Disability Insurance

Disability insurance is designed to help you meet your financial needs if you become unable to work due to an illness or injury. Butler University offers both Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability through OneAmerica to benefits-eligible employees at no additional cost.

To discuss the short- or long-term disability process, please contact the Benefits & Wellness team at fmla@joe-yan.net or 317-940-9355.

Waiting PeriodShort-Term DisabilityLong-Term Disability
Short-term: 7 calendar daysButler University automatically provides Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance to all benefits eligible employees. Benefits will be reduced by other income, including state mandated STD plan.Butler University automatically provides Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance to all benefit eligible employees
Long-term: 90 calendar daysBenefit: 60% of base pay, up to $3,000 per weekBenefit: 60% of base pay, up to $14,000 per month less other income benefits
 Elimination Period: 7 daysElimination Period: 90 days
Benefit Duration: Up to 12 weeks

To meet short-term disability qualifications, a qualifying medical condition must not be related to the work environment or job-related responsibilities, must be severe enough to prevent the employee from working for a limited period, and must require a doctor’s care. Short-term disability generally covers:

  • Accident-related injuries
  • Chronic illnesses
  • Acute diseases
  • Mental illness

Common injuries related to accidents might be broken bones, burns, head trauma, or musculoskeletal injuries. Short-term disability also covers the period following a medically necessary surgery related to the injuries.

Chronic illnesses symptoms often come and go. Given their nature, many chronic diseases qualify as an illness for short-term disability. Examples include cancer, asthma, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, gout, and carpal tunnel.

Acute diseases typically meet the definition of a qualifying illness because they are severe and likely to cause a total loss of income for a period. Some diseases in this category might be pneumonia, heart attack, stroke, kidney stones, or appendicitis.

Mental illness means a psychiatric or psychological condition classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association. Such disorders include, but are not limited to, psychotic, emotional or behavioral disorders, or disorders related to stress or to substance abuse or dependency.

A short-term claims packet will need to be completed by Butler, the employee and each healthcare provider who is treating the employee for the disabling condition. The healthcare provider statement (APS) is an essential component of the claim, and it must be received by One America within 45 days of the claim initiation.

What’s my diagnosis?

Common terms and examples of disability claims diagnoses

Claim diagnosis categoryLay language descriptionSpecific examples
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissueMuscle, back and joint disordersArthritis, herniated or degenerated disc, back pain, spine/joint disorders, cartilage sprain, tendonitis, fibromyitis, osteoporosis, rheumatism, scoliosis, sciatica
Disease of the nervous system and sense organsSpine and nervous system- related disordersMultiple sclerosis, epilepsy, paralysis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Bell’s palsy, Guillain- Barre syndrome, eye disorders including diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, ear disorders including balance-related disorders like Meniere’s disease
Diseases of the circulatory systemCardiovascular and circulatory diseasesHypertension, heart disease, heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, coronary artery disease, phlebitis
Cancer and neoplasmsCancer and tumorsBreast cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, leukemia, tumors
Injuries and poisoningsAccidents, injuries and poisoningsFractures, sprains and strains, dislocations, contusions, burns, poisoning, allergic reactions
Mental disordersMental illness and behavioral disordersDepression, schizophrenia, drug/alcohol/substance abuse, bipolar disorder, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder
Diseases of the respiratory systemRespiratory system disordersInfluenza, pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
Symptoms, signs, and ill- defined conditionsIll-defined or subjective conditionsHeadache, insomnia, coma, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, seasonal affective disorder, anorexia, other symptoms without a diagnosis
Infections and parasitic diseasesInfectious and parasitic diseasesFood poisoning, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, meningitis, salmonella, tuberculosis, polio
Diseases of the digestive systemDigestive system disordersGastric ulcers, gastritis, appendicitis, hernia, irritable bowel syndrome, cirrhosis of the liver, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, dental disorders, temporomandibular join (TMJ) disorders
Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases and immunity disordersNutritional, metabolic, regulatory and immunity disordersDiabetes, malnutrition, obesity, gout, cystic fibrosis, thyroid disorders
Diseases of the genitourinary systemGenital and waste removal disordersUterine prolapse, cervicitis, menopausal symptoms, kidney and bladder disorders, genital organ disorders, kidney failure, enlarged prostate, prostatitis, urinary tract infections, endometriosis
Congenital anomaliesInherited conditionsCongenital anomalies, spina tend, Down syndrome, inherited heart valve malfunction
Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organsBlood-related disordersAnemia, hemophilia, sickle-cell disease, diseases of the spleen
OtherOther disordersOther disorders not captured in the categories above

For a general review of the short-term disability process, please review the Disability Claims Guide (PDF).

Contact Information

One America
One American Square

P.O. Box 368
Indianapolis, IN  46206-0368
OneAmerica.com