In addition to the new HDHP medical plan, this year’s Open Enrollment period (November 7 - 28) will also provide a chance for Lehigh employees to opt into two new voluntary benefits for the 2017 plan year.
Lehigh has contracted with Continental American Insurance Corporation, a member of the AFLAC family of insurers, to offer accident insurance and critical illness coverage at competitive group rates for all Lehigh benefits eligible employees.
Group Accident Advantage Plus Insurance
If you’ve ever seen an AFLAC ad, you’re probably familiar with the concept of accident insurance. Accident insurance supplements your medical plan by providing cash benefits in cases of accidental injuries. You can use this money to help pay for medical expenses not covered by your medical plan, such as your deductible or coinsurance, or for ongoing living expenses, such as your mortgage or rent.
Benefits are paid:
- Directly to you, unless assigned to someone else
- In addition to any other coverage, such as the University’s medical plan
- Tax-free, because you pay your premium with after-tax income.
Whether you choose the low or high level, the policy pays you a benefit up to a specific dollar amount for accidents that result in:
- Dislocation or fracture
- Initial hospital confinement
- Intensive care
- Ambulance
- Medical expenses
- Outpatient physician’s treatment
The actual benefit amounts depend on the type of injuries you have and the medical services you need. There will be two levels of coverage offered – low and high – with corresponding monthly premium rates and payouts.
Accident insurance benefits are also available for purchase for your spouse and/or dependent children. If you enroll, you will pay your premiums through convenient payroll deduction.
Critical Illness Insurance
At Lehigh, all benefits eligible employees have access to short term and long term disability insurance, which can help replace your income in the event of a serious illness or disabling event.
Critical illness insurance can provide additional financial support beyond those benefits to help you through a difficult time. This coverage protects against the financial impact of certain major illnesses and other debilitating health situations, including, but not limited to:
- Heart attack
- Cancer
- Stroke
- *Burns
- *Paralysis
- *Loss of sight/hearing/speech, and more.
*Must be the result of an accident or covered disease.
The benefit is paid in a lump-sum to cover out-of-pocket expenses for treatments that are not covered by your medical plan. You can also use the payment to take care of everyday living expenses like housekeeping services, special transportation services, re-training, and day care.
Under this new voluntary plan, you have two benefit coverage options: $10,000 or $20,000. Children up to age 26 are automatically covered at 50% of the face value of the insurance at no additional charge. Spousal coverage is also available.
Benefits are paid directly to you, unless assigned to someone else.
Learn More
A representative Continental American will be on hand to answer your questions about these new coverage opportunities at our upcoming benefits vendor visits during Open Enrollment:
Monday, November 14
Tuesday, November 15
11:30 am to 1:30 pm
Iacocca Hall and the University Center (UC)
No registration necessary