Basic Life Insurance

Life insurance protects your family from a loss of income in the event of your death. If you die, the person you designate as the receiver of the benefits (known as a beneficiary) will get a sum of money. The actual amount varies based on how much you earn at the University. This group term life insurance is offered through the University to help protect your family’s financial wellbeing in case you die unexpectedly.

You can also purchase additional life insurance coverage for yourself, your spouse, and children. You must already have basic life insurance in order to buy additional life insurance.

Eligibility

All full-time, benefits-eligible employees are automatically signed up for employer-paid basic life insurance, regardless of health history.

If you are a part-time employee (50% to 74% time), you are eligible for basic life insurance but need to enroll within 30 days of your first day of work. You will pay $0.055 per $1,000 of coverage per biweekly pay period, based on your part-time covered compensation and rounded to the next $1,000.

Coverage Benefits

If you are a full-time employee (75% to 100% time) and you die, the amount paid to your beneficiary is 115% of your annual covered compensation, rounded up to the next $1,000. The maximum is $200,000.

If you’re a part-time employee (50% to 74% time), your beneficiary will receive an amount based on your part-time annual covered compensation. The amount of basic life insurance automatically doubles in the event of a covered accidental death. In addition, there are dismemberment benefits.

For life insurance calculations, covered compensation includes your base salary, augmentation, increment, commutation, Regents’ Professor Stipend and Duluth additional instruction. All other earnings are excluded.

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Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D)

This coverage is included with both basic and additional life insurance for an employee or spouse. It provides beneficiaries with additional financial protection if an insured’s death or dismemberment is due to a covered accident, whether it occurs at work or elsewhere.

Reduction Schedule Over Age 67

The amount of basic life insurance coverage begins reducing at age 67, according to this schedule:

  • At age 67, reduces to 65% of the original coverage amount
  • At age 70, reduces to 50% of the original coverage amount
  • At age 75, reduces to 25% of the original coverage amount

Accelerated Benefit Option

Both the basic and additional life insurance plans have an accelerated option—or early payment if you’re diagnosed with a terminal condition. This means if you (or a family member) become terminally ill, you may be able to collect the full life insurance benefit amount prior to death.

Manage Your Beneficiaries

If you do not name a beneficiary, your beneficiary will be set to the plan default. That means Securian Financial will pay the death benefit in the following order of priority:

  1. Your lawful spouse, if living; otherwise,
  2. Your natural or legally adopted children in equal shares, if living; otherwise,
  3. Your parents in equal shares, if living; otherwise,
  4. Your estate.

Even if this default list works for you, it’s still recommended that you name your beneficiary and include the contact information online to make the claims payment happen more quickly. Relying on the benefit to be paid going down the default list takes longer to process at a very difficult time for your loved ones. If it’s your first time logging in, visit LifeBenefits:

  • Your user ID is the letters “UM” followed by your seven-digit employee ID number
  • Your initial password is your eight-digit date of birth, followed by the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you experience problems, call Securian at 866-293-6047.
  • After your first log in, you’ll be prompted to change your password.
  • Confirm or update your beneficiary your life insurance coverage at any time on this website

Once complete, you’ll receive immediate confirmation. Securian will also mail a beneficiary change confirmation to your home address—whether you make selections online or via paper.

Learn more about selecting your beneficiary and what to consider if naming children or someone with special needs as your beneficiary with resources from Securian Financial.

Additional Resources & Services

Browse additional resources at securian.com/umn-lifeinsurance, including those listed below and more.

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Legacy Planning

Access a variety of online information/resources, including end-of-life and funeral planning, final arrangements, important directives and survivor assistance. After a claim is started, these additional services are available to beneficiaries by phone.

Travel Assistance

You have access to pre-trip planning and emergency services while traveling 50 or more miles from home. These include medical relocation and medical or security evacuation, assistance replacing lost or stolen luggage or other critical items, repatriation of mortal remains, and more. 

Learn more about the Emergency Travel Program.

Certificate of Insurance

Learn more about your Group Term Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance by reviewing the Certificate of Insurance (pdf).