UNDERSTAND

The UW provides some employer-paid basic "term" life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance for its benefits-eligible employees. "Term" insurance has a low group premium and, unlike "whole life" insurance, has no cash value.

Note to temporary employees: Please see information about when temporary employees become eligible for insurance coverage.

Life Insurance

Life insurance provides a lump sum of money to beneficiaries upon death of the insured. It is intended to replace the deceased's loss of current and some future income, and may also be useful in estate planning. Beneficiaries will receive payments whether the insured dies of natural or accidental causes. Whether or not to purchase life insurance, and how much, is a personal choice based on what the person is trying to protect. Life insurance can help:

• replace the loss of future income;
• provide the ability for a spouse/partner to keep a home;
• allow a surviving partner to raise and educate children;
• provide income to an elder who relies on family for day-to-day support.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance

AD&D insurance provides a lump sum payment if death or dismemberment is the direct result of an accident. If the insured has both life and AD&D insurance and dies as the result of an accident, both coverages are paid to designated beneficiaries. An employee enrolled in AD&D insurance who becomes dismembered as a result of an accident will be the beneficiary of the claim. The employee is also the automatic beneficiary for any dependent claims. AD&D coverage never requires proof of good health, and can be added or dropped at any time. AD&D insurance has no cash value.

Coverage

Some life insurance is available (in Parts B, C and D shown in the chart below) regardless of health issues, as long as the eligible employee applies for coverage during the first 60 days of insurance eligibility. For amounts above the "automatic issue" limits, and for all life insurance requested after the 60-day window, eligible employees may need to provide evidence of insurability (EOI).

The University pays Part A premiums for $25,000 of employee life insurance and $5,000 of AD&D. All other insurances listed in this chart are those that eligible employees may elect to purchase.

Type of Term Insurance	Part	For:	Life Insurance Coverage	AD&D Insurance Coverage
Basic Life & AD&D (UW pays premiums)	Part A	Eligible Employee	$25,000	$5,000
Basic Life	Part B	Spouse/Qualified domestic partner (QDP) and/or Child(ren)	$2,500 Evidence of Insurability (EOI) is required if requested after first 60 days of eligibility.	N.A.
Basic Life	Part B	Unmarried dependent child(ren) between 14 days and 24 years old	$2,500	N.A.
Supplemental Spouse/SSDP Life	Part B Supplemental	Spouse or QDP (Requires Part B Basic)	Increments of $1,000, up to a maximum of one-half of the total Part C and Part D coverage that Employee elected for him/herself. After first 60 days of eligibility, or for coverage in excess of $25,000, it will be necessary to provide Evidence of Insurability (EOI).	N.A.
Optional Employee Life	Part C	Eligible Employee	During first 60 days Part C is "automatic issue". After 60 days, Evidence of Insurability (EOI) is required. Coverage for Part C is between 50-100% of your annual salary rounded up to the nearest $1,000.* (May be indexed to increase automatically with salary increases.)	N.A.
Supplemental Employee Life (in addition to Part C)	Part D	Eligible Employee	Up to $350,000 of coverage, in increments of $1,000. During first 60 days, up to $50,000 in Part D is without Evidence of Insurability (EOI). After 60 days, or for coverage in excess of $50,000, it will be necessary to provide EOI.	N.A.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment	Part E (w/dependents)	Eligible Employee	N.A.	Covers the employee for the face amount, & dependents for a percent of the face amount
Accidental Death & Dismemberment	Part E (w/of dependents)	Employee & eligible dependents)	N.A.	Covers the employee only - amounts from $25,000 to $250,000

*Annual salary for those with appointments less than 12 months is calculated at monthly salary x 12.

ACT

Determining Your Insurance Needs

The amount of insurance needed, if any, depends on individual circumstances. Many people find that as they get older they need less life insurance. If there are adequate retirement savings, the mortgage is paid, and children and elderly parents are financially independent, very little or no life insurance may be needed. However, life insurance may also play a role in estate planning, or in choosing retirement income options, depending on the health of the employee and/or dependents. Life insurance should be viewed in the context of the individual's total financial plans.

Determining insurance needs requires evaluating current and future assets as well as expenses such as:

• costs of staying in your home
• child care costs
• elder care costs
• college expenses
• education/training/re-training for a spouse or qualified domestic partner currently working at home
• costs of assisting a disabled family member

Providing Evidence of Insurability (EOI)

If you are:

• a newly-eligible employee who applies after the 60 day deadline for automatic-issue coverages, OR
• a benefits-eligible employee who applies for more insurance than is automatic-issue, OR
• a benefits-eligible employee who wants to increase coverage amounts at a later date.

Enrolling

1. Use the Life and AD&D Insurance Enrollment Form.
2. Indicate the amount of coverage you want for yourself and/or your dependents.
3. Complete the Evidence of Insurability Form if required for you and/or your spouse or qualified domestic partner.
4. Send the completed form(s) to Benefits & Work/Life.

Coverage which does not require review/approval by the insurance company will be effective the first day of the month after receipt of the form. If evidence of insurability is required, Benefits & Work/Life will forward your form to the insurance company, which will contact you directly if any additional information is needed. When evidence of insurability is required, coverage is not effective until the first of the month following the approval date.

Paying Premiums

The University pays the eligible employee's premiums for Basic Insurance, Part A (see chart above). You pay any additional insurances you elect.

See current Life Insurance Premiums.

Filing a Claim

Benefits & Work/Life files claims on behalf of you or your beneficiary. A certified copy of the death certificate is required for the claim.

LEARN MORE

Insurance During Leave or Layoff

If you are on leave or lay off status, you may self-pay your life insurance by paying the employee premium plus the UW's contribution. If you do not do so, you may be required to re-apply with evidence of insurability.

Insurance Conversion

If you apply within 31 days of termination (retirees have 60 days) and you have had coverage for at least 5 years, you may convert your group term life insurance to individual permanent whole life coverage. Note that AD&D cannot be converted. Evidence of insurability will not be required, but the individual rates are significantly higher than the group term rates.

Life and AD&D Insurance Plan Book and Certificate of Coverage

• Life & AD&D Insurance Plan Book and Certificate of Coverage
• Download any needed forms at Benefits & Work/Life’s forms website.

• uwhr@u.washington.edu |
• HR Contacts

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