Life and accidental death and dismemberment

What are basic and supplemental life and AD&D insurance?

Basic life and AD&D

The SEBB Program's benefits package includes the following basic (employer-paid) life and AD&D insurance coverage amounts for all eligible employees:

• $35,000 for basic life insurance
• $5,000 for basic AD&D insurance

Basic (employer-paid) life insurance covers the employee and pays their designated beneficiaries in the event of the employee's death. Basic AD&D insurance also covers the employee and provides extra benefits for certain injuries or death resulting from a covered accident.

Supplemental life and AD&D

Eligible employees may choose to purchase additional coverage, called supplemental life insurance and supplemental AD&D insurance. Employees who elect supplemental coverage for themselves may also elect supplemental coverage for their eligible dependents.

Note: Supplemental life and AD&D insurance is not available to school employees whose eligibility was locally negotiated under WAC 182-30-130.

*Guaranteed issue is the amount of life insurance coverage an eligible employee may elect for themselves and their spouse/SRDP within 31 days of becoming newly eligible or for their spouse/SRDP if a qualifying special open enrollment event occurs, without submitting evidence of insurability (EOI) to MetLife.
**Supplemental AD&D insurance never requires evidence of insurability.

Learn more about life and AD&D insurance benefits on the School employees website.

What are MetLife Advantages?

Employees enrolled in basic life and AD&D can take advantage of MetLife's comprehensive suite of services at no cost. They include beneficiary claim assistance, funeral discounts and planning, grief counseling, life settlement account, online will preparation, transition solutions, and travel assistance. Employees enrolled in supplemental life insurance also have access to in-person will preparation and estate resolution services. To learn more, see MetLife Advantages for SEBB employees and visit MetLife's website.

MetLife Advantages also include beneficiary support services, in partnership with Empathy, Inc., to help beneficiaries and their families cope with and plan for issues that follow the loss of a loved one. Learn more about Empathy services.

Enrolling in life and AD&D insurance

Newly eligible employees are automatically enrolled in basic life and AD&D insurance when eligibility is entered into the insurance system. Review the Benefits 24/7 manuals to learn about entering eligibility for an employee in the insurance system.

Eligible employees may choose to purchase additional coverage, called supplemental life and supplemental AD&D insurance. Employees who elect supplemental life insurance for themselves may also elect supplemental coverage for their eligible dependents.

Note: Supplemental life and AD&D insurance is not available to school employees whose eligibility was locally negotiated under WAC 182-30-130.

How do employees enroll in supplemental life and AD&D?

Employees have two options for enrolling in supplemental life and AD&D insurance:

1. Online through MetLife's MyBenefits portal, or
2. By completing the MetLife Enrollment/Change form and submitting the form directly to MetLife using the submission instructions listed on the form.
   • Employers do not collect or manage MetLife enrollment forms and should not submit forms on behalf of their employees. In addition, MetLife cannot accept bulk form submissions.

For a newly eligible employee to access MetLife's MyBenefits portal, the employee must be enrolled in Benefits 24/7 with a current coverage effective date.

• Once an employee is enrolled and their coverage becomes effective, an eligibility file is transferred from the Benefits 24/7 to MetLife. Pending eligibility/enrollment is not transferred to MetLife.
• The employee will be able to access the portal approximately two days after MetLife receives eligibility for the employee.

When can employees apply for or make changes to supplemental life and AD&D insurance?

Employees can apply for, make changes to, or cancel their supplemental life and AD&D insurance at any time throughout the year for themselves and their eligible dependents (spouse/SRDP and children). However, Evidence of insurability (EOI) may be required for carrier approval.

Supplemental life insurance

Employees may apply for up to the guaranteed issue amounts of supplemental life insurance without providing EOI:

• For themselves and their spouse/SRDP, no later than 31 days after the date they become newly eligible for SEBB benefits.
• For their eligible children at any time. EOI is never required for children.
• For their spouse/SRDP no later than 60 days after the date of marriage or state registration.

Employees who apply for supplemental life insurance coverage over the guaranteed issue amount for themselves or their spouse/SRDP within the above deadlines will be required to provide EOI. MetLife will contact the employee directly to initiate the EOI process. If the additional amount is denied, they will be enrolled in the guaranteed issue amount.

