Supplemental Disability Plans

OCEA provides a Basic Disability Plan underwritten by Standard Insurance Company at no additional cost to all employees in regular or limited-term positions in OCEA-represented bargaining units in the County of Orange, the Fire Authority, the Superior Court, and the Law Library, regardless of whether or not you are an OCEA member. Basic Disability Plan benefit amounts coordinate with all other sources of income (including sick leave, annual leave, workers' compensation, retirement, and other disability benefits) received for the period of disability.

OCEA’s Supplemental Disability Plans are voluntary plans underwritten by Standard Insurance that are available to OCEA members only. OCEA’s Supplemental Disability Plans are designed to provide additional benefits in the event of a disability. Supplemental Disability Plan benefits amounts will be coordinated with all other sources of income (including sick leave, annual leave, workers' compensation, retirement, and other disability benefits) received for the disability period. The Supplemental Disability Plans are not available to extra-help employees or dependents.

Supplemental Disability Plan – Level One includes the benefits described for the Basic Disability Plan with an increased maximum benefits schedule beginning the 91st calendar day of disability (or when benefits begin, if later), and an increased maximum benefit period.

Supplemental  Disability Plan – Level Two includes the benefits for the Basic Disability Plan and Supplemental Disability Plan – Level One with an increased maximum benefits schedule beginning the 21st calendar day of disability and continuing through the 90th calendar day of disability (or when benefits begin, if later).

Complete the Supplemental Benefits Enrollment – Form B and return it to OCEA.

You may enroll within your first 30 days as an OCEA member or during the annual open enrollment period. If you enroll at any other time you must submit satisfactory evidence of insurability to Standard Insurance. You may download the forms from OCEA website or you may contact OCEA. 

If you do not enroll for Supplemental Disability when you are first eligible, there are two other ways you may enroll at a later date as described below.

During OCEA's Annual Enrollment period, you will not be required to provide Evidence of Insurability. Please note for Level Two, the higher level of coverage has a 60 day benefit waiting period during your first 12 months of (level Two) coverage. For both Level One and Level Two, disabilities lasting more than 90 days have a 3/12 pre-existing condition, which applies to any increase in benefits from the Basic Disability Plan. (Refer to definition of pre-existing condition).

Outside of OCEA's Annual Enrollment period, you will be required to provide Evidence of Insurability to Standard Insurance. Please note for Level Two, the higher level of coverage has a 60 day benefit waiting period during your first 12 months of (Level Two) coverage. For both Level One and Level Two, disabilities lasting more than 90 days have a 3/12 pre-existing condition, which applies to any increase in benefits from the Basic Disability Plan. (Refer to definition of pre-existing condition).

For all of OCEA's supplemental benefits plans, the effective date of coverage will be determined by OCEA. OCEA will notify you of your effective date. Also, limitation on eligibility(as well as other limitations) may apply. For more specific information on eligibility, coverage dates, and other matters, see the Enrollment Guidelines section of this guide. For further information, contact OCEA at (714) 835-3355.. 

If Enrollment is made during Initial Eligibility Period:

If Enrollment is made after Initial Eligibility Period, i.e. Late Enrollment:

All disability benefits are coordinated with all other sources of income (including sick time and annual leave) and are subject to certain other benefit limitations.

You may not be able to collect benefits beyond 90 days if your injury or illness is because of a pre-existing condition. A pre-existing condition is one in which a reasonably prudent person would have consulted a physician, received medical treatment, services or advice, undergone diagnostic procedures, including self-administered procedures, or taken medications in the 90 day period prior to your effective date. Please note that the pre-existing condition limitation only applies to disabilities which continue beyond 90 days.

For the Basic Disability Plan, disabilities which are not as of a result of a pre-existing condition are covered per the terms of the contract. Coverage for a pre-existing condition is not provided beyond 90 days if the disability begins during the first 12 months of your coverage.  If the disability begins after you have been covered on the plan for more than 12 months, there is no pre-existing limitation.

For the Supplemental Disability Plans (Level One and Level Two) the pre-existing limitation is the same as the Basic Disability Plan unless you apply and are approved for this coverage after your initial eligibility date.  In this case, the increase in benefits beyond the Basic Disability will be subject to the pre-existing condition limitation. Of course, disabilities which are not as of a result of a pre-existing condition are covered per the terms of the contract for the Supplemental Disability Plans.

The benefits that you receive while disabled will not be subject to income tax as long as premiums are paid with after-tax dollars.

All benefits you receive will be coordinated with other sources of income, which will reduce the amount you receive during your disability. Other sources of income include, among others, annual leave, sick time, workers’ compensation, Social Security benefits, work earnings while disabled, benefits received under other disability plans, and benefits received under any OCERS retirement plan.

The amount you pay through payroll deductions for your supplemental Disability Plan depends on your earnings and the plan you select. For OCEA members in OCEA Health & Welfare Units, the rates are the percentages contained in the tables above. If you are eligible for the Supplemental Disability Plans, but are not in an OCEA Health & Welfare Unit, there is an $8.00 monthly surcharge in addition to the percentages contained in the Cost of Coverage table.

Please refer to the relevant table in the Supplemental Benefit Costs section of this Benefits Enrollment Guide for details regarding your twice-monthly premiums.

While you are disabled, your disability plan will continue without payment of premiums as long as benefits are payable, provided you are not receiving any payments from your employer. However, if you are receiving payments from your employer, you must pay premiums in order for benefits to continue.

Contact OCEA at (714) 835-3355 for a claim form.

The maximum length of time you are eligible for benefits depends on your age when you become disabled.

Age When Disability Begins       Maximum Benefit Period
56 or younger                                      To age 60
57                                                       3 yrs., 6 mos.
58                                                       3 yrs.
59                                                       2 yrs., 6 mos.
60                                                       2 yrs.
61                                                       1 yr., 9 mos.
62                                                       1 yr., 6 mos.
63                                                       1 yr., 3 mos.
64 or over                                             1 yr.