VLDP Employer Support Training Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability Management January 2019

4/9/2019

Understanding Worker’s Compensation………..………………..…..………. Questions……………………………………………………………………………………… Reminders…………………………………………………………………………………..…

Understanding Worker’s Compensation

Understanding Worker’s Compensation Intake When a claim is determined to be work related upon the completion of the intake, ReedGroup will send an email to the agency and request the work comp adjuster’s contact information Claim Management ReedGroup will follow normal STD management until a WC decision has been made Case managers will apply all plan provisions associated with the STD benefit Important Note If an employee is NOT ELIGIBLE for STD benefits because the date of hire is less than 12 months. The system will generate ineligibility letters to all parties during the intake process The claim will remain in a closed status until the leave is determined to be a compensable WC claim 4/9/2019

WC Adjustor Determination Cont’d WC Adjustor Determination Once the work comp adjuster has replied to ReedGroup and the leave is determined to be a WC claim, ReedGroup then will flag the claim as WC and adjust the dates to match the WC determination. ReedGroup will not request additional documentation from the treating provider once WC adjustor has determined the claim is WC WC Approved Determination letters do not disclose the approval dates for WC. The agencies will need to look at the DAR to determine the work comp status Determination letters do not provide specific details on work restrictions WC Not Approved If the WC claim is suspended or determined not to meet the WC definition; ReedGroup can review for STD benefits at the request of the employee

Important Notes Employees are referred to their payroll department regarding wage replacement questions. ReedGroup does not manage payroll during the STD claim period. Please provide ReedGroup with your Worker’s Compensation vendor information: Vendor Name Primary Contact Name Primary Contact Phone Number

Questions received via Email

Questions received via Email How long it takes an employee to get paid once they have applied for disability? How long is the duration of Short-Term Disability vs. Long-Term and what are the terms for an employee to switch from one to the other? The VLDP plan allows a total of 125 work days for Short-Term Disability benefits. The Long-Term Disability Effective date is the next calendar day following the 125th day of Short-Term Disability. Unless the employee has been released to return to work full duty, they will transition to Long-Term Disability on the Long-Term Disability effective date. Please explain the procedures when employees file both Worker’s Compensation and VLDP? Only difference between a stand alone STD claim and one that consist of Worker’s Comp is that WC does require a claim to be filed with the WC adjustor, so communication between Reed Group and the WC adjuster does take place. Therefore, it is important to provide us with the vendor’s name, primary contact, and phone number. Worker’s Compensation is non-taxable, but why is the VLDP portion also non-taxable? Generally, it is because the payments are for an occupational disease or injury and the benefit is paid under a statute in the nature of a workers’ compensation act. This means that benefits paid due to a work-related injury are non-taxable because the Workers’ Compensation Act indicates such benefits cannot be taxed.

Questions?

Benefit Fair Request HR Contact Changes Wallet Cards Please send Save the Date or Details to vdpsupport@reedgroup.com HR Contact Changes Please send to vdpsupport@reedgroup.com Wallet Cards Please send request for cards to vdpsupport@reedgroup.com (include: Address and number of cards needed)