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Working at Cornell

Life Insurance

woman and young daughter with Down syndrome

Benefits-eligible employees receive basic life insurance at no cost and can opt-in to additional group universal life insurance for a low rate per pay period. 

Basic Life Insurance

Eligibility

Benefits-eligible* faculty and staff members are automatically enrolled in basic life insurance.

*If you are uncertain of your eligibility status for this benefit, please contact your HR representative.

Endowed employees

Eligible employees will receive a Basic Life Insurance benefit of one-half of their annual salary up to a maximum of $50,000. This plan is insured by New York Life Group Benefit Solutions (NYL GBS).

Contract College employees

Eligible employees' basic life insurance benefits are determined by the retirement plan in which they are enrolled.

  • Members of the Employees' Retirement System (ERS) with New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) program receive basic life insurance under the program’s death benefit, administered by New York State Survivor's Benefit Program: 1-866-805-0990.
  • Members of the SUNY Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) are provided with New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) basic life insurance, insured by New York Life Group Benefit Solutions.

Group Universal Life (GUL) Insurance

You’ve probably heard of life insurance, but you may be wondering, “what’s group universal life insurance?”  Cornell University offers life insurance at a group rate to supplement your basic life insurance. And as long as you’re employed at Cornell, the premiums are conveniently deducted from your paycheck using after‑tax dollars.

Benefits-eligible* faculty and staff members can enroll in additional GUL insurance with New York Life Group Benefit Solutions. You can enroll in group universal life insurance at any time or within 60 days of hire or a qualified life event. If you miss the 60-day period or elect an amount over the guaranteed issuance, you will be required to provide proof of good health. You can sign up for life insurance for yourself, your spouse or domestic partner, and eligible children. Dependent life insurance for your children ends at age 19. Unmarried children can be covered through age 24 if they are a full-time college student. 

New York Life Group Benefit Solutions Guide

*If you are uncertain of your eligibility status for this benefit, please contact your HR representative.

Rates

The rate structure allows employees, spouses and domestic partners to pay for their insurance based on their ages and elected coverage amount(s).

Employee

  • The maximum guaranteed issuance amount available within 60 days of your hire date, without evidence of insurability is 5 times your base annual salary or $1,000,000, whichever is less.
  • By providing proof of good health, you may purchase employee coverage over the guaranteed issuance amount - up to 10 times your base annual salary or $2,000,000, whichever is less.

Spouse/Domestic Partner

  • During these 60 days you may also purchase coverage for your spouse/domestic partner for $50,000 without medical evidence of insurability.

  • By providing proof of good health, you may purchase coverage for your spouse or domestic partner over the guaranteed issuance amount of up to $250,000 in $10,000 increments.

Eligible Children

  • Coverage is available for your dependents who are at least 14 days of age to 19 years old. Unmarried children can be covered through age 24 if they are a full-time college student. Coverage is up to $20,000 in $2,000 increments.

First-Time Enrollment

You can enroll in GUL insurance at any time, but if you apply within 60 days of your benefits-eligibility or qualified life event date, you may not have to provide proof of good health.

After completing your benefits enrollments in Workday it may take up to two weeks to receive access to New York Life's Group Benefit Solutions site.

If you cannot access the site to enroll in GUL or designate your life insurance beneficiary(ies), please complete this paper form and mail or fax it within 60 days of hire or benefits eligibility date to New York Life Group Benefit Solutions. 

Change Existing Coverage Levels

Additional enrollments or changes to coverage levels can be submitted within 60 days of a qualifying event. Otherwise, you will be required to provide proof of good health.

If you no longer have eligible children, you must contact New York Life Group Benefit Solutions to cancel the policy, and discuss any applicable refund.

Change Beneficiaries

You may change beneficiaries directly in your account online or download and mail the Beneficiary Designation Form. 

Claims & Contacts

While every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of this Summary, in the event of any discrepancy the Summary Plan Description and Plan Document will prevail.