Life Insurance & Supplemental Insurances

Faculty, Administrative Professional and Other Non-Classified Staff

Colorado State University provides employees access to benefits that support your health and financial goals. Life insurance gives you and your family financial security. CSU offers a variety of life insurance options.

You must be Actively at Work for any of the life insurance coverage to be effective. Information is in the Summary Plan Booklet or more detailed information is in the Certificate of Coverage for basic life and voluntary life insurance. Monthly costs for voluntary and spouse life can be found in the premiums guide. In the event of a conflict between the information on this page and the official plan documents, the plan documents will govern.

The university’s life insurance plans are administered in partnership with Sun Life.

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Life Insurance Options

Group Number for all Sun Life plans: 978964

Basic Life Insurance

Eligibility: You are enrolled in $70,000 of Basic Group Term Life and AD&D for non-accidental deaths. The University covers the full cost.

Imputed Income: The Internal Revenue Code requires that the imputed value of employer provided life insurance exceeding $50,000 be added as taxable income to the employee. The amount of imputed income is age-based and is generally nominal.

Age Reduction: Basic group term life and AD&D Insurance Benefits reduce to 65% of the Plan coverage amount in January of the year following your 70th birthday and further reduce to 50% of the Plan coverage amount in January of the year following your 75th birthday. 

Accidental Death and Dismemberment: For deaths resulting from an accident, the benefit will be equal to $140,000 ($70,000 basic group term life + $70,000 Accidental Death), less any age reductions.

Eligibility: This voluntary group term life insurance plan is an optional plan, which allows you to choose levels of coverage, in increments of $10,000, up to $500,000 for the employee.

Age Reduction: Life insurance benefits reduce to 65% of the prior coverage in January of the year following the 70th birthday and further reduce to 50% of the amount of prior coverage in January of the year following the 75th birthday. Premiums will be based on the reduced coverage.

Guaranteed Issue Amounts (Newly Eligible and Mid-Year Events): You may enroll within 30 days of your eligibility date. “Initial” enrollments up to $250,000 in coverage will be guaranteed for the employee automatically without requiring evidence of insurability. Initial enrollments in excess of $250,000 will require completion/approval of a Personal Health Application (Evidence of Insurability), which will be emailed to you following enrollment.

Guaranteed Issue Amounts (Open Enrollment): During the benefits open enrollment period, you can enroll, apply for an increase, decrease, or cancel your voluntary life insurance. Open enrollment allows you to elect or increase your voluntary life coverage in increments of $10,000 up to $30,000 automatically, unless the total policy amount exceeds $250,000 which requires a Personal Health Application (Evidence of Insurability). 

Eligibility: This voluntary group term life insurance plan is an optional plan, which allows you to choose levels of coverage, in increments of $10,000, up to $300,000 for the spouse, domestic partner, or civil union partner.

Age Reduction: Life insurance benefits reduce to 65% of the prior coverage in January of the year following the 70th birthday and further reduce to 50% of the amount of prior coverage in January of the year following the 75th birthday. Premiums will be based on the reduced coverage.

Guaranteed Issue Amounts (Newly Eligible and Mid-Year Events): You may enroll your spouse, domestic partner or civil union partner within 30 days of your eligibility date. “Initial” enrollments up to $50,000 in coverage will be guaranteed automatically without requiring evidence of insurability. Initial enrollments in excess of $50,000 will require completion/approval of a Personal Health Application (Evidence of Insurability), which will be emailed to you following enrollment.

Guaranteed Issue Amounts (Open Enrollment): During the benefits open enrollment period, you can enroll, apply for an increase, decrease, or cancel voluntary life insurance for your spouse, domestic partner or civil union partner. Open enrollment allows you to elect or increase your spouse life coverage in increments of $10,000 up to $30,000 automatically, unless the total policy amount exceeds $50,000 which requires a Personal Health Application (Evidence of Insurability). 

Child Life Insurance ($20,000): Child life rates are per UNIT. A unit consists of all eligible child(ren) per family. If your spouse, domestic partner or civil union partner also works at CSU and is eligible for the CSU Benefits Plan, only one of you may choose child(ren) life insurance coverage. Duplicate coverage is not allowed under this plan.

Eligible participants will be protected 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for covered accidents occurring anywhere in the world, on or off the job, at home or while traveling (subject to the Exclusions and Limitations of the Contract).

Eligibility: You may enroll in this Voluntary AD&D Insurance within 30 days of the date you become eligible. Coverage is generally effective the first of the month following your hire/change date providing you meet any applicable actively at work provisions. 

Amount of Insurance: You may elect any multiple of $25,000 up to a maximum amount of $500,000. The amount of insurance on each of your eligible dependents is a percent of your amount. The percentage that applies on any date is shown below:

  • Your spouse, domestic partner or civil union partner: 60%
  • Your child(ren): 25% on each child
  • Your spouse, domestic partner or civil union partner and child(ren): 50% on your spouse, domestic partner or civil union partner, and 15% on each child.

