits, the amount used to supplement through other payment, such as sick or vacation, will be no more than a combined total equal to 100% of base pay. If receiving other income, such as state disability or military benefits, etc. these amounts will be considered deductible income and will reduce the benefit payable under the plan.
Long-Term Disability (LTD)
Arapahoe County provides eligible employees with Long-Term Disability benefit that begins after a 60-day waiting period and generally lasts up to Social Security normal retirement age. This is a County-paid benefit. The benefit under the LTD is 60 percent of your base salary up to a $5,000 monthly maximum, paid monthly by The Standard.
Your disability benefit may be reduced by deductible sources of income and any earnings you have while disabled. Taxes will be withheld from your disability income. The Standard may periodically require proof of continued disability.
A pre-existing condition limitation may apply to you should you have any type of pre-existing condition 3 months prior to your effective date. If you become disabled during the first 12 months of being insured and you have a pre-existing condition 3 months prior to your effective date, benefits may not be payable to you. However, if you have been continuously insured under the LTD plan with the prior carrier you will be provided credit for the number of months insured under the prior plan when satisfying the pre-existing condition provision.