• For example: The guaranteed issue amount of supplemental life insurance for a newly eligible employee is $500,000 but an employee may request up to $1 million in coverage. If the employee elects an amount over $500,000 (up to $1 million), MetLife will require EOI for the amount requested over the guaranteed issue amount. If the employee's EOI is denied, they will still be enrolled in the guaranteed issue amount of life insurance coverage.

Employees who apply for or increase their employee or spouse/SRDP supplemental life insurance coverage amounts outside of the deadlines mentioned above, must provide EOI. EOI is never required to reduce or cancel coverage.

Supplemental AD&D insurance

Supplemental AD&D insurance never requires evidence of insurability. Employees can apply for, make changes to, or cancel coverage at any time for themselves and their eligible dependents.

When does coverage begin?

Employees who are newly eligible September 1 through the first day of school

• Basic life and AD&D begin on the first day of work for the new school year.
• Supplemental life and AD&D insurance begin on the first day of the month following the date MetLife receives the MetLife Enrollment/Change form or approves the enrollment.

Employees who are newly eligible or regaining eligibility at any other time of the year

• Basic life and AD&D begin on the first day of the month following the date the school employee becomes eligible. However, for employees who establish eligibility at any time in the month of August, coverage begins on September 1 only if the employee is also determined to be eligible for the school year that begins on September 1.
• Supplemental life and AD&D insurance begin on the first day of the month following the date MetLife receives the MetLife Enrollment/Change form, or if EOI is required, after MetLife approves the enrollment.

When are changes effective?

Enrolling in or increasing supplemental life coverage

• Requests to enroll in or increase supplemental life insurance outside of an eligible enrollment window are effective the first day of the month following the date MetLife approves the request. Once the MetLife Enrollment/Change form has been received, MetLife will contact the employee directly to initiate the EOI process.
  • Exception: A newborn child's supplemental life insurance coverage, if elected, will be effective on the date the child becomes 14 days old. EOI is never required for children.

Enrolling in or increasing supplemental AD&D coverage

• Requests to enroll in or increase supplemental AD&D insurance never require EOI and are effective the first day of the month following the date MetLife receives the MetLife Enrollment/Change form.
  • Exception: A newborn child's supplemental AD&D insurance coverage, if elected, will be effective on the date the child becomes 14 days old.

Reducing or cancelling supplemental life and/or AD&D insurance

• Requests to reduce or cancel supplemental life and/or AD&D insurance do not require EOI and are effective the first day of the month following the date MetLife receives the MetLife Enrollment/Change form or if cancelling coverage, the Cancellation of supplemental life and AD&D insurance form.

To learn more, review the Life and AD&D administration manual, and the Certificates of Coverage (COC):

• Life insurance:
  • Certificate of Coverage (COC) for employees who work at least 630 hours
  • Certificate of Coverage (COC) for employees who work less than 630 hours
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance:
  • Certificate of Coverage (COC) for employees who work at least 630 hours
  • Certificate of Coverage (COC) for employees who work less than 630 hours

 

Enrollment extension

When eligibility for a school employee is entered into the insurance system after the 31-day enrollment period or returning from FMLA or Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML), the benefits administrator (BA) should complete the Enrollment Extension form and submit it along with the employee’s MetLife Enrollment/Change form to MetLife for processing using the submission instructions at the bottom of the Enrollment/Change form.

Learn more about enrollment extension in the Life and AD&D administration manual.

Rates and premiums

The monthly basic life and AD&D insurance rate is $3.96 for the 2023 plan year and is included in the employer contribution paid by the employer for each eligible employee.

View the supplemental life and AD&D insurance rates on the School employees Life insurance premiums webpage.

School employee-paid supplemental life and AD&D insurance premiums will be billed to the school employee in one of three ways (depending on the billing method of each SEBB organization):

• Payroll Deduction Interface with MetLife
  • Payroll deduction is set up with MetLife. MetLife will share a file each pay period with the amount to be deducted from the school employee’s paycheck.
• List Billing
  • MetLife will create a List Bill using their standard template and fax to the applicable SEBB organizations. The deductions are taken from the School employees’ paychecks and any discrepancies are noted on list bill template. The List Bill template is returned to MetLife via fax with discrepancies noted (Example: billed amount shows $5.00 and SEBB organization deducted $0). Payment that matches the List Bill total is then sent to MetLife.
• Direct Billing
  • School employees will be sent a bill each month for their supplemental life insurance premiums. The invoice will be mailed on the 17th of each month. School employees may work with MetLife to set up auto-payment options.

