Life Insurance

 MetLife Group Life Insurance administers the University of Louisville's life insurance benefit. Life insurance helps protect your family's standard of living, avoids leaving debt behind and provides security for years to come. If eligible (see eligibility requirements below), you are automatically enrolled in Basic Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance at no cost to you. The Basic Life Insurance Benefit is two times your annual salary up to a $200,000 maximum. For an additional cost, employees may purchase Supplemental Life and Dependent Life Insurance. Review the 2024 Benefits Guide to view life insurance rates.

Eligibility Requirements

Active employee must be full-time (regular status, 80% or greater) or  part-time (regular status, 40%-79%). If you elect dependent and/or spouse/qualifying adult coverage, you will be required to complete a Statement of Health.

Supplemental Life Insurance

The Supplemental Life portion of the plan provides additional protection for those who count on you financially. The need for level of coverage may vary depending on your financial situation, age, dependents, and your dependents age. Benefit options are available in various increments with the minimum benefit amount as $20,000 and the maximum benefit amount as $300,000.

If you are currently enrolled in Supplemental Life, you may increase your coverage by one level without a Statement of Health. Any additional level of coverage will require a Statement of Health.

If you are not currently enrolled in Supplemental Life, you may elect additional coverage during open enrollment. Regardless of level of coverage, a Statement of Health will be required. If you elect dependent and/or Spouse/Qualifying Adult coverage during Open Enrollment, you will be required to complete a Statement of Health. If you elect Supplemental Life requiring a Statement of Health, MetLife will mail a Statement of Health Enrollment Form to you after the close of open enrollment. If your coverage election requires a Statement of Health, coverage will not be effective until MetLife has approved.

Dependent Spouse / Qualifying Adult Life Insurance

If you are currently enrolled or newly enrolling in Supplemental Life, you may add a Spouse/Qualifying Adult for additional life insurance. Benefit options are available in level increments of $5,000 with the minimum benefit amount as $10,000 and the maximum benefit amount as the lesser of 50% of the employee Supplemental Life Benefit or a $25,000 maximum benefit. Regardless of level of coverage, a Statement of Health will be required by MetLife Group Life Insurance. No person may be insured as a Dependent of more than one employee.

Dependent Child Life Insurance Eligibility

For your child to be eligible for coverage, your child must:

  • Be 14 days to 1 year old for $500 or
  • 1 year old up to 26 years for $10,000 (over 26 years may be continued if the Dependent Child meets the Disabled Child requirements)

*Children NOT eligible for coverage:

  • No person can be insured as a dependent of more than one employee

Accelerated Benefit Option (ABO)

If you become terminally ill due to an injury or sickness, you or your legal representative have the option to request an ABO. For Basic Life Insurance, the ABO disbursement is up to 80% of the Basic Life amount not to exceed $160,000.  For Supplemental Life Insurance, the ABO disbursement is up to 80% of the Supplemental Life amount not to exceed $240,000.

Updating Beneficiaries

There are two different steps an employee may take to update their beneficiaries, depending on the type of change needed. Instructions on how to update beneficiaries may be found below and via Workday Training Resources. For additional information, please see below:

1. To change beneficiaries assigned to specific benefits plans, and the allocation percentage, please reference the Change Benefits for a Life Event quick reference guide (QRG).

2. To change beneficiaries outside of a benefit change event, to change details such as contact information or relationship type, please reference the Update Beneficiary Information quick reference guide (QRG).

Additional Services

Estate Planning & Resolution 

If you are insured for Supplemental Life Insurance coverage, the following Estate Resolution Services are provided at no additional cost.

Will Preparation 

If you are insured for Supplemental Life Insurance a Will Preparation Service is available to you, through a MetLife affiliate at no cost to you. It enables you to have a will prepared  for you and your spouse/Qualifying Adult by attorneys designated by the Affiliate. If you have a will prepared by an attorney not designated by the Affiliate, you must pay attorney's services directly. Upon proof of payment, you will be reimbursed in an amount equal to the lesser of the amount customarily reimbursed for such services by the Affiliate.

