Physician FAQs

Eligibility is determined by Henry Ford Health’s program rules. Requirements include being actively employed, regularly scheduled to work at least [XX] hours per week, included in an eligible physician class and earning at least [$XX,XXX] in eligible annual compensation.

Customize: Add citizenship, residency, work-location, age and employment-status requirements.

Only the classes listed in Henry Ford Health’s program eligibility rules may participate.

Customize: Identify whether employed physicians, faculty physicians, residents, fellows, APPs, executives or other groups are included, and whether each class receives the same plan design.

Eligibility generally begins [on the date of hire / after XX days / on the first of the month following eligibility]. Coverage does not begin automatically; you must complete the required enrollment steps during the applicable enrollment period.

Guaranteed issue allows an eligible physician to apply for coverage up to the program’s stated limit without answering the full medical-history questions normally required for individually underwritten coverage. The carrier may still confirm eligibility, active-at-work status, prior coverage and other program requirements.

You must apply during your initial or special guaranteed issue enrollment period, remain within the available benefit limit and satisfy the carrier’s eligibility and active-at-work requirements.

Customize: Describe any required lookback period, minimum work schedule, absence restrictions or application questions.

Active at work generally means you are performing the normal duties of your occupation on a full-time basis and are not restricted from working because of illness or injury. Absences, home confinement, hospitalization or work limitations during the [XX]-day period before application may be reviewed. The carrier makes the final determination under the program rules.

Not necessarily. A common short-term illness or brief absence may not affect your eligibility. However, eligibility depends on the carrier’s active-at-work requirements and the circumstances of the absence.

To discuss your specific situation, contact HFCB at customerservice@hfcb.com or 800-258-8429.

You lose the guaranteed issue opportunity. A later application may require evidence of insurability, including medical questions, records or other underwriting. The carrier may approve, modify, postpone or decline coverage.

No. The program does not permit late applications. Applications outside the guaranteed issue window may require medical underwriting.

Customize: Add the new-hire, newly eligible, annual enrollment and late-entry rules.

Use the program’s enrollment website to review your personalized option or options and record a decision by the stated deadline.

Customize: Add the enrollment URL, deadline, login instructions and support contact.

Yes. IDI is an individual policy and uses a separate education and enrollment process from the regular benefits platform. Follow the instructions in your personalized enrollment communication.

IDI is an individual insurance policy designed to replace part of your income during a covered disability. It is used to complement Group Long-Term Disability coverage.

Group LTD is an important foundation, but it replaces only a percentage of compensation and is subject to a monthly maximum. It may also exclude incentive pay, productivity compensation, call pay, bonuses, partnership distributions and other variable earnings. IDI can help address part of the resulting gap.

No. IDI is separate from Group LTD. Each policy has its own definitions, exclusions, limitations, claim process and benefit decision.

The carrier considers eligible compensation, the Group LTD benefit, other personally owned disability coverage in force, the program’s target replacement level and the IDI maximum. The enrollment site will show the benefit amount available to you.

Eligible compensation may include base salary, bonus, productivity or RVU compensation, call pay and other incentive earnings.

Customize: Add the program’s compensation definition and measurement period.

No. IDI is issued as a fixed monthly benefit. Compensation is reviewed annually. If you are eligible for an increase, you will be notified during the annual review cycle. You may accept the offered increase or keep your current benefit. Your premium will be adjusted if you increase coverage.

Generally, you may increase coverage only during the annual review cycle or a Special Open Enrollment. At other times, any increase is subject to the carrier’s medical and financial underwriting requirements.

An own-occupation definition generally evaluates whether you can perform the material and substantial duties of your occupation when your disability begins.

Customize: Replace this general description with the policy’s actual definition of disability, including any specialty-specific language, time limitations or work-in-another-occupation provisions.

The policy recognizes the medical specialty or subspecialty you were performing immediately before disability. Coverage depends on your actual duties at the time of claim, including clinical, procedural, administrative, teaching and research responsibilities.