 For more information see the Summary Plan Booklet.

Basic Life: Subsequent to coverage termination, you will be contacted by Sun Life regarding your Conversion and/or Portability options. If you wish to convert (no age limit) or port (limited to age 70) your coverage, you must do so within 31 days of your notification date. Portability rates match the voluntary life rates; you must request a quote for Conversion rates from Sun Life.

Voluntary Life and Spouse: Portability rates match the voluntary life rates; you must request a quote for Conversion rates from Sun Life. A child reaching the plans limiting age of 26 is not eligible for Portability, but may apply for Conversion.

Voluntary AD&D: Subsequent to coverage termination, you will be contacted by Sun Life regarding your Conversion options. If you wish to convert your coverage, you must do so within 31 days of your notification date. You must request a quote for Conversion rates from Sun Life. There is no Portability Policy available for this plan.

Living Benefits Option (Accelerated Death Benefit):  Accelerated Death Benefits are available if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness, which is expected to result in your death within 12 months and from which there is no reasonable prospect of recovery. You may be eligible to receive up to 80% of your life insurance benefits up to a maximum of $56,000.

Continuation of Life Insurance Benefits Due to Total Disability: If You are Totally Disabled, your Life Insurance Benefits may be continued if:

  • the Total Disability began while you were insured under this Policy;
  • the Total Disability began before you reached age 60;
  • you have completed your Disability Elimination Period; and
  • proof of the Total Disability is given to Sun Life as described.

You must notify Sun Life of your Total Disability during the Disability Application Period which is the nine consecutive months of Total Disability beginning on the date you first become Totally Disabled.

Supplemental Insurances

Unexpected health events can happen at any time—and managing those costs can be tough. That’s why we are introducing three new benefit options designed to give you peace of mind and financial support when you need it most. Learn more about your new benefits with The Hartford’s MyHealthHub.

  • Accident Insurance
  • Critical Illness Insurance
  • Hospital Indemnity Insurance

Both the Accident Insurance and Hospital Insurance plans come with an added benefit when you get a preventive care service, like a routine health screening. You can receive a $75 reimbursement—just for investing in your health. 

To submit a hospital indemnity, accident or critical illness claim, call The Hartford at 1-866-547-4205 or use the following resources:

Accident Insurance

This insurance offers added financial protection by paying a cash benefit if a covered person is injured as the result of a covered accident. Lump sum benefits are paid to the employee (or designated beneficiary), based on the amount stated in the schedule of benefits and subject to any plan limitations or exclusions.

If your spouse/partner or child also works at CSU and is eligible for the CSU Benefits Plan, only one of you may choose coverage for your dependents. Duplicate coverage is not allowed under this plan.

Plan Description: The Hartford’s Hospital Indemnity plan will pay a scheduled benefit for hospital confinement that occurs for a covered person while insurance is in effect.

Additional benefits for certain services or treatments may also be available. All benefits are subject to applicable policy limitations and exclusions. State specific variations may apply.

Even with primary health insurance, out-of-pocket costs from a hospital stay can add up. This insurance pays a fixed indemnity benefit for each day a covered person is confined in a hospital for a covered event, with optional additional daily benefits for related services. These benefits can help offset expenses that primary health insurance doesn’t cover (like deductibles, co-insurance amounts or co-pays), or benefits can be used for any non-medical expenses (like housing costs, groceries, car expenses, etc.).

If your spouse/partner or child also works at CSU and is eligible for the CSU Benefits Plan, only one of you may choose coverage for your dependents. Duplicate coverage is not allowed under this plan.

Plan Description: The Hartford’s Critical Illness plan(s) will pay a lump-sum benefit for a covered person diagnosed with a covered illness while insurance is in effect.

Additional benefits for certain services or treatments may also be available. All benefits are subject to all of the applicable definitions, additional requirements, maximums, limitations, exclusions and other provisions of the Policy.

Coverage Amounts: The coverage amount for the employee is selected at time of enrollment from with $10,000 or $20,000 options. Spouse/partner coverage is optional and must be selected at time of enrollment. Child coverage is automatic with employee enrollment – a separate election is not required.

Dependent Coverage: Any amount of insurance will be rounded to the next higher multiple of $1,000, if not already an even multiple of $1,000.

  • Employee Coverage Amount(s): $10,000 or $20,000
  • Spouse/Partner Coverage Amount(s): 100% of Employee Amount
  • Child(ren) Coverage Amount(s): 50% of Employee Amount

If your spouse/partner or child also works at CSU and is eligible for the CSU Benefits Plan, only one of you may choose coverage for your dependents. Duplicate coverage is not allowed under this plan.

The Hartford also offers these Added Value Services:

This is intended to be an overview. Refer to the Summary Plan Booklet for complete information. In the event the information on these pages differs from the plan documents, the plan document will govern.