Mid-Term Disability
Worthwhile Benefits That Keep Pace With Your Income
If a disabling illness or injury left you unable to work and without an income source, where would you turn? A disability can take away many things you've achieved through your profession--all the things you've enjoyed at your income level. The ABE-sponsored Mid-Term Disability Plan can insure you and your family against such a loss. Protect your income and your standard of living. Help protect your family and your profession.
For a brief overview of why the ABE-sponsored Mid-Term Disability Insurance Plan might be right for you and your family, click here for your free whitepaper.
Notice: This coverage is not available to residents of Oregon, Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, all U.S. Territories, and all foreign countries.
Members Can Insure Income Up To $12,000 Per Month.
If you are an ABA/ABE member under age 65 and actively at work full-time for at least 30 hours per week, you are eligible to apply for coverage. Depending on your income and the level of protection you feel you need, you may insure yourself from $100 to $12,000 a month... in increments of $100. Total disability benefits (including any other disability plan you may have) may not exceed the lesser of $20,000 or 66 2/3% of your basic monthly pay for benefit amounts through $7,500 (60% for monthly benefits over $7,500).
Spouse Plan Option.
Your spouse under age 65 who is actively working full-time (for at least 30 hours per week) may apply for monthly disability income benefits in increments of $100, up to $5,000 a month. A Domestic Partner is defined as an eligible dependent. (Click here for a Declaration of Domestic Partnership Form.) The Group Policy provides the same benefits for parties to a Civil Union as are granted to a spouse in marriage for residents of any state that so mandates. A The 66 2/3% and 60% limitations stated above also apply to your spouse. Spouse's coverage is limited to 9 times the member's monthly benefit. Members must be insured to insure their spouses. Certain occupations may not be eligible. To verify occupational eligibility, call the ABE toll-free at 1-800-621-8981. You may be insured as a member or a spouse but not both.
Definition Of Disability.
Benefits are paid directly to you for disabilities due to a covered illness or injury. Benefits begin on the day after the chosen waiting period of 60, 90, or 180 days for members and 90 or 180 days for spouses. Full benefits are paid for up to five years if you are completely unable to perform the material duties of your regular job (including your particular specialty of law, if applicable) due to a disabling accident or injury. If total disability is the result of a covered sickness, benefits are payable for up to two full years (except for total disabilities due to mental illness). Specialty of law provision is not applicable to spouse coverage.
When Your Insurance Becomes Effective.
Coverage begins on the first day of the month after your application is approved, provided the initial premium is received within 30 days of the effective date of coverage and provided the applicant(s) is actively at work on that date. If the applicant(s) is (are) hospitalized or disabled on that date, coverage begins on the first day of the month after hospitalization or disability ends and return to full-time work. Member must be insured to insure spouse.
You Can Choose The Waiting Period To Save On Premiums.
The ABE Mid-Term Disability Plan also allows you to choose when you want to receive your benefits. Select waiting periods of 60, 90, or 180 days for members, and 90 or 180 days for spouses. The waiting period begins on the first day of total disability occurring after the effective date. Benefits are payable the day after the chosen waiting period has been satisfied.
Partial Disability Benefits.
If you are no longer totally disabled, and are able to return to work on a part-time basis, you will be paid partial disability as follows:
| % of Pre-Disability Earnings Received While Partially Disabled | % of Monthly Disability Benefits Paid |
|---|---|
| 1-10% | 100% |
| 11-50% | 50% |
| 51-70% | 25% |
| 71% and Over | 0% |
Note: Amounts which do not fall within the percentages stated above for pre-disability earnings will be rounded to the nearest percentage. The partial disability must begin within 31 days after a total disability from which you received benefits. This benefit will continue for up to 6 months providing the partial disability is the direct result of an injury or illness that caused the total disability. Partial disability benefits are counted toward any maximum benefit period.
Waiver Of Premium.
You must be disabled and receiving disability benefits on an ABE plan. Premiums are only waived on a plan for which an insured is receiving benefits. Waiver of premium ends when disability benefits have ceased.
You Are Covered For Recurring Conditions.
The ABE Mid-Term Disability Plan considers one period of disability as follows: Successive periods of disability due to the same or related causes, not separated by a return to full-time work for six continuous months or more. If the disability follows this course, you will not be subjected to additional waiting periods.
Added Hospital Benefits.
While hospitalized for a disability, this plan will pay a 50% added benefit for up to 3 months for each covered injury or illness. This benefit is not payable for confinement in places used mainly for the aged, the chronically ill, convalescents, drug addicts, alcoholics, or as a rest home, a nursing home, or a place that specializes in custodial, educational, or rehabilitory care.
Your Benefits Are Tax Free.
The ABE Mid-Term Disability Plan pays benefits directly to you, benefits that are normally tax free under present Federal Income Tax Laws if you pay your own premiums. Consult your tax advisor for details.
You Don't Need To Be Hospitalized To Receive Benefits.
A hospital confinement is not necessary to receive benefits. You must, however, be under the regular care of a physician to be considered disabled.
Your Satisfaction Is Assured.
To apply for coverage, simply complete the application form, sign, date, and return to us with your first premium payment. After your application has been approved, you will receive a Certificate of Insurance. Take up to 30 days (without claim) to review it carefully. If this plan isn't everything you expect, simply write "cancel" and return the Certificate within 30 days, and you will promptly receive full refund of any premiums paid. You're under no further obligation.
