Unless you're independently wealthy, you and your family count on your income to help pay for living expenses such as food, clothing, mortgage, transportation, insurance, medical care, and so on. Realistically, you need insurance to help protect you against the financial effects of a disabling illness or injury as much as you need life, homeowner's, auto and any other types of insurance...maybe even more.

Member Benefits-endorsed Disability Insurance Plans can help protect your income. Long-Term, 5-Year and Short-Term Disability Insurance Plans are available.

• The Long-Term Plan provides disability protection to age 66 and is for those who don't already have coverage for long periods of disability (5, 10, 15 years or longer).
• The 5-Year Plan provides coverage for those in between (don't need coverage for a long time, but are 5 years or so from retirement).
• The Short-Term Plan provides 12 months of disability protection, ideal for those looking for short-term coverage to cover sick leave or are nearing retirement.

Coverage may not be available in all states.

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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.

Additional Benefits

This Disability Insurance provides an Accidental Death & Dismemberment Benefit, which includes a Travel Assistance Benefit and Hospital Confinement Benefit, as well as a Waiver of Premium Provision: 

• Voluntary Accidental Death & Dismemberment (VAD&D) - Principal Sum $25,000
  • Travel Assistance Benefit
    Travel with peace of mind. Travel Assistance gives you access to medical, travel, and concierge services - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year when traveling internationally or domestically. For more information on this benefit, please refer to the Travel Assistance brochure located in the “Forms” section.
  • Hospital Confinement Benefit
    If hospital confinement occurs within 12 months of an accidental injury covered under the VAD&D plan, benefits paid are up to $250 maximum per month. Benefits will begin on the 5th day of confinement and will continue for a maximum of 12 months. Please refer to the VAD&D portion of your Disability Certificate for coverage details.
• 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.

Limited Disability Benefit

If you are disabled due to alcohol, drug, or substance abuse or addiction, your disability benefits will be limited to one period of disability during your lifetime. During your disability, you will be required to participate in an alcohol, drug or substance abuse or addiction recovery program recommended by a Physician. Disability benefit payments will end at the earliest of (1) the date you receive 24 months of disability benefit payments; (2) the date you cease or refuse to participate in the recovery program referred to above; or (3) the date you complete such recovery program.

For Disability Due To Mental and Nervous Disorders or Diseases (Neuromuscular, Musculoskeletal or Soft Tissue Disorders, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Related Conditions, or Fibromyalgia); If you are Disabled due to one or more medical conditions (please refer to your certificate for full medical conditions), your Disability benefits will be limited to a lifetime maximum equal to the lesser of 24 months; or the Maximum Benefit Period. 

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 toll-free at 888-386-9788, 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, rebellion or terrorist act; (2) Your active participation in a riot; (3) Intentionally self-inflicted injury; (4) Attempted suicide; or (5) Commission of or attempt to commit a felony.

We will not pay Benefits for any Disability caused or contributed to by elective treatment or procedures, such as (1) Cosmetic surgery or treatment primarily to change appearance; (2) Sex-change surgery; (3) Reversal of sterilization; (4) Liposuction; (5) Visual correction surgery; and (6) In vitro fertilization, embryo transfer procedure or artificial insemination. However, pregnancies and complications from any of these procedures will be treated as a Sickness.

Additional limitations or exclusions to your coverage may apply. Please review your Certificate of Insurance or contact your benefits administrator with any questions.

VAD&D Exclusions:

We will not pay benefits under this section for any loss caused or contributed to by (1) physical or mental illness or the diagnosis or treatment of such illness; (2) infection, other than infection occurring in an external accidental wound or from food poisoning; (3) suicide or attempted suicide; (4) intentionally self-inflicted injury; (5) service in the armed forces of any country or international authority. However, service in reserve forces does not constitute service in the armed forces, unless in connection with such reserve service an individual is on active military duty as determined by the applicable military authority other than weekend or summer training. For purposes of this provision reserve forces are defined as reserve forces of any branch of the military of the United States or of any other country or international authority, including but not limited to the National Guard of the United States or the national guard of any other country; (6) any incident related to: (a) travel in an aircraft as a pilot, crew member, flight student or while acting in any capacity other than as a passenger; (b) travel in an aircraft for the purpose of parachuting or otherwise exiting from such aircraft while it is in (c) flight; (d) parachuting or otherwise exiting from an aircraft while such aircraft is in flight, except for self preservation; (e) travel in an aircraft or device used for testing or experimental purposes, by or for any military authority or for travel or designed for travel beyond the earth’s atmosphere; (7) committing or attempting to commit a felony; (8) the voluntary intake or use by any means of any drug, medication or sedative, unless it is taken or used as prescribed by a Physician or an "over the counter" drug, medication or sedative taken as directed; alcohol in combination with any drug, medication, or sedative or poison, gas, or fumes; (9) war, whether declared or undeclared; or act of war, insurrection, rebellion or active participation in a riot.

