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2026 Disability

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Disability insurance is paycheck protection and replaces a portion of your earned income if you are unable to work, on a full or partial basis, because of a non-work-related injury or illness. Operation Smile pays for employees’ Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability coverage. The chart below provides a summary of the coverage.

Plan	Benefit Summary and Guidelines
Short-Term Disability (STD)	Elimination period – 0 days for an accident and 7 days for an illness; benefits begin on the 1st day for an accident and the 8th day for an illness. Benefit – 66.67% of your pre-disability weekly earnings up to a maximum benefit of $1,500/week. Benefit duration – benefits are payable up to 13 weeks, excluding the elimination period.
Long-Term Disability (LTD)	Elimination period – 90 days, to coincide with the length of time benefits are payable under the STD plan; benefits begin on the 91st day. Benefit – 60% of your pre-disability monthly earnings up to a maximum benefit of $10,000/month. Benefit duration – benefits are payable up to age 65 or Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA), whichever is later. Own Occupation Period – 24 months. After the own occupation period, you may be eligible to continue receiving benefits if your disability prohibits you from performing any employment for which you are reasonably suited through your training, education and experience.

Plan

Benefit Summary and Guidelines

Short-Term Disability (STD)

Elimination period – 0 days for an accident and 7 days for an illness; benefits begin on the 1st day for an accident and the 8th day for an illness.

Benefit – 66.67% of your pre-disability weekly earnings up to a maximum benefit of $1,500/week.

Benefit duration – benefits are payable up to 13 weeks, excluding the elimination period.

Long-Term Disability (LTD)

Elimination period – 90 days, to coincide with the length of time benefits are payable under the STD plan; benefits begin on the 91st day.

Benefit – 60% of your pre-disability monthly earnings up to a maximum benefit of $10,000/month.

Benefit duration – benefits are payable up to age 65 or Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA), whichever is later.

Own Occupation Period – 24 months. After the own occupation period, you may be eligible to continue receiving benefits if your disability prohibits you from performing any employment for which you are reasonably suited through your training, education and experience.

Other Income Benefits

Benefits for which you are eligible from other income sources will be used as an offset when calculating your payable disability benefit. Examples of other income benefits include a state disability plan or paid medical leave plan, retirement plan benefits, Social Security, and Workers’ compensation.

Pre-Existing Condition

If you have a medical condition that begins before your coverage takes effect, and you receive treatment for this condition within the 3 months leading up to your coverage start date, you may not be eligible for benefit for that condition until you have been covered by the plan for 12 months.