Human Resources

Voluntary Life Plan

Standard Insurance Company

Who is eligible?  If you are an active employee, regularly working at least 20 hours each week, other than a temporary or seasonal employee, or any full-time member of a country's armed forces, you are eligible to apply for coverage as a group member.

For coverage to become effective, members must complete any required waiting period and satisfy applicable evidence of insurability requirements.  Members must also be actively at work (performing the material duties of your own occupation at your employer's usual place of business.)

How much insurance may I purchase for myself?  If you are an eligible employee as described above, you may apply for insurance coverage for yourself in increments of $10,000, from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $300,000, but not to exceed 6 times your annual earnings.

May I purchase insurance for my spouse/partner?  If you become insured, you can apply to purchase insurance for your spouse/partner in increments of $10,000 up to $300,000.  You cannot, however, purchase more insurance for you spouse/partner than for yourself.  (Spouses/partners may not be insured as dependents if they are insured as members)

May I purchase insurance for my dependent children?  If you become insured, you can apply to purchase insurance for your dependent children in amounts of $2,000. $5,000 or $10,000.  All your children will be insured for the same amount.  Children may not be insured by more than one member.

Note:  Subject to state variations, dependent children eligible for coverage are defined as unmarried natural or adopted children, or unmarried stepchildren living in your home.  Dependent children may be covered from live birth through age 21, or through age 25 if registered full-time students.  Dependents who are full-time members of the armed forces of any country are not eligible for coverage.

What is guarantee issue?  If you apply for insurance during your initial 31-day enrollment period and meet the Group Policy's active work requirement, you will automatically qualify for a set amount of insurance coverage called guarantee issue.  This means that you will not have to answer medical questions to purchase coverage up to the guarantee issue amount during this period. 

If you apply to cover your dependents within 31 days of becoming eligible for dependents life insurance, your spouse/partner will also qualify for a limited amount of insurance (guarantee issue) without answering medical questions.

The guarantee issue amounts are for employees is $100,000.  The guarantee issue amount for spouse/partner is $20,000.00 and for dependent child(ren) is $10,000.

What if I want more than the guarantee issue amounts, or if I want to purchase insurance after the initial eligibility period?  Applications for insurance over the guarantee issue amounts, or made beyond the first 31 days of eligibility, are subject to evidence of insurability requirements.  Providing evidence of insurability means that, at a minimum, applicants must complete and sign a medical history statement.  Some applicants may be requested to submit additional medical information or to a physical exam which may include blood testing and urinalysis.  Contact Staff Benefits for the proper forms.

When does insurance go into effect?  If your application is approved, Standard Insurance will send you a certificate that tells you the scheduled effective date of your insurance.  If sickness, injury, or pregnancy prevent you from working the day before this date, insurance won't go into effect until the day after you complete one full day of active work as an eligible member.  The same rule applies to an increase in your insurance.

What if I leave employment?  You may be eligible to take your coverage with you if you leave and still gain the advantages of competitive group rate.  This provision of the plan is know as continuation of coverage or portability.  If continuation of coverage is approved, then dependents coverage can also be continued.

What if my insurance ends?  If your insurance ends or is reduced, you may be able to convert coverage to an individual life insurance policy without submitting a medical history statement. (evidence of insurability).

How are benefits paid?  Standard pays benefits of $10, 000 or more to beneficiaries by depositing funds into convenient, no fee, interest-bearing draft accounts.  Each beneficiary receives a personalized checkbook and has complete control of the account.  Beneficiaries can write checks as needed or for the full amount.

If the amount payable is less than $10,000, it is paid in a lump sum.

Are there any exclusions to the voluntary group life insurance plan?  If you or a covered dependent die as a result of suicide or other intentionally self-inflicted injury, while sane or insane, the amount payable will exclude any life insurance that has not been continuously in effect for at least two years on the date of death.

When does coverage end?  Your life insurance coverage automatically ends on the earliest of these dates:

The date the last period ends for which you made a premium contribution.
The date the group policy ends.
The date your employer's participation under the group policy terminates.
The date your employment terminates (unless you are approved for continuation of insurance [Portability]).
The last date of the calendar month in which you cease to be an eligible member of the plan.

Life insurance coverage for your dependents automatically ends on the earliest of these dates:

The date you die.
The date your life insurance ends.  However, if your life insurance ends because your employment with your employer terminates, you may have the right to continue your dependents life insurance under the continuation of insurance (Portability) provision.
The date the last period ends for which you made a premium contribution for dependents life insurance.
The date your employer's participation under the group policy for dependents life insurance ceases.
For your spouse/partner, the date of your divorce or separation/dissolution of partnership for partners.
For any dependent, the date the dependent ceases to be a dependent.
For a disabled child, 90 days after we mail you a request for proof of disabled child status, if proof not given.
   
 
MONTHLY COST PER $10,000 OF BENEFIT AMOUNT:  
     
MEMBER OR DEPENDENT SPOUSE/PARTNER:
Age (as of Jan. 1)   Monthly Rate Bi-weekly Rate
0 - 29 0.74 0.37
30 - 34 0.80 0.40
35 - 39 1.04 0.52
40 - 44 1.68 0.84
45 - 49 2.94 1.47
50 - 54 4.52 2.26
55 - 59 7.66 3.83
60 - 64 9.14 4.57
65 - 69 17.38 8.69
70 - 74 30.94 15.47
75 - 79 45.82 22.91
80 - 89 83.70 41.85
90 - up 211.42 105.71

CHILD(REN):  $.40 FOR $2,000, $1.00 FOR $5,000, $2.00 FOR $10,000 under age 21 and residing in the home full time or maximum age of 25 if attending school full time.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Staff Benefits at 237-8082.

Voluntary Life booklet
Medical Application - Use when application is made after the first 31 days of employment or when coverage         amount requested is over the guaranteed amount

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