Basic Group Term Life Insurance for Excluded Employees

An employer-paid Basic Group Term Life Insurance Plan is provided to active State employees who are designated managers, supervisors, confidential, and other specified excluded employees. Employees designated supervisory and confidential have $25,000 of basic insurance coverage and employees designated exempt and managerial have $50,000 coverage.

Please contact California Department of Human Resources, Benefits Division – (916) 324-0533 for more information.

Accelerated Benefit Option

An Accelerated Benefit Option is an important feature included in the basic and supplemental plans. If you are diagnosed as terminally ill with only a six month life expectancy, you may elect to receive up to seventy percent of the face value of the policy with a service charge of four percent of the amount paid.

Another plan feature is the assignment of insurance policy ownership. Both your basic as well as any supplemental life insurance purchased can be assigned by gift or to a viatical settlement provider for viatical purposes.

More Information

Contact MetLife directly at 1-800-252-8524.

Beneficiary Designation

CalPERS and departmental beneficiary designations do not apply to life insurance benefits payable under the Metropolitan Life Insurance (MetLife) program. Life insurance benefits will be paid according to the standard order of beneficiary as follows:

to the surviving spouse/domestic partner, if none, then
to the surviving natural and/or adopted children, if none, then
to the surviving parents, if none, then
to the estate

Benefits will be paid equally among surviving children or surviving parents. Family status changes, such as divorce and remarriage are automatically adjusted provided you have not designated a beneficiary other than above.

If you wish to designate a beneficiary other than the standard order stated above, you must request a beneficiary form from MetLife at 1-800-252-8524. You must return the completed form to MetLife. Upon receipt of the completed form, MetLife will record and retain the original in your file. A signed copy will be returned to you for your records. This designation will not change with marriage, divorce, or any other family status changes. You must complete a new designation form if their family status change alters their desired beneficiaries.

Conversion Privilege

The basic and supplemental plan includes a Conversion Privilege. With this, you can:

convert to an individual policy in the event they lose eligibility status,
take a leave of absence, or
separate from State service.

This conversion will provide for coverage up to the face amount of the group policy. When you retire, you can make arrangements with MetLife to have premiums deducted from your CalPERS check. You must call MetLife at 1-800-252-8524 within 31 days of retiring.

Enrollment

When you move into an eligible classification, enrollment in the State-paid basic life insurance is automatic. Once the deduction code is established, the carrier (MetLife) will mail a packet of information to you.

Supplemental Life Insurance

You can apply for supplemental life insurance anytime by calling MetLife at 1-800-252-8524. They will answer questions and send you an application.

Cancellation

If you do not want this State-paid benefit, you must complete a Life Insurance Enrollment Authorization Form 698 to cancel the basic life insurance coverage.

Reporting a Death

Department personnel offices are responsible for immediately reporting the death of a covered employee to MetLife Insurance Company at 1-800-252-8524. The person reporting the death must have the following information available:

Employee name
Bargaining unit affiliation
Social Security Number
Date of birth
Date of death
Marital or registered domestic partner status
Cause of death (if known), name, address, and phone number of next of kin on file, along with the name, department, and phone number of the person reporting of death
Claim number will always be Policy No. 74503

Employees are responsible for reporting the death of a covered spouse, registered domestic partner, or dependent directly to MetLife.

Supplemental Life Insurance

Having basic group term life insurance allows you the opportunity to take advantage of the state’s group purchasing power by securing significant amounts of voluntary supplemental life insurance at a competitive rate. You may elect coverage amounts in $10,000 increments up to eight (8) times your basic annual earnings, not to exceed $750,000.

Eligibility

You must be an active designated manager, supervisor, confidential, or specified excluded employee and have state paid basic group life insurance.

How to Know if you are Enrolled in the State Paid Basic Group Term Life Insurance Plan

Under the “employer contribution” section of your pay warrant/direct deposit advice you will see LIFE INS and a premium amount paid by the state. If you do not see LIFE INS, then you are not enrolled in the Basic Group Term Life Insurance plan. If you feel you should be enrolled, please contact your departmental personnel office.

Enrollment

You can enroll in supplemental life insurance at any time.

Age	Monthly Premium
Under 25	$0.60
25 to 29	$0.64
30 to 34	$0.78
35 to 39	$0.85
40 to 44	$1.05
45 to 49	$1.50
50 to 54	$2.22
55 to 59	$4.02
60 to 64	$6.09
65 to 69	$11.58
70 to 74	$18.69
75 and Older	$20.75

If you choose to enroll, your monthly premium will automatically be deducted from your payroll warrant.

Administration Fee

In addition to the monthly premium, there is a $0.50 administrative fee.

Leave of Absence (LOA)

You must contact Metropolitan Life Insurance (MetLife) within 30 days of the effective date of the LOA to make a direct payment or coverage will be cancelled.

Return from Leave of Absence

If you made direct payments while on a LOA, then premiums will be deducted from regular pay upon return from the LOA. If your coverage was canceled during the LOA, you must contact MetLife to re-apply for coverage.

Loss of Eligibility

If you are no longer an eligible employee your coverage will continue unless you contact MetLife to terminate coverage.

Separation from State Employment

Please contact MetLife should you wish to convert your coverage to an individual plan.

Retirement

If you wish to continue your supplemental life insurance, you must contact MetLife within 30 days of retirement.

Beneficiary

CalPERS and departmental beneficiary designations do not apply to life insurance benefits payable under the MetLife plan. Life insurance benefits will be paid according to the standard order of beneficiaries, unless you complete and submit the MetLife Beneficiary Designation form to MetLife. Remember to retain a copy for your records.

Cancellation

You can cancel your supplemental insurance plan at any time by contacting MetLife.

Additional Life Insurance – Dependent Coverage

If you purchased $20,000 or more in supplemental life insurance, you can purchase additional life insurance for your spouse or domestic partner and/or dependent children up to age 23.

Cost for Dependent Life Insurance:

Flat Monthly Cost of Coverage

Spouse or Domestic Partner	Child(ren)	Employee under 65	Employee over 65
$7,500	$7,500	$1.85	$7.25
$15,000	$7,500	$3.71	$14.51
$25,000	$7,500	$6.18	$24.18
$50,000	$7,500	$12.35	$48.35

Insurance Carrier

Metropolitan Life Insurance (MetLife)
Policy number 74503

For information, contact:
MetLife Customer Service
(800) 252-8524
https://www.metlife.com/soc/

Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. PT
(excluding holidays)

CalHR Customer Service
lifeinsurance@calhr.ca.gov

Forms

MetLife Supplemental Enrollment & Beneficiary Designation

Mail forms to:
MetLife Recordkeeping Center
P.O. Box 14402
Lexington, KY 40512-4402