Note:
This page provides an overview of the M/C Life Insurance Plan (M/C Life). For the specific terms of the plan, review the M/C Life booklet or visit the M/C Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Coverage page.
Some New York State positions are eligible for life insurance coverage under the M/C Life Insurance Plan. The M/C Life Insurance Plan offers:
- For enrollees: Group Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
- For eligible dependents: Group Life Insurance
Eligibility and Enrollment
This Plan is available to:
- Management/Confidential employees of the Executive Branch of the State of New York and Participating Employers
- Members of the State Legislature and annual employees of the Legislature
- Judges and justices of the Unified Court System of the State of New York and nonjudicial employees of the court system who have been designated Management/Confidential
- Retirees who were enrolled in the M/C Life Insurance Plan at the time of their retirement and elected to continue the coverage
Enrollment is not automatic. Speak to your HBA or Agency Contact about when and how you can enroll.
Forms needed for enrollment:
M/C Group Life Insurance Transaction Form (PS-934)
M/C Life Beneficiary Designation Form (PS-934.1)
If you are retiring and would like to keep your M/C Life Insurance coverage in retirement, fill out M/C Group Life Insurance Transition to Retirement Notice (PS-932).
Group Life Insurance
The Group Life Insurance plan under M/C Life offers the payout choice of either a fixed amount or a multiple of your salary. There is a benefit maximum of $500,000. There is also the option to cover eligible dependents.
For Enrollees
Fixed Amounts
- $5,000
- $10,000
- $15,000
The fixed amount will remain fixed throughout the duration of the policy, unless you change the amount and submit the appropriate paperwork to MetLife
Multiples of Salary
- 1x salary
- 2x salary
- 3x salary
- 4x salary
- 5x salary
The monetary amount will automatically adjust to your current salary on September 1 of each year. If the amount is not an even multiple of $1,000, it is rounded to the next even multiple of $1,000.
For Eligible Dependents
Your spouse can be covered by the plan, with coverage up to 50% of your policy with a benefit maximum of $20,000.
Each eligible child can be covered by the plan, with life insurance coverage of $4,000 for each child.
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance is included for the enrollee when they enroll in M/C Life. Only the enrollee is eligible; dependents are ineligible for this coverage.
If you die or sustain an injury from an accident that meets the definition of your coverage, you or your beneficiary will receive a payout. The benefit amount is based on your life insurance benefit amount (refer to Group Life Insurance, above), with a maximum benefit of $250,000.
| Covered Losses (subject to exclusions) | Benefit Amounts |
|---|---|
| Life | Full amount (100%) (Separate from your benefit amount from your Group Life Insurance coverage) |
| Hand (Loss of hand by severance at or above the wrist) | 50% of the full amount |
| Foot (Loss of foot by severance at or above the ankle joint) | 50% of the full amount |
| Sight of an eye (Total and irrecoverable loss of sight) | 50% of the full amount |
| Any combination of the above from any one accident | Full amount (100%) |
| Thumb and index finger of same hand (Thumb and index finger of same hand are permanently severed through or above the third joint from the tip of the index finger and the second joint from the tip of the thumb) | 25% of the full amount |
Premium
Your premium for M/C Life coverage is determined by the amount of benefit coverage you select, your age and your smoking status.
Annual premium changes that reflect changes in your salary will begin September 1. Premium rates across the whole plan may be updated September 1.
The M/C Life Insurance Cost Calculator is an interactive webpage to calculate what your premium is, based on your situation.
There are also two annual letters with the updated rates that require additional calculation.
Biweekly Rate Schedule for active employees
Monthly Rate Schedule for retirees
Things That Affect Coverage
Some things will automatically affect your M/C Life coverage. Below is a summarized list; see the M/C Life booklet to review the full list.
- When you retire, continue your M/C Life Insurance in retirement and if you choose a benefit coverage that is a multiple of salary, there will be automatic reductions of coverage.
- If you work beyond age 65, there are automatic reductions at certain age milestones (not to be reduced to under $15,000).
- If you become totally disabled before your retirement and 60th birthday, you may be eligible for a waiver of premium for up to two years.
- If you go on leave without pay, you can continue coverage by arranging for direct payments.
- If you are laid off, you may still qualify for M/C Life coverage.
If the life insurance coverage under M/C Life for you or your dependent(s) ends, you and/or your dependent(s) have the right to purchase an individual conversion policy from your local MetLife representative.
Beneficiaries
Complete the M/C Life Beneficiary Designation Form (PS-934.1) and submit it to your HBA or Agency Contact.
You can list a person(s), your estate, a trust or a charity or organization as the beneficiary of your life insurance. You can change the beneficiary at any time by submitting a newly completed form. You do not need the consent of the beneficiary to make a change.
Note Regarding Ex-Spouses
Under New York State law, a divorce or annulment of a marriage revokes beneficiary designation. In most cases (unless expressly determined otherwise by court order or contract), the ex-spouse will automatically be removed as a beneficiary. You may re-add your ex-spouse as a beneficiary after the divorce/annulment by submitting a new form.