NCL Open Enrollment 2026
Enroll by November 30, 2026.
Open enrollment runs October 1 through November 30, 2026.
Open enrollment is underway for Local 181 members. This year's NCL materials introduce Hospital Indemnity coverage and Empathy family support, along with the January 1, 2027 Short-Term Disability transition from MetLife to The Standard. Review the benefits and changes below and enroll by November 30.
Life Insurance and additional NCL benefits enroll separately from Short-Term Disability. Use the website and phone number for the program you want.
Life Insurance & Additional NCL Benefits
Local 181 provides every member with $5,000 of Basic Life Insurance and $5,000 of Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage at no cost through the National Coalition of Labor. This basic coverage ends when you retire.
During open enrollment, you can purchase supplemental Life Insurance with guaranteed acceptance, no medical exam and no health questions.
- For you: up to $400,000 in Life Insurance, available in $10,000 increments.
- For your spouse: up to $100,000, available in $10,000 increments.
- For each child: up to $15,000, covering children from birth to age 26.
- Keep supplemental coverage through retirement: coverage can stay with you up to age 75.
- Benefits are paid tax-free to your family.
Rates depend on age. As an example, a 30-year-old can purchase $400,000 of Life Insurance for about $36 per month. See the enrollment website for your rates and plan details.
Optional AD&D coverage doubles the payout for accidental death and also pays for certain serious injuries. AD&D coverage costs $0.50 per month per $10,000 for you, your spouse and children.
Empathy support is included with Basic or Supplemental Life coverage. It helps families with funeral planning, closing accounts and grief resources after a loss.
Other Optional Benefits Available During Enrollment
- Hospital Indemnity: cash paid directly to you for covered hospital stays due to illness, accident or surgery, including childbirth and inpatient mental health or substance use treatment. Benefits include $1,100 for the first hospital day, $1,200 for critical care admission, then $100 per day or $200 per day in critical care, up to 90 days.
- Critical Illness: a lump sum after a covered diagnosis, such as cancer, heart attack or stroke. Member benefit options are $10,000 or $20,000; spouse and child options are $5,000 or $10,000.
- Accident: cash benefits when you or a covered family member is injured on or off the job, including covered emergency or urgent care visits, stitches, broken bones, follow-up care and rehabilitation.
- Wellness benefit: Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness and Accident each pay $50 per covered family member, per year, for a routine health or dental screening.
How to Enroll in Life & NCL Benefits
Visit NCLenrollment.com or call Kocher Insurance Group at (888) 212-7822, weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Online enrollment takes about five minutes.
Short-Term Disability
Short-Term Disability helps replace income when a covered injury, illness, surgery or pregnancy keeps you from working, whether it happens on or off the job.
- Choose $250 or $500 per week in tax-free benefits, paid directly to you.
- Benefits begin on day 15 after a 14-day waiting period and can be paid for up to 24 weeks or until you return to work.
- Available to members in good standing who are actively working. No medical questions or exams are required during open enrollment.
- New coverage starts January 1, 2027.
- Rates depend on your age and state. Monthly rates start at $14.50 for the $250 weekly benefit and $29 for the $500 weekly benefit. Rates are guaranteed for two years, subject to final premium confirmation.
Covered disabilities can include injuries, surgery and recovery, serious illness, mental health conditions, pregnancy and childbirth. Additional features include Health Advocacy during a claim, partial benefits when returning to work part-time and a 90-day recovery window. Benefits are in addition to Workers' Compensation or union Short-Term Disability benefits. See the flyer for full benefit details.
Example: if a covered disability keeps you off work for 12 weeks and you have the $500 weekly benefit, the two-week waiting period is followed by 10 paid weeks, totaling $5,000.
Already Enrolled?
On January 1, 2027, the Short-Term Disability program moves from MetLife to The Standard. Members already enrolled transfer automatically with no gap in coverage.
Important Coverage Details
- During the first 12 months of coverage, no benefit is paid for disability due to a pre-existing condition.
- Members who enroll after November 30 face a 60-day waiting period for illness and pregnancy claims during their first year. Accidents are not affected by this late-enrollment change.
- Residents of Colorado, Florida, Idaho, New Mexico and Washington require an extraterritorial filing and cannot be covered until it is approved.
How to Enroll in Short-Term Disability
Visit groupba.com, register and navigate to NCL Open Enrollment, or call (866) 979-1422.
Flyers & Downloads
Read or print the detailed Local 181 flyers for benefit information and plan disclosures. Select either flyer image to open its printable PDF.
View / Print Flyer (PDF) · Original Image (PNG)
View / Print Flyer (PDF) · Original Image (PNG)
Enrollment Posters
- Life Insurance poster: View / Print PDF · Original PNG
- Short-Term Disability poster: View / Print PDF · Original PNG
Plan details: This page is a summary of benefits. Eligibility, exclusions and policy terms apply; the group policy governs. All premiums are subject to final confirmation.
Short-Term Disability is entirely member-paid and underwritten by Standard Insurance Company, Portland, Oregon, in all states except New York. Life Insurance, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity are underwritten by ReliaStar Life Insurance Company, a Voya company. Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity are limited benefit policies, not health insurance. Empathy is a support service, not insurance.