CTA-endorsed Disability Insurance

CTA-endorsed Disability insurance from The Standard is designed especially for California educators and education support professionals. Here’s how it works:

  • Replaces up to 80%1 of your daily income2 if you’re unable to work due to illness, injury, pregnancy or childbirth.3
  • Starts paying benefits after you are out of work for 7 consecutive workdays4 — including a $25 per workday benefit on top of your fully-paid sick leave.
  • Covers any preexisting conditions once you are enrolled and work for 10 consecutive workdays.
  • May qualify for additional benefits without benefit waiting period including Summer Benefit,5 Student Loan Benefit and Cancer Benefits, paid on top of any other disability benefits from The Standard.

 

Watch this quick video about the CTA-endorsed Disability insurance plan:

 

 

Other Benefits

  • AD&D: includes $50,000 Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage.
  • Hospital Benefit: extra benefit of $35 per calendar day while you are confined to a hospital6 — with no benefit waiting period, paid in addition to any disability benefits.
  • Education Benefit: assistance towards education costs for eligible dependents while you are out on disability.
  • Childcare Benefit: assistance with childcare costs for eligible dependents for three years in the event you suffer an accidental death.
  • Return to Work Assistance: assistance with returning to work, including rehabilitation planning and ergonomic modifications for your work-site, subject to prior approval.
  • Survivor Benefit: your beneficiary will receive a flat rate of $25,000, not reduced by deductible income, in the event of your passing while you are eligible for disability benefits.

Maximum Benefit Period

The number of years of credited service you have under the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) and/or the Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) will determine your maximum benefit period.

 

If you have more than 5 years of service

You will receive benefits for up to two years following sick leave while you continue to be disabled.

If you have less than 5 years of service

After the second benefit year, educators receive 50% of regular monthly contract salary, less deductible income, to at least age 65.

 

1 For Disabilities occurring prior to September 1, 2022, you will receive up to 75% of your regular daily contract salary, less any sources of deductible income, while you continue to be disabled. For Disabilities occurring on or after September 1, 2022, you will receive up to 80% of your regular daily contract salary, less any sources of deductible income, while you continue to be disabled.

2 Daily income is based on your regular daily contract salary. Benefits will be reduced by deductible income. Examples of deductible income include: personal leave pay, severance pay, substitute differential pay, catastrophic/extraordinary leave bank, salary continuation, workers’ compensation, work earnings, social security, state disability, CalPERS/CalSTRS benefits.

3 For the first two benefit years.

4 Workdays means any Regular Day(s) of Required Attendance you are required to be actively at work based on the calendar dates of the school calendar and your employment contract in effect on the date you become disabled.

5 Summer Benefit is offered by CTA to eligible members who meet the Definition of Disability with a Disability date on or after 9/1/2022 who meet additional specific criteria. Summer Benefit is only payable during the calendar months of June and July, for up to two Benefit Years for each instance of qualifying Disability. Summer Benefit is not provided under the Voluntary Disability insurance policy. CTA provides this benefit at no extra cost and The Standard acts only as the claims administrator of this benefit.

6 Note: the definition of hospital does not include nursing homes, convalescent homes or extended care facilities.

 

Your premium rate is based on your annual salary and the frequency of benefit deductions in your district.

 

Quickly calculate your Disability and Life Insurance Premium Amounts together.

Download the Premium Amounts flyer.

 

Annual Contract Salary Ranges Minimum Premium Eleventhly Premium Tenthly Premium

$0 - $44,499

$19.14

$18.37

$20.21

$44,500 - $53,249

$20.26

$22.10

$24.31

$53,250 - $60,249

$23.94

$26.12

$28.73

$60,250 - $67,249

$27.06

$29.52

$32.47

$67,250 - $76,249

$30.09

$32.83

$36.11

$76,250 - $85,249

$33.76

$36.83

$40.51

$85,250 - $94,249

$39.22

$42.79

$47.06

$94,250 - $103,249

$43.16

$47.08

$51.79

$103,250 - $112,249

$47.09

$51.37

$56.51

$112,250 - $121,249

$51.02

$55.66

$61.22

$112,250 and over

$54.95

$59.95

$65.94

 

Note: Frequency of required premium payments (monthly, etc.) is determined by your employer. While monthly, eleventhly and tenthly are common deduction frequencies, your district may deduct premiums on an alternative frequency.

 

When Can I Apply?

As a CTA member you can apply for coverage at any time by providing satisfactory proof of good health. In some circumstances, you may be eligible to apply without having to provide proof of good health, such as:

  • Newly Hired Members
    Newly hired educators who apply for coverage within 270 days of starting work.
  • Members Who Change Districts
    Members who have changed school districts and apply within 270 days of their date of hire have the opportunity to continue their existing coverage or they can apply for Disability Insurance under the new employment opportunity described above.
  • Family Change
    Members who apply for coverage within 60 days following the date of a family status change, such as birth, adoption, marriage, divorce, loss of spousal employment, or other qualifying event.

In addition, there may be other opportunities for you to enroll in coverage, including chapter campaigns.

Ways to Apply

  1. Online: complete an online application. You will receive an email confirmation after completing the application process.
  2. Mail/Fax: download a printable form, complete and mail or fax it to The Standard (address and fax number can be located at the top of the form).
  3. Email:1 scan and email your application to ctaservice@standard.com.
  4. Phone: call our dedicated CTA Customer Service Department at 800.522.0406, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Before applying for coverage, please make sure to review the Terms and Conditions in the Member Enrollment Brochure.

 

1 Please note that email may not be a secure transmission unless you have the capability to encrypt your email when sent. Information once received by The Standard is protected.