FAQs About AGEM's Income Protection Insurance

Is the benefit based on just your state jobs or all sources of income (i.e. alimony, child support, military pensions, other pensions etc)?

The benefit is based on just the state job income.

Some employees are required to work mandatory overtime. Is this considered part of the base salary? Would they be able to select a benefit amount that corresponded to their total salary including mandatory overtime?

Fort Dearborn can "class out" workers to allow for more than 40 hours per week, due to mandatory overtime. So if some employees have to work 45 hours a week, the benefit would be based on that "base weekly earning".

Some employees receive a military pension. If an employee is off on disability will they receive their full benefit amount or will the amount be offset by the amount of the military pension that they are receiving?

The benefit is reduced by the following only: disability income payments under any state compulsory disability benefit law; or the employer sponsored income replacement plan, including but not limited to any formal or informal sick leave or salary continuation program.

Does the proposed package allow for renewal / conversion to long-term disability at the end of the 52 weeks duration?

It does not. FDL does offer Voluntary LTD (Long Term Disability) plans to purchase as a group, but with a 90 or 180 day waiting period only.

Does the 52 week benefit reset for each new accident/illness?

Yes. The benefit resets to a new 52 week benefit period (with accompanying 15 day waiting period). The reason is because when someone goes out on total disability and then comes back to work for at least two consecutive weeks, the benefit is reset when they go out again on total disability. If they come back to work from a total disability for example in 6 days and then go out again on total disability , that would be considered the same claim because it was less than two consecutive weeks.

If an employee has sick leave or vacation leave on the books, are they required to use it up before they can utilize this insurance benefit?

No. You can save your sick and/or vacation time and utilize your income protection insurance benefit from the start. If you choose to take sick time or vacation time, your insurance benefit will be offset by that amount because you would be receiving double benefits otherwise.

Will new employees be able to join right away or will they need to wait until the open enrollment period?

New employees will be able to sign up for AGEM's Income Protection Insurance program after 30 days on the job. At that point, they will have 31 days to sign up. If they choose not to sign up within the 31 days then they will need to wait until the next open enrollment. No matter when employees sign up, they will never need to submit any proof of insurability, because this insurance package is completely guaranteed issue.

Can you explain the pre-existing condition clause a little more?

This is the language from the certificate: Benefit amounts selected at initial enrollment, as well as increases selected during subsequent annual enrollment periods will be subject to the following pre-existing condition exclusion.

Pre-existing condition means a sickness or injury for which you received treatment within 12 months prior to your effective date. Treatment means consultations, care of services provided by a physician including diagnostic measures and taking prescribed drugs and medicines. The policy will not cover any total disability: which is contributed to, caused by, or results from a pre-existing condition; and, which begins in the first 12 months after your effective date. After the first 12 months, the pre-existing condition will be covered.

How are claims handled?

All claims will be personally handled by Jim Hall, our insurance representative. Jim has over 25 years experience in the insurance field and will take care of your claims for you. You'll just give him a call and he will take it from there.