Norton Introduces Bill to Provide Short-Term Disability Insurance for Federal Workers, at No Expense to the Federal Government

September 15, 2011

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced the Federal Employee Short-Term Disability Insurance Act of 2011 to offer federal employees group short-term disability insurance, at no cost to the federal government. Employees will be responsible for 100 percent of their insurance premiums. If federal employees become injured or ill because of a non-work related injury or illness, they would be able to replace a portion of their lost income for up to one year from the disability insurance benefits.

Norton said in her introduction statement, "I decided to investigate how we could provide group short-term disability insurance to federal employees after learning that many of them already buy short-term disability insurance in the private market at high individual rates. Although federal employees have good health insurance, health benefits do not replace lost income if employees are unable to work. And while federal employees may have limited available sick or annual leave days, these are often insufficient to cover the costs of an employee's living expenses if he or she has to be out of work for an extended period of time. Moreover, although there are long-term disability options for federal employees who become permanently disabled, federal employees do not qualify if they have not worked for at least eighteen months. My bill does no more than put federal employees in the same position as their private sector counterparts, who have access to disability insurance at group rates."

Norton's full introduction statements follow.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the Federal Employee Short-Term Disability Insurance Act of 2011

Ms. Norton. Mr. Speaker,

Today, I introduce the Federal Employee Short-Term Disability Insurance Act of 2011. This bill will offer federal employees short-term disability insurance at no cost to the federal government. Employees will be responsible for 100 percent of the premiums. If federal employees elect to purchase the short-term insurance provided for in my bill and they become injured or ill because of a non-work related injury or illness, federal employees will be able to collect disability insurance benefits, for up to one year, to replace a portion of their lost income.

I decided to investigate how we could provide short-term disability insurance to federal employees after learning that many of them already buy short-term disability insurance in the private market at high individual rates. Although federal employees have good health insurance, federal health benefits do not replace lost income if employees are unable to work. And, while federal employees may have limited available sick or annual leave days, these are often insufficient to cover the costs of an employee's living expenses if he or she has to be out of work for an extended period of time. Moreover, although there are long-term disability options for federal employees who become permanently disabled, federal employees do not qualify if they have not worked for at least eighteen months. My bill does no more than put federal employees in the same position as their private sector counterparts, who have access to disability insurance at group rates. The bill will not allow participating employers to exclude persons based on preexisting conditions. And, because of the federal government's purchasing power, the bill will provide all of these benefits at a more competitive rate than is available if the employees seek such insurance as an individual.

According to the Social Security Administration, studies indicate that a 20-year old worker has a 30 percent chance of becoming disabled by retirement age. The majority of disabilities are not caused by major accidents, but by conditions or illnesses such as cancer or back injuries, according to the Council for Disability Awareness.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.