Basic Group Life Insurance Program Features

Basic Group Life Insurance Program Features for Active & Retired Members

If your employer participates in the VRS Group Life Insurance Program, you are covered from the first day of employment. Your employer may pay your portion of the premiums.

Eligible Employees

• Full-time permanent, salaried state employees and faculty of Virginia’s public colleges and universities. Some part-time permanent, salaried state employees also are covered under the Basic Group Life Insurance Program.
• Full-time permanent, salaried instructional and management employees of the state’s local public school divisions. These employees include teachers, school administrators, school managers and clerical staff.
• Full-time permanent, salaried employees of VRS-participating political subdivisions, provided the political subdivision has elected to participate in the Group Life Insurance Program. Political subdivision employees may include school maintenance, janitorial and cafeteria employees and school bus drivers as elected by the school division. Contact your human resource office to find out if you are eligible.

Natural Death Benefit

The benefit amount is equal to your creditable compensation, rounded to the next highest thousand and then doubled.

Example
If your creditable compensation is $41,400, that amount would be rounded to $42,000 and then doubled for a natural death benefit of $84,000.

Accidental Death Benefit

If the death is determined to be accidental, an additional amount equal to the natural death benefit will be paid.

Example
If your natural death benefit is $84,000 an additional amount of $84,000 will be paid for accidental death, for a total benefit amount of $168,000.

Accidental Dismemberment Benefit

For the accidental loss of one limb or the sight of one eye, your benefit is equal to your creditable compensation rounded to the next highest thousand. For the accidental loss of two or more limbs, total loss of eyesight or the loss of one limb and one eye, your benefit is equal to your creditable compensation rounded to the next highest thousand and then doubled.

Seatbelt Benefit

If you die or suffer dismemberment in an accident while driving or riding in a private passenger vehicle, your life insurance will pay an additional amount equal to 10% of the accidental death or dismemberment benefit or $50,000, whichever is less. You must have been using a seatbelt. This benefit is not payable if you or another person was driving without a license, under the influence of alcohol or drugs or otherwise impaired.

Repatriation Benefit

If you die in an accident 75 miles or more from your home, your life insurance will pay for the cost of transportation to return your remains to your home, up to $5,000.

Felonious Assault Benefit

Your basic group life insurance coverage provides additional benefits if you die or are dismembered as a result of a felonious assault while performing your job duties. The incident must have occurred at your employer’s normal place of business or while you were on work-related travel. No benefit is payable if the assaulter is an immediate family member. Felonious assault benefits include:

• $50,000 or 25% of your accidental death or dismemberment benefit, whichever is less.
• Virginia College Savings Plan account for each qualifying child if the member dies as a result of the assault. The amount is approximately equal to the average cost of four years of tuition and mandatory fees at a public college or university in Virginia. The child may attend any accredited college or university that participates in federal student financial aid programs.

Accelerated Death Benefit

If you are diagnosed with a terminal condition and have fewer than 12 months to live, you can withdraw some or all of your life insurance coverage to use for any purpose. Your beneficiary or survivor will receive any amount remaining in your coverage upon your death.

Additional Information about Your Group Life Insurance

Coverage While on Leave without Pay

If you go on leave without pay or go on military leave, your basic group life insurance coverage will continue for up to 24 months or for as long as you are on military leave, provided the premiums are paid. If you have optional group life insurance, your coverage will continue as long as you pay the premiums and continue to be covered under the basic group life program.

Irrevocable Assignment

You own your rights in your group life insurance coverage. You may transfer your ownership rights to another living person or entity, such as an eligible trust or charity. However, this is an irrevocable assignment; you cannot change it once it is made. Before making an irrevocable assignment, contact a legal advisor or Securian Financial toll-free at 1-800-441-2258 for assistance. Depending on your circumstances, you may want to consider the Accelerated Death Benefit.

Loans Prohibited

You may not borrow from or use your group life insurance coverage to secure a loan.

Imputed Income

Imputed income is based on the value of life insurance in excess of $50,000, as determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It is subject to FICA and income taxes and is reflected in the W-2 you receive from your employer. When you retire, VRS will deduct FICA taxes and report taxable or imputed income for as long as your group life insurance benefit exceeds $50,000. For more information, see Insurance in Retirement.

Child Support Liens

The Department of Social Services may file child support liens against proceeds payable under the Group Life Insurance Program. VRS is required to pay life insurance proceeds to the Department of Social Services to satisfy any outstanding child support obligations at your death.

Basic Group Life Insurance Program Features Just for Retirees

Benefits

If you are covered under the VRS Group Life Insurance Program, some basic group life insurance benefits will continue into retirement or if you are eligible to retire but defer retirement. Your coverage will end if you have not met the age and service requirements for retirement or you take a refund of your member contributions and interest.

Your coverage includes

• Death benefit equal to your creditable compensation at retirement, rounded to the next highest thousand and then doubled. The provision that allows for payment of double the death benefit for accidental death ceases upon leaving employment. Dismemberment insurance also ceases upon leaving employment.
• If you have 20 or more years of service, your death benefit is equal to twice your highest annual creditable compensation in your history of VRS-covered employment, even if your creditable compensation is lower when you leave employment.
• Accelerated death benefit. If you are diagnosed with a terminal condition and have fewer than 12 months to live, you can withdraw part or all of your Basic Group Life Insurance coverage for any purpose. Any amount remaining in your plan is paid to your beneficiary.

Coverage

Your coverage begins to reduce on January 1 following one calendar year after your employment ends. You may end employment and defer retirement until a later date; however, the Group Life Insurance will begin reducing based on the last month of employment. The reduction rate is 25% each January 1 until it reaches 25% of the total life insurance benefit value at retirement. If you have at least 30 years of service credit , your coverage cannot reduce below $9,532. This minimum will be increased annually based on the VRS Plan 2 cost-of-living adjustment calculation.

Keep Your Beneficiary Up to Date

To change your beneficiary, register or log in to myVRS and select manage beneficiaries under the Manage My Benefits tab. Should you need assistance, call 888-827-3847(select option 3 for myVRS online assistance).

Disability Retirees

Your coverage begins to reduce on January 1 following one calendar year from the month you reach your normal retirement age. The reduction rate is 25 percent each January 1 until it reaches 25 percent of its value at retirement.

NoteIf you took either service or disability retirement before July 1, 2001, your Basic Group Life Insurance reduces 2 percent per month until it reaches 25 percent of its value at retirement.

Virginia Sickness & Disability Program Participants

If you are on long-term disability through the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program (VSDP), refer to the current VSDP Handbook for Members pdf icon for information regarding your life insurance coverage.