Retirees

Life insurance choices when you retire:

Coverage for yourself
State employees who retire directly from State service may:

• Continue life insurance at the same coverage level or reduce to a minimum of $10,000, subject to the age-related reduction schedule;
• Convert to an individual policy; or
• Cancel life insurance coverage

You cannot increase your life insurance coverage or add new dependents when you retire (or any time after retirement). If you choose to reduce your life insurance coverage, you will not be permitted to increase coverage. If you choose to cancel your life insurance coverage, you will not be permitted to re-enroll in the State Life Insurance plan – there cannot be a break in coverage between active employment and retirement.

Coverage for your dependents
As a retiree, you may choose to continue, reduce, or cancel your dependent life insurance coverage for any dependents that were covered while you were an active employee.

Dependent life coverage may not exceed half of your life insurance coverage amount. A spouse and children who had life insurance coverage as the dependent of a deceased retiree can only continue the coverage through a conversion policy.

Automatic benefit reduction for you and your dependents
As a retiree, life insurance benefits for you and your dependents will automatically reduce based on your age, according to the reduction schedule below. Premium changes due to an automatic reduction of benefits for you and your dependents will begin the first of your birthday month.

Retiree Benefits Reduction Schedule

Retiree life insurance coverage does not include Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefits. Optional Life coverage is eligible for conversion or portability; Optional Life and Dependent Life coverage are eligible for conversion.

The State sends employee status changes to MetLife. MetLife will use this information to mail a conversion/portability packet to eligible retirees. Packets are sent via U.S. mail three to five business days after MetLife receives the file.

The portability and conversion application period is time-sensitive. You have 30 days from the date your coverage as an active employee ends to continue coverage. You have 31 days from the date your active employee coverage ends to convert coverage. If you miss these deadlines, you will forfeit your right for retiree group life insurance.

If you have questions about your options for life insurance in retirement, contact MetLife at
1-877-275-6387, prompt 1, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET once you receive your conversion/portability packet.

Designating a Beneficiary

Is your life insurance beneficiary information up to date?

You should name a beneficiary for your MetLife insurance coverage(s). This ensures that MetLife will distribute the policy proceeds the way you want after your death.

If you don’t name a beneficiary, or if your beneficiary passes away before you, your life insurance proceeds will be paid in accordance with the Facility of Payment as outlined in your Summary Plan Description (SPD) for Life benefits, listed below in the following order:

• Your spouse;
• Your child(ren);
• Your parent(s);
• Your siblings; or
• Your Estate

We encourage you to take a few minutes to review your beneficiary designations, especially after a life event, such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, etc.

Watch this video to understand the process to add or modify your beneficiaries. 

What you need to do:
Please complete the steps below to name or update your beneficiaries through MetLife’s MyBenefits website as soon as possible: 

1. Gather the following information about each of your beneficiaries
   • For individuals, you need the beneficiary's full name, full address, phone number and date of birth.
   • For trusts, you need the trust name, address, phone number and trust date.
2. Visit the MyBenefits website and enter ‘State of Maryland’ as the Company Name
3. Log in to your account by entering your username and password. First time users will need to click “Create a New Account” to choose a username and password and to establish security questions.
4. After you log in, choose Group Life insurance. At the top of the page, choose the link for ‘Beneficiaries’.
5. Enter details about each of your beneficiaries
6. Print a copy of your completed beneficiary information for your records.

Changes to your beneficiary are effective immediately. You will also receive an electronic confirmation notice, which allows you to easily print a paper copy of your designations for your records.

If you don’t have access to the internet, contact MetLife at 1-866-574-2863 and request a Beneficiary Designation Form.