Sewanee Benefits

Life & Disability

These benefits help protect you and your family financially. This page focuses on life insurance, voluntary life coverage, and long-term disability insurance. For leave processes, short-term medical leave, FMLA, and other time-away rules, see the Time Away page.

Start here

Not sure where to begin? Start with the option that best matches what you need right now.

What’s included

Basic Life & AD&D

Sewanee provides employer-paid basic life and accidental death and dismemberment coverage equal to 1 times base annual earnings, rounded up to the next $1,000, to a maximum of $100,000.

Voluntary Life

Employees may buy additional life coverage for themselves, and dependent coverage is also available for eligible spouses and children. Voluntary life is fully employee-paid.

Long-Term Disability

Long-term disability helps replace part of your income if you experience a longer-term disability. Sewanee pays the full cost of coverage. LTD provides a benefit of 60% of monthly earnings, up to $7,000 per month, after a 180-day elimination period.

How it works

Basic Life Amount
1 times base annual earnings, rounded up to the next $1,000, to a maximum of $100,000.
Voluntary Life
Employees may elect additional life in $10,000 increments, with guaranteed issue up to $200,000 and higher amounts available with evidence of insurability.
Spouse / Child Life
Spouse coverage is available in $5,000 increments, and child coverage is $10,000, reduced to $500 for children under 6 months.
Age Reductions
Voluntary life amounts reduce to 65% at age 65 and 50% at age 70.
LTD Benefit
60% of monthly earnings, to a maximum of $7,000 per month, less offsets for other income.
LTD Waiting Period
LTD has a 180-day elimination period, and benefits begin the day after that period is completed.
How LTD Fits
Long-term disability is meant for extended disability situations. In general, staff should work with Human Resources as leave progresses so timing, documentation, and next steps can be coordinated clearly.

Before you…

Before you rely on basic life coverage
Confirm your beneficiary is current.
Review whether basic life alone is enough for your situation.
Know that age reductions apply to life insurance amounts.
Review portability and continuation options before leaving Sewanee.
Before you elect voluntary life
Check the guaranteed issue amount first.
Know that higher amounts may require evidence of insurability.
Check spouse and child maximums if you want dependent coverage.
Complete enrollment on time when first eligible.
Before you assume LTD will start
Remember that LTD begins only after the elimination period is completed.
Understand that short-term medical leave and leave administration are handled separately.
Know that pre-existing condition rules may apply during the first 12 months of coverage.
Contact HR early if an absence may become longer-term.

Common questions

Click a section below to view common questions and next steps.

Basic life and AD&D
How much basic life coverage does Sewanee provide?
Sewanee provides basic life equal to 1 times your base annual earnings, rounded up to the next $1,000, to a maximum of $100,000.
Do I have to enroll in basic life?
Basic life and AD&D coverage is automatic for eligible employees.
What happens to basic life as I get older or retire?
Benefits reduce to 65% at age 65 and to 50% at age 70. Sewanee maintains a $5,000 basic life benefit for all qualified retirees.
Voluntary life coverage
How much voluntary life can I buy for myself?
Employees may elect coverage in $10,000 increments, with guaranteed issue up to $200,000 and higher amounts available up to the plan maximum with evidence of insurability, subject to salary-based limits.
Can I buy coverage for my spouse or children?
Yes. Spouse coverage is available in $5,000 increments, up to the plan maximum and not more than 50% of your amount. Child coverage is $10,000, reduced to $500 for children under 6 months.
What is portability?
Portability means there may be an option to continue certain voluntary life coverage after leaving employment, subject to plan rules and deadlines.
Beneficiaries and records
Do I need to choose a beneficiary?
Yes. Employees should choose and keep beneficiaries up to date for life and AD&D insurance.
When should I update my beneficiary?
Review your beneficiary after major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child, or other family changes.
Long-term disability
How much income does LTD replace?
LTD replaces 60% of monthly earnings, to a maximum of $7,000 per month, less offsets for other income.
When does LTD start?
Benefits begin after a 180-day elimination period. Coverage begins the day after that period is completed.
How this page connects to Time Away
Why is short-term medical leave not fully explained on this page?
Because short-term medical leave is part of the University’s time-away and leave programs. This page focuses on insurance policies.
How should I think about the connection between leave and LTD?
This page explains the insurance protection and notes that leave approvals, short-term medical leave, FMLA, parental leave, and documentation requirements are handled on the Time Away page. If a disability extends long enough, LTD may become the next step.

Need help?

If you are not sure whether your question is about insurance coverage or leave administration, start with HR and we will help point you in the right direction.