Customize: Replace this description with the policy’s actual specialty-specific language.

With a true own-occupation provision, benefits may still be payable while you work in another occupation.

Customize: Replace this general description with the policy’s actual definition.

Residual or partial disability coverage may pay a benefit when illness or injury reduces your earnings or your ability to perform occupational duties without causing total disability.

Customize: Replace this description with the policy’s actual residual or partial disability definition.

The elimination period is the required period of disability before benefits become payable. The program’s elimination period is [XX days]. Because benefits are commonly paid after a month of covered disability has elapsed, the first payment may occur after the elimination period ends.

Benefits may continue while you remain disabled under the policy, up to the applicable maximum benefit period.

Customize: Add the standard benefit period and any schedule for disabilities beginning at later ages.

Yes. Premiums are waived after 90 days of disability.

The IDI policy limits benefits for mental, nervous or substance-use conditions to 24 monthly benefit payments.

Normal pregnancy and childbirth generally are not treated as disabilities, but disabling complications may be covered if they satisfy the elimination period and other policy requirements.

Medical underwriting is the carrier’s evaluation of health history, treatment, medications, activities and other risk information. It may be required for late entrants, benefit amounts above guaranteed issue limits or applications outside an approved enrollment opportunity.

Yes, if requested. The carrier may consider employer-sponsored coverage, individually owned policies, association coverage and other disability benefits when determining the amount of IDI benefit available.

[The physician pays 100 percent of the premium through after-tax payroll deduction / The employer pays the premium / The cost is shared.] Your enrollment materials will show the premium for each available option.

The premium is fixed through age 67. It can change if coverage increases, a rider changes or coverage is continued past age 67.

Because premiums for this coverage are paid through after-tax payroll deductions, benefits are generally received free from federal income tax under current law. Consult your tax adviser regarding your individual circumstances and applicable state and federal tax laws.

The insured owns the IDI policy. Ownership is one reason the policy can continue when employment changes, subject to continued premium payment.

Yes. As policyowner, you may request a reduction or cancellation, subject to carrier procedures. Reinstating or increasing coverage later may require underwriting and may not be available on the same terms.

Yes. An individually owned policy can continue through direct billing if you respond within the required timeframe and pay premiums when due. The benefit and policy provisions remain in place.

After receiving notice of termination, the carrier and HFCB send continuation instructions and a premium notice. You must respond within [XX days] to avoid a lapse.

For help, contact HFCB at customerservice@hfcb.com or 800-258-8429.

Customize: Confirm the notice process and response deadline.

You may continue your IDI policy while actively employed if you continue to work at least [XX] hours per week, subject to the policy’s terms.

Report a potential claim as soon as it appears that an illness or injury may keep you from working through the elimination period or materially reduce your duties or earnings. Early notice can help coordinate Group LTD and IDI requirements.

Contact HFCB at 800-258-8429 or customerservice@hfcb.com for claim guidance and required forms. The carrier will typically request information from you, your treating physician and Henry Ford Health.

The insurance carrier evaluates the claim under the IDI policy. A Group LTD approval does not automatically result in an IDI approval, and an IDI approval does not control the Group LTD decision.

Yes, subject to the IDI policy and the benefit amount issued. IDI is designed to complement Group LTD, and the two claims are evaluated separately.

No. IDI does not offset benefits for Social Security Disability Insurance, workers’ compensation or state paid leave.

The carrier may require medical records, attending-physician statements, occupational-duty information, income records, proof of loss and periodic updates. Ongoing eligibility for benefits depends on satisfying the policy’s claim requirements.

Your issued policy and any riders, endorsements, amendments and state-specific forms contain the controlling terms. Contact HFCB for a duplicate policy. The enrollment website and this FAQ are educational summaries and do not replace the policy.

Contact HFCB at 800-258-8429 or customerservice@hfcb.com, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time.