Group Life Insurance
Human Resources Policy: 30.005Basic and voluntary group life insurance coverage is available to eligible employees. Employees may purchase additional voluntary life insurance when hired, during open enrollment periods, or after satisfying the requirements of Brown's life insurance carrier.
Eligibility for Group Life Insurance
Staff who are regularly scheduled to work at least 67% time (1300 hours per year) are eligible for coverage under the Brown University Group Life Insurance Plan. Basic group life insurance coverage becomes effective the first day of the month following the date of hire. Coverage ends the last day of the month in which an employee terminates employment or is no longer eligible. However, conversion or portability provisions are available which permit a terminated employee to continue their coverage.
Coverage Under Group Life Insurance
Basic Coverage for Employees
Eligible employees receive paid life insurance coverage in the amount of their annual base salaries (rounded up to the next $1,000), up to a maximum of $50,000.
Voluntary Coverage for Employees
Employees may elect to pay for additional voluntary coverage. The maximum amount of coverage is six times the employee's annual base salary, or $950,000, whichever is lower. Voluntary coverage may be elected in increments of one, two, three, four, five or six times the annual base salary. Voluntary coverage may be contingent upon meeting certain conditions.
Voluntary Coverage for Spouse or Same-Sex Domestic Partner and/or Dependent Children
Employees who are covered for at least $10,000 of employee voluntary life insurance may purchase voluntary life insurance for their spouse or same sex domestic partner and/or dependent children. Spouse/partner coverage is available in increments of $10,000 up to a maximum of $50,000, and dependent children are covered for $4,000. Spouse/partner and children voluntary coverage may be contingent upon meeting certain conditions.
Accelerated Death Benefit
Employees and their spouses, or their same-sex domestic partners, who are faced with a life-threatening illness may request to receive up to 50% of the face value of their basic and voluntary insurance, up to a maximum employee benefit of $225,000 or spouse/partner benefits of $25,000. The illness must be certified by a physician and the life expectancy must, in the judgment of the physician, be less than 12 months. This benefit is subject to the carrier's required administrative fee. For further information on group life insurance, please contact the Benefits Office.