Optional Life Insurance

Optional Life Premiums- different premiums for employees than for spouses/same-gender domestic partners (SGDPs)
Employees may apply for employee or spouse/SGDP coverage anytime throughout the year. Apply using the online Benefits Administration System (BAS) .
Employees may apply for coverage upto $500,000; spouses/SGDPs up to $250,000; dependent children (up to 26th birthday) for $5000 or $10,000 amounts; also includes accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
New employees may elect coverage for themselves up to $100,000, and spouses/SGDPs up to $30,000, without having to prove good health, also called evidence of insurability (EOI) or a medical history statement. Coverage beyond these amounts require EOI. Certain events such as marriage or birth will not require EOI up to these amounts.
EOI is completed as part of the enrollment process; Optional child life does not require EOI.
An employee must be approved for coverage before spouse/SGDP and child life coverage can be approved.
Spouse / SGDP coverage cannot be more than half the amount of employee coverage.
Coverage provided by Minnesota Life.

Resources & Tools

Certificate of Coverage - from Minnesota Life; explains coverage, plan provisions, exclusions and limitations
Policy Number for State-paid Basic and Employee-paid Supplemental Life/AD& D Insurance - 33780-G
Dedicated Customer Service Line for Minnesota Life - 1-877-828-7728, for questions on claims, evidence of insurability forms, coverage, portability and conversion
Examples of Beneficiary Designations - different scenarios involving primary and contingent beneficiaries
Information on Portability of Life Insurance (updated 11/09) - how to apply for coverage, Q&As, premium rates, applications, customer service number for questions, comparison of Portability with Conversion
Information on Conversion of Life Insurance - how to apply for coverage, Q&As, premium rates, applications, customer service number for questions
PERA-Sponsored Life Insurance

More Benefits Information
HealthLine   - The Employee Benefits Newsletter
Insurance Premiums
Enroll/Change Your Benefits - link to State's online Benefits Administration System (BAS)
Your department's HR/Benefits personnel
Instructions for Online Enrollment
What do "Pre-tax" and "After tax" mean?
Glossary of Insurance Terms
Forms
Salary Reduction Plan

For more information about Benefits contact the DPA Benefits Unit .