Short Term/Long Term Disability Insurance

Help replace a portion of your income if you cannot work1

Effective 1/1/2020, MetLife will be the new carrier for your STD and LTD insurance. Click here for the carrier transition FAQ.

Medical insurance may help cover treatment due to an accident or illness. But how do you cover your income? Disability insurance may provide a steady stream of income to help cover essential expenses when an extended illness, injury or pregnancy keeps you away from work. You’ll have the comfort of knowing financial support is available when needed to help maintain your quality of life.

  • Provides income to help pay for essential living expenses, rent, mortgages, car payments, food, etc.
  • Allows you to meet your day-to-day financial obligations, so your long-term goals stay on track

Did you know disability insurance and workers’ compensation are not the same thing? Workers’ compensation only applies if you are hurt at work. Disability insurance covers you when you’re unable to work because of illness or injury — whether suffered at work or not.

The MyBenefits website, mybenefits.metlife.com/stateofarizona, is a quick and easy way for you to get the information you need about an existing disability claim — all in one place. Click here for instructions on how to access the MyBenefits website.

Short Term/Long Term Disability Insurance FAQs

Having disability protection can help you cover your essential living expenses and help safeguard your savings, since it replaces a portion of your income lost due to a disability or illness. You can choose from two types of coverages:

  • Short term disability insurance replaces a portion of your income during the initial weeks of a disability, generally either 13 or 26 weeks.
  • Long term disability insurance replaces a portion of your income for disabilities that last for an extended period of time.

Consider any expenses you may incur in the running of your household, including car payments, mortgage payments, groceries, child care, tuition and more, that would still need to be covered in the event of a disability.

Depending upon the amount of coverage you choose, payment will be made directly to you — not your employer, hospital, doctor or insurance company.

MetLife offers various ways to submit your claim based on your plan, including online, mail and phone options. Plus, you can track the status of your claim online or on the MetLife US App. Search "MetLife" on iTunes® App Store or Google Play to download the app.

As one of the nation’s leading providers of disability benefits,3 you can count on MetLife to provide you with caring, compassionate and accurate claims service, if and when you experience a disability.

Click here for a claim filing instructions.

Enrolling in a plan is not mandatory, but it is a good idea and an affordable way to help protect your income. Without disability insurance, you may need to use your savings or tap into other assets to cover your essential living expenses while you recover from an accident or illness.

It is best to enroll during your open enrollment period when medical exams may not be required and health questions may not be asked. The sooner you enroll, the sooner you will enjoy the added financial protection that disability coverage provides.

How much disability insurance should you have?

Find out with our disability insurance calculator

Like most disability income insurance policies, MetLife’s policies contain certain exclusions, waiting periods, reductions, limitations and terms for keeping them in force. Ask your MetLife representative about costs and complete details. For policies issued in New York: These policies provide disability income insurance only. They do NOT provide basic hospital, basic medical or major medical insurance as defined by the New York State Department of Financial Services. The expected benefit ratio for these policies is at least 50%. This ratio is the portion of future premiums that MetLife expects to return as benefits when averaged over all people with the applicable policy.

2 Actual rates will vary based on factors including the applicant’s age, health, occupation and state of residence as well as the amount of coverage, maximum benefit period, waiting period and carrier issuing the coverage. Initial rates may increase.

3 LIMRA, U.S. Group Disability Sales and In Force Survey, 2018.

Like most group disability insurance policies, MetLife group policies contain certain exclusions, waiting periods, reductions, limitations and terms for keeping them in force.  Ask your MetLife sales representative for complete costs and details.