Will Preparation Service

Willscenter.com

Probate Services

If you are insured for Supplemental Life Insurance and die while coverage is in effect, a probate benefit will be available to your estate, through a MetLife affiliate.  Certain probate services are available, fee of no charge by attorneys designated by the Affiliate. If probate services are provided by an attorney not designated by the Affiliate, your estate must pay attorney services directly. Upon proof of payment, your estate will be reimbursed in an amount equal to the lesser of the amount customarily reimbursed for such services by the Affiliate.

Grief Counseling

To help you, your dependents, and your beneficiaries cope with loss

You, your dependents, and your beneficiaries have access to grief counseling1 sessions and funeral related concierge services to help cope with a loss — at no extra cost. Grief counseling services provide confidential and professional support during a difficult time to help address personal and funeral planning needs. At your time of need, you and your dependents have 24/7 access to a work/life counselor. You simply call a dedicated 24/7 toll-free number to speak with a licensed professional experienced in helping individuals who have suffered a loss. Sessions can either take place in-person or by phone. You can have up to five face-to-face grief counseling sessions per event to discuss any situation you perceive as a major loss, including but not limited to death, bankruptcy, divorce, terminal illness, or losing a pet.1 In addition, you have access to funeral assistance for locating funeral homes and cemetery options, obtaining funeral cost estimates and comparisons, and more. You can access these services by calling 1-888-319-7819 or log on to www.metlifegc.lifeworks.com (Username: metlife assist; Password: support).

Grief Counseling

Empathy Employee Slipsheet *

Empathy Beneficiary Claim Kit Flyer *

*Empathy is not an affiliate of MetLife, and the services Empathy provides are separate and apart from the insurance provided by MetLife. This program is available to beneficiaries, and insureds who are terminally ill and eligible to accelerate life proceeds under MetLife's Accelerated Benefit Option. Not available on all policy forms or in all jurisdictions.”


Funeral Planning

Ensuring your final wishes are honored

As a MetLife group life policyholder, you and your family may have access to funeral discounts, planning and support to help honor a loved one’s life — at no additional cost to you. Dignity Memorial provides you and your loved ones access to discounts of up to 10% off of funeral, cremation and cemetery services through the largest network of funeral homes and cemeteries in the United States.

When using a Dignity Memorial Network you have access to convenient planning services — either online at www.finalwishesplanning.com, by phone (1-866-853-0954), or by paper — to help make final wishes easier to manage.You also have access to assistance from compassionate funeral planning experts to help guide you.

Download this helpful Funeral Planning Guide at https://www.metlife.com/funeralplanning/funeral-guide/.

Additional Resources

Life Insurance Definitions & FAQ

Review our Life Insurance FAQ webpage to learn more about definitions and other questions related to Life Insurance.

Taxable Income

Current federal tax law permits employees to exclude from taxable gross income the University's cost of providing the first $50,000 of group-term life insurance coverage. However, the value of university-provided group life insurance in excess of $50,000 is treated as taxable (imputed) income. The taxable cost of this group term life insurance is computed on the basis of uniform premium rates determined by the Internal Revenue Service based on the employee's age.

Travel Assistance

MetLife selected AXA Assistance USA, Inc. to be the administrator for Travel Assistance services. This service helps intervene in medical emergencies in foreign countries. In addition, AXA administers assistance services when a covered employee or dependent becomes ill or injured while traveling 100 miles or more away from home. Travel Assistance Services

Plan Documents

MetLife Active Employee Certificate of Coverage

MetLife Retiree Certificate of Coverage

Certificate Rider (update effective May 1, 2020)

Policy Endorsement (update effective May 1, 2020)

MetLife Group Life Insurance Contact Information

Mailing:
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company - Group Life Claims
PO Box 6100
Scranton, PA 18505-6100

Phone: 1-800-638-6420