Disability Insurance

A Necessity To Cover Those Gaps

What is Disability Insurance?

Woman in wheelchair sitting nose-to-nose with a seated young girl, both smiling.

The purpose of disability insurance, whether for public or private employees, is as a type of income protection. It provides you and your family with up to 65 percent of your basic monthly salary, with a maximum annual salary of $166,000 with Starr Wright USA's disability insurance for federal employees. While some insurance plans for disability only provide short-term coverage, Starr Wright USA delivers short- and long-term disability insurance for federal employees.

As well as supplementing your income while you're away from work, disability insurance provides residual benefits. The role of residual benefits is to account for any reduction in your monthly paycheck resulting from your disability. The benefits are a percentage of your standard monthly payment, which you received while unable to work. Another factor of federal employee disability insurance is beneficiary benefits. With Starr Wright USA, if you pass away while totally disabled, your beneficiary will receive your benefits.

GET STARTED TODAY BY DOWNLOADING AN APPLICATION!
For Current Federal Employees, click here to download a PDF application.
For New Federal Employees, click the button below.

Please Note: You are eligible to apply for the New Federal Employee Disability plan if you are within 45 days of your employment date.

Download New Employee Application

Why do I need Disability Insurance?

Today, disability insurance is a necessity. In the United States, one out of our every four employees will experience a disabling injury before retirement. Without insurance, those staff members are left without a source of income, instead relying on their savings. More than 65 percent of Americans, however, are without emergency savings, with another 65 percent unable to meet their living expenses if without an income for 12 months — more than 35 percent could not pay their living costs if without work for more than three.

In high-risk, as well as high-stress careers, such as within the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Marshals, federal employee disability insurance is an even higher priority due to the increased chance of injury and disability. If you support your family, from your partner and children to your parents, it's vital that you have your federal employee disability benefits and plan in place.

Another reason to consider disability insurance as a federal employee is due to factors influencing Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). While both offer assistance to your family during your time away from work, they are also subject to taxation. As well, SSDI and FERS often only provide short-term disability benefits, leaving gaps in your payments — our federal disability insurance covers those gaps.

Why buy from Starr Wright USA?

Middle-aged man seated with wooden cane, smiling at the camera

Across the U.S., federal employees choose our disability insurance, which offers the following incentives:

Comprehensive coverage: We provide not only short-term disability insurance for federal employees but also long-term disability insurance for federal employees, giving you and your family complete coverage in the event of a disability. Our approval process also offers guaranteed acceptance for new federal employees within 45 days of their hire date — if you're already a federal employee, there is some medical underwriting before approval.
Responsive service: When it comes to customer service, ours is unparalleled. We provide live answering from a knowledgeable team of customer service representatives, as well as a seamless process for submitting a claim. Whether you prefer to email, mail or fax your request, you can do so with Starr Wright USA — as well as access and print your claim form via our website.

Another advantage of choosing Starr Wright USA for your federal disability insurance is our ability to offer you and your family a better value by removing the middleman.

Download New Employee Application

Looking to Get Disability Insurance?
Click here to see our plan details and current rates!

See Plan Details and Rates

Benefit Highlights

At Starr Wright USA, our disability insurance for federal employees offers several benefits to you and your family, including:

Collect up to 65% of your insured income to a maximum of $8,992 per month (less any Other Income Benefits) for any covered disability.
Guaranteed Acceptance (benefits are subject to the policy's Pre-Existing Condition Limitation) - for any new federal employee under age 60 enrolling in our federal disability insurance within the first 45 days of their employment.
Monthly benefits from this federal employee Disability Insurance plan are not taxable in most cases. Please consult your tax adviser for more information.
Waiver of Premium Benefit will pay your premiums after six months of total disability and ends when the total disability benefit is no longer payable.
Receive residual benefits after you return to work - residual benefits are a percentage of your monthly benefit equal to the percentage reduction in monthly earnings produced by your disability. See Certificate of Insurance for additional description.
Your loved ones can continue to receive federal employee disability benefits if you should die during any covered total disability period.

For more extensive information about policy specifics for long- and short-term disability insurance for federal employees, please visit the Plan Details and Rates page. You must be a full or part-time federal employee to apply for Starr Wright USA's Disability Insurance Plan. The program is currently available in AL, AR, AZ, CA, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MI, MT, NE, NJ, NM, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV.

