That's what I thought also??

This is exactly how it was explained to us in Indoc in the late spring. I guess it is going away? I think we'll need to see a source on this one....

It's too late to look up anything tonight. But I had a similar understanding. I know the APA offers a sort of loss of license insurance that works very much like eagle described and has a limit of around 4 or 5 years...

Ok, I had to look it up anyway. lol.

The 2012 Pilot LTD Plan says coverage ends as quoted below:

"Plan Coverage ends on the earlier of the following events:
1. Termination of employment, except that Disability benefits will continue beyond termination of employment in accordance with Article V of this Plan;
2. Commencement of a Retirement Benefit;
3. The date the Pilot Employee attains the age at which he is no longer eligible to be a Pilot Employee under federal law;
4. Becoming ineligible for the coverage due to a change in job classification; or
5. Death."

So I believe the coverage is not time limited. However, it does go on to say the following"

"Disability benefits under the Plan shall be paid for up to twenty-four (24) months for disability from the occupation of an airline pilot due to a medical condition or treatment from that condition, with the exception of diagnoses of chemical dependency or a mental
or nervous disorder which is subject to the limitations set forth in Article V, Section E.

After receiving twenty-four months of Disability benefit payments under the Plan, the Pilot Employee will continue to be considered Disabled if the Pilot Employee is unable to earn more than 80% of the Pilot Employee’s pre-Disability Compensation earned at the Company in the twelve (12) months prior to the Pilot employee’s date of Disability."


I think Eagle may have been thinking about the APA Disability plan. Of course Eagle, if I'm wrong, please provide a reference. Thanks

The true question is what does this plan REALLY provide for ?

The previous 2003 plan wasn't filled with ambiguities or conflicts such as this one (gee........I wonder why HORTON changed it to this in a Chapter 11 ? :cool:). Healthy skepticism is the most accurate position to take when looking at this plan IMO. First of all, it doesn't start for 90 days, so any vacation or sick time most have would likely be zeroed out prior to implementation of this plans benefits, so you're already likely starting this plans benefits from a deficit. In addition, you cannot take any retirement benefit while receiving benefits from this plan even if it makes more financial sense to do that. It's one or the other.

Technically, yes, this plan theoretically has no limitation in the number of payments (except for drug dependency or a "mental or nervous disorder"), but there appear to be multiple potential exists for the company along the way. For example, does "nervous disorder" encompass only psychological issues or would say, Multiple Sclerosis or similar long-term medically disqualifying conditions also fall into the "24 month maximum" payment limit for "nervous disorders" ? Is this but one of the many cracks to fall into ? There sure seem to be a lot of company-friendly cracks in it, that's for sure.

Article V. is very confusing indeed. It says the plans purpose is to replace a "portion" of a pilots Pre-Disability Compensation (PDC). It says it ceases to exist when "verification of such disability can no longer be established". Considering the other language in the plan, that seems to be a subjective statement controlled at the whim of the company as defined by a "third party administrator". You should hear some of the stories about those who have had to deal with third party administrators. At any rate, should your appeal to a claim denial be shot down, I suppose you're free to sue (and absorb a likely staggering multi-year legal cost in trying). Of course, most, if not all of them are indemnified. This thing is so lawyered-up, it's clear who it really is intended to benefit.

What defines the "period of disability" in relation to the benefits of this plan as opposed to a true medical definition ? Is there REALLY a difference ?

VI.D. says you get 24 months of payments and only after that if you're "unable to earn more then 80% of your PDC" will those payments continue (with offsets). What is THEIR specific definition of "unable to earn" ?...and speaking of "offsets", what does "other income" include ? That seems an open-ended subjective definition that means whatever they feel is in their best interest. Some more examples of ambiguous situations include, say, you lose your medical for whatever disqualifying reason, but are ambulatory. Does that mean in THEIR definition you are "able" to earn X, so if you choose to be a stay at home dad or mom, you're still "able" to earn and thus they can claim your disability (for plan purposes) can "no longer be verified" ? How about if they offer you a permanent AA ground job at your base ?

According to that, your benefits will be "suspended" in that situation. What if you decline ? Are you then again "able" to earn X, but choosing not to and would that be a loophole to deny a claim ?

Remember, this is an insurance company and if history is any teacher, what MIGHT look good in this plan may be a lot of smoke and mirrors. I think that during a 2-4 year duration, it might be more solid, but long-term, it is VERY questionable and IMO, anyone who assumes this is really a safety net until age 65 is fooling themselves.

That was an awfully long winded way of saying, "Yeah sorry, I was wrong about that..." ;)

Need it for more then a few years and see how wrong I am. :rolleyes:

This is a great discussion and having been on LTD at American ragle at one point am anxious to continue with sharing our knowledge of AAs' benefits and options.... Educating ourselves is the best defense. I'm a new hire here at AA and haven't chose a LTD plan yet... Keep the info coming

Pretty sure there is only one plan, and you are automatically enrolled. The APA does offer supplemental plan that pays on top of the company plan. That one however, does have a limit of 4 or 5 years... And you pay a small monthly premium for it too. Nothing paid for the company plan though...

Limit used to be 7 years for APA disability. Not sure if it's been reduced.