2022 M/C Life Insurance Annual Update Information

IMPORTANT NOTICE 

The 2022 annual update of the Management/Confidential (M/C) Group Life Insurance Plan is now in progress. This information is to advise you of changes that may affect your coverage and/or premiums. Please review this notice carefully. If you have any questions regarding your enrollment in the plan or if you desire to make changes to your M/C Life Insurance coverage, please contact your Health Benefits Administrator. 

Please note: Due to the adjusted M/C Salary schedules not being completed until Mid-August, active NYS employees under the Administrative Current Payroll may see retroactive premium adjustments in their payroll deductions through September. 
 

AUTOMATIC CHANGES 

The annual update will result in automatic changes for: 

• Any enrollee who reached a higher premium age bracket as of September 1, 2022.

• Any enrollee whose age as of September 1, 2022, requires a reduction in coverage.

• Any enrollee covered at a multiple of annual salary who experiences a change in their salary which affects their coverage amount, including reaching the maximum benefit amount of $500,000.

CHANGES THAT ARE NOT AUTOMATIC 

You must contact your agency Health Benefits Administrator promptly if: 

• You wish to change your beneficiary.

• You have spousal coverage and you have divorced, or your marriage has been annulled. Your former spouse is not eligible to be a covered dependent under this Plan, even if a court orders you to maintain coverage. Notify your agency Health Benefits Administrator and end coverage for your spouse effective the date the marriage ended. Your former spouse can still be a beneficiary of your Life Insurance coverage. However, you would need to re-designate them indicating that they are now your ex-spouse.

• You and your spouse are both enrolled as employees in the M/C Group Life insurance plan, and both are insuring children. Insurance industry practice allows children to be insured as dependents of only one employee under any one group insurance program. If duplicate coverage of dependent children is confirmed, coverage will be changed retroactively to comply.

• Your dependent child has reached the age of 19, or 25 if they are a full-time student. Advise your Benefits Administrator if your child is no longer eligible to continue coverage. If you are interested in a separate conversion policy for your child, you may request a “Conversion of Group Life Benefits to an Individual Policy” form from your health Benefits Administrator. Note: Dependent Life Insurance coverage will not be automatically canceled when your dependents no longer meet the eligibility requirements.

•  You want to change your status as a smoker. Individuals presently enrolled as “smokers” who have not smoked since September 1, 2021, may now apply for the special nonsmoker premium discount. To be eligible for a rate reduction, you must submit your application to your Health Benefits Administrator by September 30, 2022. 

• You want to either increase or decrease your multiple salary option. You must fill out a PS-934 M/C Life Insurance Transaction Form, check “Change in Coverage” in box 12, and select one of the options in box 13A. You may increase your multiple salary option up to five times your annual salary. However, the maximum benefit allowed under this policy is $500,000). Complete the entire form before submitting it through your agency Benefits Administrator to the Employee Benefits Division, M/C Life Insurance Unit. Any increase in coverage also requires that you submit a Statement of Health form directly to MetLife. 

• You are planning to retire and wish to cancel your M/C Life Insurance. Coverage is NOT automatically canceled at the time of retirement. Your benefits will continue in retirement at the same level unless a written request indicating that you wish to cancel your coverage is received. To cancel your coverage, complete form PS-932 M/C Life Insurance Transition to Retirement Notice and select option 4, “Cancellation of M/C Life Insurance Coverage.” Submit this form to your agency Benefits Administrator before your last day at work. 

NEW PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS AND COVERAGE AMOUNTS 

Effective dates of new payroll deductions and changes in the amount of Life Insurance coverage for PE enrollees will be September 1, 2022. 

If you believe an error has occurred in your salary-based coverage, you must report it to your Health Benefits Administrator no later than September 30, 2022. 

REDUCTION IN COVERAGE 

If your coverage amount is based upon your salary, the coverage amounts in effect on the September 1st coincident with or following the date you reach age 65, 70, 75 or 80 will be reduced as indicated below. Coverage will not be reduced below $15,000. If, after the reduction is applied, your coverage is not a multiple $1,000, it will be rounded up to the next higher $1,000. 

 *Maximum benefit amount 
 

When an actively working enrollee reaches age 65, 70, 75, or 80 and their Life Insurance is reduced, their spouse’s coverage may also be reduced. At no time can spousal Life Insurance benefits be more than 50% of an enrollee’s Life Insurance benefit, with a maximum benefit of $20,000. 

Note: All active enrollees, regardless of age, are covered by Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefits. Retired enrollees are not eligible for Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefits on the September 1st which coincides with, or the next following, their 70th birthday. 
 

RETIREMENT SYSTEMS DEDUCTIONS 

Premium changes for September coverage for retirees receiving pension deductions will occur in their pension checks dated August 31, 2022. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 

If you have questions concerning this update, please contact your Health Benefits Administrator. Retirees may contact the Employee Benefits Division.