Policy Information

The University of Maine System recognizes the importance of providing financial security for those employees care about in the event of the employee's death and so provides a basic life insurance benefit at no cost to eligible employees.  In addition, the University of Maine System allows eligible employees to purchase additional life insurance coverage for themselves, their spouse, and their dependent children.  See below for more information regarding, designating beneficiaries, Statement of Health/Evidence of Insurability, conversion privileges, and also refer to the Summary Plan Description for specific benefit plan details.  

In 2022, The Standard will be replacing Lincoln Financial Group as our Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, and Accidental Death and Disability vendor! 

For more than a century, The Standard’s expertise in Life and Disability benefits has helped people protect their families and their financial futures when life doesn’t go as planned. Life insurance pays a benefit directly to your beneficiary, helping to cover living expenses for your family and pay for things like medical or funeral expenses. Disability insurance is designed to replace a portion of your income, helping you continue to meet your financial commitments if you cannot work due to a covered illness or injury. 

The Standard is proud to become the University of Maine System’s new carrier for Life, Short Term Disability and Long Term Disability insurance, effective January 1, 2022. Fulfilling our promise to be there for claimants in their time of need is the most important thing we do. 

The Standard forms:

• Evidence of Insurability Form: https://www3.standard.com/w/PA_AmuBridgeWeb/MuServlet/?id=eb55d8045567ae8f989c96f0322cff95
• EOI form for employees in Maine: Medical History Statement - Short Form - Maine, 16122.pdf (standard.com)
• EOI form for employees in other states: http://www.standard.com/forms/ebid/mhsonly/

Life insurance policies:

• Class 1 - Classified or supervisor members, UMPSA, AFUM, ACSUM/COLT, Police and Service & Maintainance
  
• Class 2 - Presidents and Chancellors
• Class 3 - Eligible part-time faculty (PATFA) members
• Class 4 - Retired members prior to July 1, 1969, who maintained their participation in the Maine State Retirement System
• Class 5 - University of Maine Alumni Association, University of Maine Student Government, and UM Pulp and Paper Foundation members
• Class 6 - University of Maine Foundation Members

Important Information/Flyers:

• The Life Services toolkit
• Travel Assistance
• Family Benefits Package

Benefit rate sheets

Basic Life Insurance

The University of Maine System provides eligible employees with insurance equal to their annual salary, rounded up to the next highest $1,000.  When employees are age 65 or more, their amount of insurance is limited to 65% of the amount for which they would then be insured if there were no limitations.  Cost of coverage in excess of $50,000 is included in employee's taxable income.

Supplemental (Optional) Life Insurance

Eligible employees may elect to purchase 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 times their annual salary in additional life insurance coverage.  Employees pay for the optional life insurance at low group rates through payroll deductions.   During open enrollment or if an employee experiences a qualifying benefit event, they may increase their existing coverage one multiple of their salary, up to the guarantee limit (the lesser of 3 times their salary or $300,000).  If they elect to increase by more than 1 multiple or to 4 or 5 times, employees must submit a Statement of Health.  If employees currently do not have optional life coverage, they can enroll for 1 time their salary without submitting a Statement of Health. If employees wish to enroll for more than 1 times their salary, a Statement of Health is required.

When employees are age 65 or more, their amount of insurance is limited to 65% of the amount for which they would then be insured if there were no limitations.  The amount calculated is the estimated cost for optional insurance. This is the amount that will be deducted on a monthly or biweekly basis.

Spouse (Domestic Partner) Life Insurance

The University of Maine System allows employees to purchase coverage for their spouse (or domestic partner).  The amount of insurance is purchased in $10,000 increments, up to a maximum of $50,000. Spousal life insurance cannot exceed 1/2 employee's own combined basic and optional life insurance amount.

During open enrollment or if an employee experiences a qualifying benefit event, they can increase their spousal life insurance by 1 increment of $10,000 without providing a Statement of Health.  Greater increases require a Statement of Health.

Dependent Child(ren) Life Insurance

Eligible employees may also buy life insurance coverage for their eligible children from birth to age 26. Employees may elect two levels of dependent life insurance, either $5,000 or $10,000 per child. No Statement of Health is required.

Can my disabled child stay on my child insurance policy past age 26? 

Yes, a disabled child can stay on your child insurance policy past age 26, as long as they are legally your child, and are disabled. Please note the following:

Child means:

1. Your child from live birth through age 25; or
2. Your disabled child who is continuously incapable of self-sustaining employment because of a mental or physical handicap; and chiefly dependent upon you for support and maintenance or institutionalized because of mental retardation pr physical handicap.

Child includes any of the following, if they otherwise meet the definition of Child:

1. Your adopted child; or
2. Your stepchild and the child of your Spouse, if living in your home.

Conversion Privileges

When group term life insurance ends due to termination, resignation, retirement, etc., employees may have the option to convert the basic, optional, spousal, and dependent child coverage to an individual policy directly with The Standard. The Standard will reach out to employees directly by mail to convert their policy.

Related Information

0705.50 Domestic Partner Benefits

0705.60 Dependent Coverage for Medical, Dental and/or Vision

Assign Beneficiary Designations

All employees who are enrolled in any of the following benefit plans must assign life insurance beneficiary designations. In the event of your death, life insurance benefits are paid to your designated beneficiary(ies).  If you wish to change your beneficiary(ies) or designate multiple primary or contingent beneficiaries, enter in MaineStreet Self-Service or complete the Beneficiary Designation form and return it to the UMS Employee Benefits Center. You'll want to assign beneficiaries for the following benefits:

• Life
• Supplemental Life
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD and D)
• Supplemental AD and D

Beneficiaries must be separately assigned to each of the plans above.  To assign beneficiaries, follow these easy steps:

1. Log in to MaineStreet;
2. Navigate to Employee Self-Service > Benefits > Benefits Summary;
3. Click on any one of the benefits listed above;
4. Click Edit in the Beneficiary section. 
5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 for every life insurance benefit listed above.

You may also send in a beneficiary form, found here.

Evidence of Insurability

When Statement of Health is Required

The UMS Life Insurance program requires a Statement of Health (a.k.a. Evidence of Insurability) for certain increases in life insurance coverage as described below. Elections requiring Statement of Health are marked with an asterisk (*) in MaineStreet Employee Self-Service Benefits Enrollment.

Employee Supplemental Life Insurance

Employees may elect to purchase 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 times their annual salary in supplemental life insurance coverage. Increases by more than 1 multiple or to 4 or 5 times salary will require a Statement of Good Health.

Spouse Life Insurance

Spouse life insurance is purchased in $10,000 increments, up to a maximum of $50,000. Increases by more than 1 increment of $10,000 will require a Statement of Good Health.

Before you begin

The following applicant information will be needed to file a Statement of Health:

• Date of Birth, Height & Weight
• Medical history (types and dates of treatments, surgeries, etc.)
• Past and current prescribed medications

To complete an evidence of insurability

• Visit The Standard's website here: https://www3.standard.com/w/PA_AmuBridgeWeb/MuServlet/?id=eb55d8045567ae8f989c96f0322cff95
• Read and consent to The Standard's "Terms and Consent" policy, and start a new submission.
• Go through the prompts, and once you have gone through the 5 areas (Coverage, Member, Applicant, Medical History, and Review", you can submit your Evidence of Insurability!

If you need a paper version, please see the following documents:

• EOI form for employees in Maine: Medical History Statement - Short Form - Maine, 16122.pdf (standard.com)
• EOI form for employees in other states: http://www.standard.com/forms/ebid/mhsonly/