The voluntary long term disability plan (employee paid) is a different and separate plan from the Duke-paid long term disability program (Duke Disability).
Eligibility
Duke University Employees
Active full-time employees of Duke University in a benefits-eligible classification with less than three years of full-time continuous service or who have not satisfied the Duke LTD service waiver requirement, excluding house staff. Full-time Clinical Associates and Consulting Associates are eligible for this benefit.
Regular Rank Faculty within the University are encouraged to review the Duke Faculty Handbook, chapter 4 regarding temporary medical leave provisions, which can provide additional income protection, and may also provide a bridge between the onset of disability and the elimination period for the long term disability benefits. Information regarding Temporary Medical Leaves for faculty may also be available within your local HR department and/or Dean’s office. Please note, the voluntary short and long term coverages have offset provisions for other income you may receive while unable to work (ex. temporary medial leave salary continuation).
Duke University Health System Employees
Active full-time employees of Duke University Health System in a benefits-eligible classification with less than three years of full-time continuous service or who have not satisfied the Duke LTD service waiver requirement, excluding house staff. Full-time Clinical Associates and Consulting Associates, including full-time faculty employed by Duke Health Integrated Practice, are eligible for this program. Full-time employees within Duke Health Integrated Practice are eligible to enroll in this program effective July 1, 2023.
PLEASE NOTE: Faculty within the Duke Health Integrated Practice (DHIP) are encouraged to review the DUHS Temporary Medical Leave (DUHS TML) program which can provide additional income protection prior to enrolling in the voluntary short term disability coverage. The voluntary short and long term coverages described below have offset provisions for other income you may receive while unable to work (ex. temporary medical leave salary continuation).
Choosing Coverage
Voluntary Long Term Disability could be of assistance in providing income protection for those with fewer than three years of full-time continuous service who are not eligible for the provided Duke Long Term Disability Plan. This plan is one of the MOST IMPORTANT benefits you can purchase because it can help provide you a secure financial future should you need to be out of work for an extended period of time due to disability. Read more...
Benefit Payable
The plan replaces up to 60% of your base salary to a maximum monthly benefit of $12,500.
This plan is for employees with less than 3 years of full-time continuous service, unless the employee already qualifies for the Duke Disability Plan.
Voluntary Long Term Disability (LTD) benefits cover disabilities whether or not they are job related. However, benefits will be reduced by the amount of other income benefits you receive while disabled, such as sick/vacation/medical leave, paid time off, Kiel, or Social Security. Regardless of these offsets, the minimum monthly benefit is the greater of 10% of the Voluntary LTD benefit or $100.
When Benefits Begin
The carrier, Hartford, reviews each request for benefits to determine eligibility under the program’s guidelines.
If applicable, Voluntary LTD benefits begin after you have been totally disabled for four months if you are a Duke University employee. Benefits begin after you have been totally disabled for six months if you are a Duke University Health System employee.
How to File a Claim
To initiate a voluntary disability claim, please call The Hartford at 866-945-4558 or log on to this web site. The group number for Duke is 043211. For a voluntary long term disability claim, please file your claim within 60 days after your date of disability to allow for proper processing.
Proof of Prior Coverage (LTD Waiver)
If you had an employer-sponsored long term disability plan within 90 days of full-time employment to Duke, you may participate in the Duke Disability Program as of the first day of the month after your hire date (waiving the normal three-year waiting period), providing you timely complete and submit the necessary documentation of prior coverage. The necessary documentation is called a Request For Service Requirement Waiver form. You can request that your immediate previous employer complete the Duke Disability Program - Request for Service Requirement Waiver form. Waiver requests must be received in the Benefits Office within 90 days of your date of hire.
Waiver requests should be emailed to hr@duke.edu or faxed to the attention of our disability analyst at (919) 681-8774 within 90 days of your hire date.
Please note that an individual LTD disability policy (i.e. not a group policy) does not qualify for LTD waiver consideration.