Sentinel Solutions530 Fifth Avenue11th FloorNew York, NY 10036212-536-6150cschneider@sentinelsolutions.comwww.sentinelsolutions.com

Group Disability Insurance

December 03, 2012

If a disabling illness or injury were to prevent you fromworking for weeks, months, or even years, how wouldyou support yourself and your family? If disabilitystrikes, you may discover that your most valuableasset isn't your home or your savings--it's your abilityto earn a living. Fortunately, group disability insurancecan help protect you. Whether it's offered throughyour employer, school, trade group, or anotherassociation to which you belong, group disabilityinsurance is an affordable solution to your need forincome protection.

What is group disability insurance?Like other types of disability insurance, groupdisability insurance pays you a benefit that replacespart of your earned income when you're sick orinjured and can no longer work. A group disabilitypolicy covers all eligible members of a group that hasa common interest or association, and may offerspecial terms, conditions, and rates.

Short-term and long-termThere are two major types of group disabilitycoverage: short-term and long-term.

Short-term disability insurance plans generally paybenefits for several months, or occasionally as longas 2 years. In the case of employer-sponsoredcoverage, benefits often start once you exhaust yoursick leave.

Long-term disability insurance plans may pay benefitsfor several years, or until age 65, and may becoordinated with benefits from a short-term plan sothat your disability coverage is continuous.

Ideally, you'll want to have both types of coverage.While it's true that short-term disabilities are morecommon, long-term disabilities can be even morefinancially devastating.

Group disability features• Group disability insurance is often more affordable

than individual disability income insurance.• You may pay the entire premium cost, or if

coverage is offered through your employer, youremployer may pay all or part of the cost.

• Group disability insurance often has flexibleunderwriting. During initial or open enrollmentperiods, you may not have to pass a physical.Some plans even cover disabilities related to apre-existing condition, although a waiting periodtypically applies.

• Your premiums may go up periodically. Manygroup plans typically guarantee premiums for acertain period (e.g., 1 to 5 years), but mayincrease rates at the end of that period for theentire group.

• Plans may include certain base benefits, with theoption to add on other benefits at an additionalcost.

• "You can't take it with you" is a phrase thattypically applies to employer-sponsored groupdisability coverage; when you leave your job, yourgroup disability coverage will end. In addition, youusually can't convert group disability to anindividual disability policy.

• Group disability benefits will generally be reducedby payments you receive from workers'compensation, Social Security. and othergovernment programs.

• Benefits you receive may or may not be taxable,depending on who pays the premiums. Generally,if either you or your employer pays the premiumusing pretax dollars, then benefits you receive willbe taxable. Consult a tax professional for moreinformation.

• Group disability can supplement benefits youreceive from an individual disability income policy(a total benefit limit may apply).

Page 1 of 2, see disclaimer on final page

Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2012

Securities, Investment Advisory Services and Financial Planning Services through qualified Registered Representatives of

MML Investors Services, LLC., Member SIPC. Supervisory Office: 530 Fifth Ave., 14th Fl. ? New York, NY 10036 ? 212.536.6000

Sentinel Solutions, Inc. is not an affiliate or subsidiary of MML Investors Services, LLC or its affiliated companies.

Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. does not provide investment, tax, or legal advice. The information presented here is notspecific to any individual's personal circumstances.

To the extent that this material concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by a taxpayer for the purposeof avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law. Each taxpayer should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or herindividual circumstances.

These materials are provided for general information and educational purposes based upon publicly available information from sources believedto be reliable—we cannot assure the accuracy or completeness of these materials. The information in these materials may change at any timeand without notice.

Group disability coverage: what tolook forUnderstanding your disability coverage is important.Here are 4 major points to consider when reviewing agroup disability plan:

Benefit period

How long will you receive benefits once you becomedisabled? Typical benefit periods for long-term plansare 2 years, 5 years, or up to age 65, while typicalbenefit periods for short-term plans are 13 weeks or26 weeks (some plans may offer benefits for up to 2years). Policies may further limit the amount of timeyou can receive benefits due to alcoholism, drugaddiction, or a mental, nervous, or emotional disorder.

Elimination period

How long will you have to wait once you becomedisabled before you begin receiving benefits?Elimination periods (sometimes called "waitingperiods") for long-term disability plans range from 30to 180 days, while elimination periods for short-termdisability plans generally range from 1 to 14 days.

Level of coverage

What percentage of your income will the disabilitypolicy cover? Disability policies typically pay a benefitequal to 50 to 70% of your gross monthly base salary.A monthly maximum benefit may apply.

Definition of disability

How does the plan define disability? To receivebenefits, you generally must be under the care of adoctor because of illness or accidental injury thatimpairs your ability to work either in "your ownoccupation" (your regular job) or in "any occupation"for which you might be qualified, based on education,experience, training, and past earnings. Some groupdisability plans incorporate the two definitions, payingbenefits for an initial period (generally 2 years) basedon the "own occupation" definition, then continuing topay benefits if you meet the "any occupation"definition of disability. Some plans may cover partialdisabilities, while others will require that you be totallydisabled to receive benefits.

Most people don't expectto become disabled, butyour risk may be greaterthan you think.

Are you really protected?

Many people believe theyalready have adequatedisability coverage throughworkers' compensation orSocial Security, but that'snot always the case. Hereare the facts:

• Workers' compensationpays benefits only toworkers who aredisabled on the job; ifyou suffer an accident orillness that is non-workrelated, you will notreceive disabilitybenefits under thisprogram.

• Social Security disabilityinsurance provideslong-term disabilitybenefits, but eligibilityrules are strict. Toqualify, you must beunable to work at anyjob (not just your ownjob) and your disabilitymust be expected to lastfor at least 12 months orend in death.

Page 2 of 2