The States of Kansas and Missouri both make disability benefits available to their employees. Most employees are covered under long-term disability (“LTD’) insurance, and many also have short-term disability (“STD”) insurance. These programs exist in many areas of Kansas and Missouri employment, but the two largest are MOSERS and KPERS. 

The Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System (“MOSERS”)

Employees working for the State of Missouri may be eligible for benefits through MOSERS. MOSERS covers Missouri State teachers, educators, corrections personnel, highway and transportation employees, and many other groups of employees.

MOSERS has used The Standard Insurance Company as its claims administrator. The Standard has a particular way of administering claims, and it is important to understand its specific application and appeals process. 

The Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (“KPERS”)

Certain employees working for the State of Kansas may be eligible for benefits through KPERS. Although KPERS does not make STD benefits available, it does provide LTD benefits to classified employees. These include employees of the State of Kansas, employees of Kansas School Districts, and local and municipal employees.

KPERS recently contracted with Disability Management Services, Inc. (“DMS”) to administer its LTD plan. DMS is a Massachusetts-based company that administers claims very aggressively. It prides itself on efficiency (a quality that translates to cost-savings for KPERS). When DMS denies an LTD claim, the employee is left to appeal the decision to KPERS. 

During the lengthy process KPERS appeal process, KPERS may take the employee’s deposition and set the claim for a hearing before a Kansas administrative law judge. Because KPERS typically will not resolve or settle claims without this drawn-out process, it is essential to understand KPERS’ methods.