Start Your Federal Disability Insurance Application

At Starr Wright USA, our experience as a provider of federal disability insurance extends across a century. As a company led by federal employees and military veterans, we understand what federal employees look for in disability insurance and insurance providers. That's why we offer responsive customer support and carry the endorsement of numerous federal employee associations, including the Federal Employees Benefit Association (FEBA) and U.S. Marshals Service Association (USMSA).

Start discussing the benefits of our disability insurance for federal employees by contacting us today to schedule a consultation or complete your application.

Questions about our Disability Insurance Policies?

Below are some of our most frequently asked questions, or you can call us at 1.800.424.9801 for information.

Who is eligible?

Federal employees who: a.) are under age 60 b.) reside in the United States c.) are actively-at-work on a full-time basis (at least 17.5 hours per week) and d.) are not on active duty in any branch of the military or armed forces of any country. Newly hired full-time federal employees within 45 days of their hire date, who work at least 17.5 hours per week, are eligible for Starr Wright USA's Guaranteed Acceptance Disability Insurance Plan (benefits are subject to the policy's Pre-Existing Condition Limitation).

The program is currently available in AL, AR, AZ, CA, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MI, MT, NE, NJ, NM, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV.

How does this coverage differ from FERS?

Coverage differs in several ways. In most cases, your disability benefits will not be taxed with this plan, though the FERS benefits are taxable. You can collect up to 65% of your income for the duration of benefit receipt. And you may be eligible to continue receiving residual benefits even after returning to work.

How much coverage might I need?

To help you determine how much Disability Insurance coverage you may need please use this Disability Insurance Needs Calculator. Please Note: This calculator is not provided by Starr Wright USA. The calculator provides only a simple estimate. You may have other expenses, liabilities or assets that may not be included in this calculation.

How much coverage can I apply for?

You can collect up to a maximum of 65% of your basic monthly insured salary (up to a maximum salary of $166,000 per year). For example, if your basic monthly insured salary is $10,000, you could apply for coverage of up to $6,500 per month in benefits. Benefits are paid to a maximum of $8,992 per month.

What is the approval process like?

For new federal employees who apply within 45 days of their hire date, he or she is guaranteed acceptance (benefits are subject to the policy's Pre-Existing Condition Limitation). For all other federal employees, there is some medical underwriting.

When does my coverage become effective?

Coverage will begin the first day of the month following receipt and approval of your application provided premium is paid when due. Exception: If you are not at full time work on the date your insurance would have taken effect, your coverage will become effective first of the month on or after the date you are working full time and the premium is paid when due.

When do benefits begin?

There is a 60 day Waiting Period for this coverage; after which benefits can begin.

Are my plan benefits taxable?

Unlike FERS and SSDI benefits which may be taxable in part, Starr Wright USA's Disability Insurance plan benefits are not taxable. Please consult your personal tax advisor for further information.

Is this considered short or long-term disability insurance?

Both. This coverage is available to you on a short-term basis (after the required 60 day Elimination Period) and, after that, on a long-term basis for total disability before age 61, benefits are payable until age 62; for age 61 and over the payment period is 12 months. Further details are provided in the two FAQs immediately below.

What if my disability lasts 60 days or more?

FERS and SSDI may not pay for covered disabilities lasting at least 60 days to 12 months; Starr Wright USA's Disability Insurance plan helps fill the gap by paying benefits for all covered disabilities that occur before age 61 until you reach age 62. If your covered disability occurs after age 61, Wright pays you benefits for 12 months.

What about when I go back to work? Are there any benefits payable as I re-enter the workforce?

Yes, you may be eligible to receive residual benefits after you return to work. Residual benefits are a percentage of your monthly benefit equal to the percentage reduction in monthly earnings produced by your disability. See your Certificate of Insurance for additional description.

What happens if I die while I am totally disabled?

Starr Wright USA's plan provides additional benefits to your beneficiary in the event of your death while you are totally disabled under this plan.

Looking for more information on Disability Insurance?
Call 1.800.424.9801 or email us at support@wrightusa.com today!