How the Plan Works

Your basic life insurance coverage becomes effective on your first day of active employment. If you are absent from active work and not performing your normal duties on the day your basic life coverage would normally begin, you will not be covered by this insurance until the day you return to active work.

When the amount of your annual base salary changes, the amount of basic life insurance may also change. For example, if your base salary increased from $29,100 to $29,300 per year, you would still have $30,000 in basic life insurance coverage. If your base salary increased from $28,800 to $29,200, your basic life insurance would increase from $29,000 to $30,000 of coverage. The change takes effect on the first of the month coincident with or next following the effective date of an increase in your salary.

If your salary decreases, your basic life insurance coverage remains the same.

If you are not actively at work performing your duties on the day a change in your basic life coverage would normally become effective, the change will not become effective until the day you return to active work.

Obtaining Benefits

In the event of your death, your beneficiary should contact Human Resources as soon as possible. The University will then provide claim forms to your beneficiary and assist in submitting the forms to the insurance carrier.

Appealing a Denial

The insurance company is solely responsible for determining what constitutes a covered claim under this plan.

If your beneficiary applies for benefits from this plan and either part or all of the claim is denied, he or she has the right to appeal the denial.

Additional information about appealing a denial of benefits is included in the Administrative Information section of this site.

Cost and Tax Considerations

You pay nothing for your basic life insurance under this plan. The cost of this coverage is paid entirely by the University.

Under current tax laws, all or a portion of the value of employer-paid basic life insurance coverage in excess of $50,000 may be subject to federal income, Massachusetts state income, and Social Security taxes. This taxable amount is called imputed income and will be included in the taxable earnings shown on your W-2 Form.

This plan will pay the full amount of your basic life insurance in force at the time of your death to the beneficiary of your choice.

Beneficiary Designation

You choose your beneficiary through Employee Self Service at BUworks Central  at the time your coverage begins. You may change your beneficiary at any time. If you do not name a beneficiary, or if you are not survived by one, benefits will be paid in equal shares to the first surviving class of the classes below:

• Your spouse,
• Your children,
• Your parents,
• Your brothers and sisters,
• Your estate.