Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission Long-Term Disability Insurance

Long-term disability insurance (LTDI) provides partial income replacement to a covered individual who is disabled from working due to illness or injury. LTDI benefits have a monthly maximum income replacement and can be offset by receipt of income from other income sources. Please refer to the LTDI policy document for detailed information.

Benefited faculty and staff ('employees') may enroll for coverage under a Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission (GIC) health insurance plan within the first twenty-one (21) days of benefited employment. Coverage is effective the first day of the month following sixty (60) days in a benefited position.

The MA Group Insurance Commission (GIC) offers benefited employees an LTDI plan providing 55% tax-free income replacement after a disability of 90+ days with a maximum of $10,000 monthly. The GIC/MetLife webpage provides a plan overview and claims filing information. Premium information is provided in the GIC Benefits Decision Guide.

Please note: an LTD insurance company can deny benefits if a claim is not filed timely. Coverage ends upon departure from benefited employment. Claims payments may continue after employment ends if the eligible disability occurs when covered by the policy. Where information on this webpage differs from the plan document the plan document prevails. 

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A GIC life insurance plan overview and premium information appear in the GIC Benefit Decision Guide. Please reference the GIC/MetLife webpage for more information about the GIC life insurance policy.

Note that GIC LTDI:

  • Premiums automatically increase when a member turns 35 years of age and every five years thereafter until the member is over 70 years of age.
  • Coverage ends with end of benefited employment. If the employee has an approved claim and is drawing income under LTDI payments may continue after employment ends.

Benefited employees may:

  • Enroll for coverage within 21 days of hire into a benefited position for coverage effective the first day of the month following 60 days of covered employment.
  • Apply for GIC LTDI after the 21 day initial enrollment period. The GIC's LTDI carrier reviews applications based on medical evidence of insurability and approves or denies coverage on that basis. You may apply for the coverage online via the MyGICPortal (navigating to Benefits > My Benefits Summary > Long Term Disability) or by completing  and returning a GIC Enrollment/Change Form 1 to the UMass Amherst Human Resources Employee Service Center.

Employees may cancel coverage effective the first day of a future month by submitting the request online via the MyGICPortal (navigating to Benefits > My Benefits Summary > Long Term Disability) or by completing  and returning a GIC Enrollment/Change Form 1 to the UMass Amherst Human Resources Employee Service Center.

Employees may apply to re-enroll for coverage thereafter and may be approved or denied coverage by the GIC's life insurance vendor based on medical evidence of insurability.