Life insurance

Basic life and AD&D insurance

You are automatically enrolled in these benefits, even if you waive medical coverage. You do not need to provide evidence of insurability (proof of good health). There is no cost for this coverage.

• Basic life insurance covers you and pays your designated beneficiaries in the event of your death.
• Basic AD&D insurance provides extra benefits for certain injuries or death resulting from a covered accident.

These benefits provide:

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

Supplemental life and AD&D insurance

You may enroll in supplemental life and supplemental AD&D insurance for yourself and your dependents. You pay for this coverage. See life insurance premiums.

Employees must enroll in supplemental life insurance to enroll dependents in supplemental life insurance. Employees must enroll in supplemental AD&D insurance to enroll dependents in supplemental AD&D insurance.

Note: Supplemental life and supplemental 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 coverage an employee may select when initially eligible for coverage within the required enrollment deadlines, without submitting evidence of insurability to MetLife.

Supplemental life insurance

• Employees: Increments of $10,000 up to $500,000 guaranteed issue, up to a maximum of $1,000,000 with evidence of insurability.
• Spouse or state-registered domestic partner: Increments of $5,000 up to $100,000 guaranteed issue, up to a maximum of $500,000 with evidence of insurability. Coverage cannot exceed 50% of employee's supplemental life insurance.
• Children (age 14 days up to 26 years): Increments of $5,000 up to $20,000 with no evidence of insurability.

Supplemental AD&D insurance

Supplemental AD&D insurance never requires evidence of insurability, and you can apply at any time.

• Employees: Increments of $10,000 up to $250,000.
• Spouse or state-registered domestic partner: Increments of $10,000 up to $250,000.
• Children (age 14 days up to 26 years): Increments of $5,000 up to $25,000. 

When can I enroll in supplemental life insurance?

You may enroll in supplemental life insurance anytime. The guaranteed issue amounts are available without submitting evidence of insurability to MetLife when you enroll no later than:

• 31 days after the date you become eligible for SEBB benefits.
• 60 days after the date of marriage or state domestic partnership registration.
• 60 days after the birth or adoption of a child. A newly born child must be at least 14 days old before supplemental dependent life insurance coverage is effective.
  • Once you have enrolled one child in dependent life insurance, each additional child you enroll will be covered for the same amount on the date that child becomes eligible as defined in the certificate of coverage.
• 60 days after a child becomes eligible as an extended dependent through legal custody or legal guardianship.

If you apply for or change your supplemental life insurance coverage amounts after of the deadlines, you must provide evidence of insurability to MetLife for approval, regardless of the coverage amount requested.

Requests for coverage over the guaranteed issue amount submitted within the above deadlines will require evidence of insurability only for the amount over the guaranteed issue. If the additional amount is denied, the enrollee will be covered for the guaranteed issue amount.

How do I enroll?

Enroll online using MetLife's MyBenefits portal. If you have questions about enrollment or need to request paper forms, contact MetLife. Note: It can take up to 30 days to process the MetLife enrollment/change form.

Can I waive?

You cannot waive basic life and basic AD&D insurance. However, you have two options if you object to this coverage:

• You can name a charity as your beneficiary.
• On your enrollment form, you can leave the beneficiary information blank. Tell your family and anyone who might be handling your estate not to file a claim on your death. If you choose not to identify a beneficiary, the benefit amount will be turned over to the state as abandoned property.

FAQs

Can I continue my life insurance coverage after employment ends?

If you are eligible for portability or conversion due to termination or other reasons, MetLife will send you information and an application. When porting or converting your employee life insurance, your coverage will become an individual policy that is not tied to the SEBB Program. Call MetLife at 1-833-854-9624 following your separation of employment if you do not receive a portability and conversion application.

Portability Provision

Under the Portability Provision, you can apply to continue all or part of your active employee basic life, supplemental life, and dependent life insurance.

You must be actively enrolled and apply within 60 days from when your coverage ended to have the opportunity to continue your coverage through portability.

Dependent child and spouse or state-registered domestic partner life insurance may be continued, even if you choose not to continue your life insurance.

Any amount of life insurance not ported may be converted.

Conversion of Life Insurance Provision

You may apply to convert your basic life, supplemental life, spouse or state-registered domestic partner, or dependent child life insurance to an individual policy. The amount of the individual policy will be equal to (or, if you choose, less than) the amount of life insurance you or your insured dependents had on the termination date of the policy you are converting.

You have 60 days to apply for conversion coverage after your SEBB employee life insurance ends.

How do I cancel my supplemental coverage?

Submit the MetLife's cancellation of supplemental life and AD&D insurance form or call MetLife. 

For dependents who are no longer eligible due to events such as divorce or a child turning age 26, notice should be provided to MetLife as soon as possible to avoid overpayment of premiums and loss of eligibility for portability or conversion of coverage. Note: MetLife is unable to pay a claim for a dependent who has lost eligibility, even if MetLife was not provided timely notification of the loss of eligibility.

Is there an accelerated benefit for life insurance coverage?

Yes, our basic and supplemental life insurance plans have an accelerated benefits option. If a subscriber becomes terminally ill and is expected to die within 24 months, they can request to receive a portion of their life insurance benefit before their death. See the Life Insurance Certificate of Coverage for details.

What are MetLife Advantages?

Learn about MetLife Advantages.

Employees enrolled in basic life and basic AD&D insurance can take advantage of additional services at no cost. They include beneficiary claim assistance, funeral discounts and planning, grief counseling, digital estate planning, online will preparation, transition solutions, and travel assistance.

Additionally, employees enrolled in supplemental life insurance can take advantage of will preparation and estate resolution services at no additional cost.