Your Right To Renew.
You may renew your coverage as long as you are under 70, actively at work full time, the Group Policy remains in effect, the member remains an ABA/ABE member, premiums are paid on time, and the spouse must remain an eligible dependent and be under age 70. You cannot be singled out for an increase in premiums or for cancellation. Member must be insured to continue spouse coverage.
Benefits For Mental Illness.
If total or partial disability is due to mental illness, the maximum benefit period is one year. The policy defines mental illness as a psychiatric or psychological condition regardless of cause such as schizophrenia, depression, manic-depressive or bipolar illness, anxiety, personality disorders and/or adjustment disorders or other conditions. These conditions are usually treated by a mental health provider or other qualified provider using psychotherapy, psychotropic drugs, or other similar methods of treatment.
Exclusions.
No benefits are paid for disabilities caused by or resulting from attempted suicide or intentionally self-inflicted injury; service in the Armed Forces of any country, except during a temporary active duty assignment with the U.S. Armed Forces of less than 8 weeks duration; war, or any act of war, whether declared or undeclared, or committing or attempting to commit a crime. Some spousal occupations may not be eligible for coverage. Please call the Endowment toll-free for details.
Medical Information Bureau Disclosure Notice
MIB Disclosure Notice (retain for your records)--Information regarding your insurability will be treated as confidential. The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York, or its reinsurers may, however, make a brief report thereon to MIB, a not-for-profit membership organization of insurance companies, which operates an information exchange on behalf of its Members. If you apply to another MIB Member company for life or health insurance coverage, or a claim for benefits is submitted to such a company, MIB, upon request, will supply such company with the information in its file.
Upon receipt of a request from you, MIB will arrange disclosure of any information it may have in your file. Please contact MIB at 866-692-6901 (TTY 866-346-3642). If you question the accuracy of information in MIB's file, you may contact MIB and seek a correction in accordance with the procedures set forth in the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. The address of MIB's information office is 50 Braintree Hill Park, Suite 400, Braintree, MA 02184-8734.
The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York, or its reinsurers, may also release information in its file to other insurance companies to whom you may apply for life or health insurance, or to whom a claim for benefits may be submitted.
Schedule Of Benefits And Quarterly Premiums
Assignment of Experience Credits
How Your Assignment of Experience Credits Works– Your Policy’s Unique Charitable Giving Feature
Founded in 1942, the American Bar Endowment is a §501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization composed of members of the American Bar Association. ABE makes annual grants to the American Bar Foundation and ABA Fund for Justice and Education to fulfill ABE’s charitable purpose of improving the administration of justice, one of our profession’s highest obligations, by funding research, public service and educational projects in the field of law. ABE also maintains a Legal Legacy Fund for the permanent support of its grantees. By participating in the Endowment’s group insurance programs, designed for and available only to ABA members, members can contribute to these funding efforts. Attorneys who enroll in ABE-sponsored group insurance programs agree that their share of any experience credits payable on the group policies may be retained by the Endowment for its charitable purposes unless reclaimed as outlined below. The Internal Revenue Service has ruled that members who leave their experience credits with the Endowment are eligible for a charitable contribution deduction on their individual income tax returns.
Members who donate experience credits to ABE make a difference. These funds, after administrative expenses, are the primary source of ABE’s charitable grants and additions to the Legal Legacy Fund. Insured members who donate their experience credits are helping to meet their professional and public responsibilities, as well as obtaining valuable coverage for their families. About 85% of members donate their experience credits, and these members are notified each year in late January of the amount, if any, of the experience credit donation for the prior year. (Dividends are not guaranteed, and in any given year, a given plan may not pay a experience credit; experience credits will vary from year to year.)
Members who wish to request a refund of their experience credits may do so. The approximate percentage of premium available for refund (if any) on each plan will be published in each November issue of the ABA Journal along with ABE’s Annual Report. You do not need to wait for this information as refund requests are accepted beginning January 1. To request that experience credits be paid to you rather than donated to ABE: After the first policy year of your participation, a written request for refund (by mail, fax, or e-mail to experiencecredits@abendowment.org) must be made each year and must reach the Endowment by December 15. When your refund request is received, a confirmation will be sent. Retain this for your records as proof your request was timely received. If your confirmation is not received within 3 weeks, contact the Endowment promptly to obtain another copy.
If you receive a contribution notice and you did not intend to make a contribution, you may request a one-time waiver of the December 15 deadline by asking for a refund, if you have not previously requested such a waiver. Each member is entitled to one and only one exception to the deadline requirement.
Please note: Members who do not want to contribute experience credits to ABE are required to “opt out” each year, using the procedures above. When members sign the application, they are agreeing to make an annual decision whether to contribute. Do not sign the application if you do not agree with these procedures.
This plan is underwritten by the United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York, NAIC#70106, domiciled in New York state with their principal place of business located at 70 Pine Street, New York, NY 10270, licensed in all states, plus DC, except PR. This information is a brief summary of benefits only, and is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions, and limitations of Group Policy No. G-164,155, Form No. G-19000. Coverage may vary or may not be available in all states.
The underwriting risks, financial and contractual obligations, and support functions associated with the product issued by The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York are its responsibility.
We will be happy to answer your questions. Just call 1-800-621-8981 or e-mail us at information@abendowment.org