Additional exclusions to your coverage may apply. 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:

• Payroll Deduction: If you belong to a local association that has made arrangements for payroll deduction of NYSUT Member Benefits endorsed/sponsored programs you should consider taking advantage of this easy, convenient payment method. By doing so, you will save up to 20 percent on your premiums for the Long-Term or 5-Year Plan.
• Pre-authorized check draft: Premiums will automatically be deducted from your checking account on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual basis.
• Pre-authorized credit card payments: Premiums will automatically be deducted from your credit card 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 these payment options are outlined on the following charts. Charts 1 and 2 outline information for the Long-Term Plan; Charts 3 and 4 provide information for the 5-Year Plan, and Charts 5 and 6 provide information on the Short-Term Plan.

How to Calculate Your Premiums

Complete Steps 1 through 3, then:

• Determine the number of $50 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: You are age 35 and will use the payroll deduction option. You’ve selected the Long-Term Plan (see Chart 1), a $2,000 monthly benefit and a 90-day waiting period. Check Chart 1 for the applicable rates based on your selections.

• Rate/$50 monthly benefit x # of $50 units = Monthly Premium
  • $.60 (chart 1) x 40 units = $24 premium
• If you select the Pre-Authorized Check Plan (ACH) instead of the Payroll Deduction Option, you can obtain your information from Chart 2. 
  • $.75 x 40 units = $30 premium
• Semiannually payment election
  • $30 x 6 months = $180 semi-annual 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.

*Payroll deduction is available in local associations that have made the necessary arrangements for payroll deductions of Member Benefits-endorsed programs.

Long-Term Plan

Monthly Premiums Per $50 Monthly Benefit From $500 to $5,000, not to exceed 60 percent of gross monthly earnings.

Rates Shown Per Waiting Period

5-Year Plan

Monthly Premiums Per $50 Monthly Benefit From $500 to $5,000, not to exceed 60 percent of gross monthly earnings

Rates Shown Per Waiting Period

Short-Term Plan

Monthly Premiums Per $50 Monthly Benefit From $500 to $5,000, not to exceed 60 percent of gross monthly earnings 

Rates Shown Per Waiting Period

Explanation of Disability Insurance Plan Benefits

Coordination of Benefits

We will reduce your disability benefit by the amount of all other income benefits you receive that includes but is not limited to Social Security, workers compensation, any income received for disability under a group insurance policy, such as benefits for loss of time from work due to disability installment payments for permanent total disability. More reductions may apply. Please review your certificate for full details.

Minimum Benefit Guarantee

$500 subject to the Overpayments and Rehabilitation Incentive subsections of this certificate.

Effective Date of Insurance

The insurance takes effect on the date shown on the Certificate of Insurance sent to you, if you are actively at work provided we have approved your application and subject to your payment of the required premium. If you are not actively at work on that date, the insurance will take effect on the date you are actively at work, as long as it is within three months of the Certificate effective date and you are still eligible for coverage. If your insurance is scheduled to take effect on a non-working day, your Active Work status will be based on whether you were Actively at Work on the last working day before the scheduled Effective Date of your insurance.

Definition of Total Disability

“Total Disability” means you can’t perform the duties of your regular occupation during the first 24 months for the Long-Term and 5-Year Plans, following completion of the waiting period you have chosen. After 24 months, your disability must prevent you from engaging in any occupation for which you are reasonably suited. For the Short-Term Plan, “Total Disability” means you can’t perform the duties of your regular occupation during the first 12 months. For all three plans, you must be receiving medical care from a physician during total disability.

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

The Covered Person’s insurance will terminate on the earliest of the following dates: 1.) The date the Group Policy terminates; 2.) The date on which the Covered Person retires or ceases to be actively engaged in his or her occupation for remuneration or profit, except by reason of Total Disability as defined; 3.) The date on which the Covered Person ceases to be a member of a class of Eligible Persons; 4.) The date on which the Covered Person attains the Age Limit of 66 years of age; or 5.) The end of the grace period following the last day of the period for which a premium payment is made. Any unearned premium paid beyond a termination date will be promptly refunded on a pro-rated basis.

Questions? Call Us!

A licensed representative will be happy to assist you with any questions you may have. Call AMBA toll-free at 888-386-9788, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. or Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (EST).

Administered by:

AMBA Administrators, Inc.
4050 114th Street
Urbandale, Iowa 50322

Underwritten by:

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
200 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10166

NYSUT MEMBER BENEFITS DISCLOSURE NOTICE

The MetLife Disability Plan is a NYSUT Member Benefits Trust (Member Benefits)-endorsed program. Member Benefits has an endorsement arrangement of 5% of gross premiums for this program. All such payments to Member Benefits are used solely to defray the costs of administering its various programs and, where appropriate, to enhance them. The Insurer pools the premiums of Member Benefits participants who are insured for the purposes of determining premium rates and accounting. Coverage outside of this plan may have rates and terms that are not the same as those obtainable through Member Benefits. The Insurer or Member Benefits may hold premium reserves that may be used to offset rate increases and/or fund such other expenses related to the plan as determined appropriate by Member Benefits. Member Benefits acts as your advocate; please contact Member Benefits at 1-800-626-8101 if you experience a problem with any endorsed program.