Learn more about supplemental benefits billing on the Accounting and Training materials and recordings webpages.

Premium waiver

The premium waiver may be available if an employee becomes totally disabled. This option allows the employee to continue basic and supplemental life insurance for themselves and their dependents without premium payment through the period of disability. Members should contact MetLife customer service to request the waiver of premium paperwork.

Tips for assisting employees with calculating supplemental premiums

The rates for supplemental life and AD&D insurance are available on the School employees Life insurance premiums webpage.

Calculating supplemental life insurance premiums

For the employee and spouse/SRDP. The rate used to calculate the monthly premiums for supplemental life insurance for the employee and spouse/SRDP is based on:

• The employee's age as of December 31 of the previous plan year, and
• Whether the individual being covered uses tobacco.

Once the rate has been determined, calculate monthly supplemental life insurance premiums by multiplying the applicable rate by each $1,000 of coverage.

• For example, to calculate the monthly premium for an employee, age 42, who is a non-tobacco user, and is electing $350,000 in life insurance coverage, multiply ($0.088 x 350 = $30.80 per month).

To calculate the monthly premium for the employee's spouse/SRDP, use the rate based on the employee's age and the spouse/SRDP's tobacco use. Employees may elect up to one-half the amount of supplemental coverage for their spouse/SRDP that they have elected for themselves.

• For example, an employee, age 42, elects $175,000 in life insurance coverage for their spouse who is a tobacco user. To calculate the monthly premium for the spouse, multiply ($0.100 x 175 = $17.50 per month).

For Children. The rate used to calculate the monthly premium for supplemental life insurance for one or more children is $0.124.

This single rate applies even if more than one eligible child is covered.

• For example, an employee elects $20,000 in life insurance coverage for one child, the monthly premium would be ($0.124 x 20 = $2.48 per month).
• If an employee elects $20,000 in life insurance coverage for three children, the monthly premium would still be $2.48 per month.

Calculating supplemental AD&D insurance premiums

For the employee and spouse/SRDP. The rate used to calculate the monthly premiums for supplemental AD&D insurance for the employee and spouse/SRDP is $0.019.

Calculate monthly supplemental AD&D insurance premiums by multiplying the rate by each $1,000 of coverage.

• For example, to calculate the monthly premium for an employee (or spouse/SRDP) with $250,000 in AD&D insurance coverage, multiply ($0.019 x 250 = $4.75 per month).

For children. The rate used to calculate the monthly premium for supplemental AD&D insurance coverage for one or more children is $0.016. This single rate applies even if more than one eligible child is covered.

• For example, if an employee elects $25,000 in AD&D insurance coverage for one child, the monthly premium would be ($0.016 x 25 = $0.40 per month). If an employee elects $25,000 in AD&D insurance coverage for three children, the monthly premium would still be $0.40 per month.

Filing a claim

If an employee or their covered dependent dies or experiences a covered loss, the family or beneficiary should notify MetLife to initiate a claim, as soon as reasonably possible, by calling 1-833-854-9624.

Accelerated Benefits Option

If an employee or their spouse/SRDP becomes terminally ill and is diagnosed with 24 months or less to live, they have the option to receive up to 80 percent of their life insurance proceeds. This can go a long way towards helping their family meet medical and other expenses at a difficult time.

Learn more about the premium waiver, filing a claim, and the Accelerated Benefits Option in the Certificate of Coverage (COC) for employees who work at least 630 hours and the Certificate of Coverage (COC) for employees who work less than 630 hours.

Can employees continue life insurance coverage after employment ends?

Employees who lose eligibility for SEBB benefits may be eligible to port or convert their employee life insurance to an individual policy that is not tied to the SEBB Program.

If eligible, MetLife will mail a Portability and Conversion packet to the employee. However, terminations must be entered in the insurance system timely for MetLife to generate and mail the packet. Employees should contact MetLife at 1-833-854-9624 following their separation of employment if they do not receive a Portability and Conversion packet.

Learn more about portability and conversion options in the Certificate of Coverage (COC) for employees who work at least 630 hours and the Certificate of Coverage (COC) for employees who work less than 630 hours.