Optional Life Insurance
You must be enrolled in basic life insurance in order to be eligible for optional life insurance.
- New State Employees: You may enroll in optional life insurance within 10 days of employment without providing evidence of good health.
- Current Employees During the Year: State employees actively at work may apply for the first time or apply to increase their coverage at any time during the year. After you apply, you will receive instructions for completing a personal health application for MetLife’s review and approval. The GIC will determine the effective date if MetLife approves your application.
Current Employees with a Qualified Family Status Change
If you experience a qualified family status change during the year, you may enroll in or increase your optional life insurance amount without providing proof of good health. You must provide the GIC with proof of your status change within 60 days. Total optional life insurance coverage is limited to up to four times your salary.
Optional Life Insurance Non-Smoker Benefit
At initial enrollment or during Annual Enrollment, if you have been tobacco-free, you are eligible for reduced non-smoker optional life insurance rates. Tobacco-free means you have not smoked cigarettes, cigars or a pipe, used snuff or chewing tobacco or any nicotine delivery system for the previous 12 months. You will be required to periodically recertify your non-smoking status in order to qualify for the lower rates. Changes in smoking status made during Annual Enrollment take effect effective July 1, 2021.
Optional Life Insurance Rates (including AD&D)
MONTHLY GIC PLAN RATES EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2021
Per $1,000 of Coverage
| ACTIVE EMPLOYEE AGE |
NON-SMOKER RATE |
SMOKER RATE |
|---|---|---|
| Under Age 35 | $0.04 | $0.10 |
| 35-44 | $0.05 | $0.12 |
| 45-49 | $0.06 | $0.19 |
| 50-54 | $0.13 | $0.31 |
| 55-59 | $0.20 | $0.49 |
| 60-64 | $0.29 | $0.73 |
| 65-79 | $0.67 | $1.37 |
| 70 and over | $1.13 | $2.49 |
| RETIRED STATE EMPLOYEE AGE |
RETIREE SMOKER RATE |
RETIREE NON-SMOKER RATE |
|---|---|---|
| Under Age 70 | $1.62 | $1.29 |
| 70-74 | $2.83 | $2.17 |
| 75-79 | $7.72 | $5.90 |
| 80-84 | $14.63 | $11.16 |
| 85-89 | $23.17 | $17.69 |
| 90-94 | $32.22 | $26.89 |
| 95-99 | $72.57 | $58.72 |
| 100 and over | $139.14 | $112.59 |