March 30, 2009

Presentations, help sessions set for life insurance open enrollment period

Purdue’s new life insurance carrier, Minnesota Life, will mail enrollment booklets today to employee homes. The booklets will provide a full description of the program, details regarding the employee’s optional coverage choices, directions for online enrollment and a schedule of presentations and help sessions.

In addition, details of the new life insurance program were included in the Choose Well, Live Well newsletter that was recently launched by HRS Staff Benefits and WorkLife Programs. The newsletter was sent to employee homes on March 23.

During the week of April 6, representatives from Minnesota Life will hold presentations and walk-in help sessions on the West Lafayette campus and the regional campuses (see times and locations below).

Employees also may direct their questions to HRS Staff Benefits by calling 49-42222 or e-mailing staffbenefits@purdue.edu. The Staff Benefits Web site is www.purdue.edu/benefits. Representatives from Minnesota Life will be available by calling (866) 293-6047 or e-mailing lifebenefits@securian.com. The Web site is www.lifebenefits.com.

When the new program goes into effect in July, Purdue will provide benefit-eligible employees with term life insurance coverage equal to one and one-half times their annual pay. Under the current plan, the University provides coverage equal to one times annual pay and splits the cost with employees for higher levels of coverage the employee may choose.

Term life insurance options will be expanded to allow employees to purchase up to eight times their salary in addition to the basic coverage provided by Purdue. Currently, employees can choose up to two times their salary in additional term life insurance for a combined total maximum of three times salary. Additional term life insurance for spouses/same-sex domestic partners and dependent children will also be available.

“The new life insurance program brings lower rates and the opportunity to enroll for higher levels of coverage,” says Teresa Wesner, retirement/disability/life benefits manager.

The University also will continue to provide the employee with $15,000 of accidental death and dismemberment insurance (AD&D), and additional coverage can be purchased for employee, spouse/same-sex domestic partners, and dependent children.

“Employees who do not actively enroll by April 24 will be left with only one and one-half times pay for basic term life insurance, $15,000 in accidental death and dismemberment coverage, and no term life or AD&D coverage for their spouses, same-sex domestic partners or children,” Wesner says. “We encourage everyone to consider these new benefits carefully and to use the resources being made available in determining the right coverage for themselves and their families and to be sure the beneficiary information is up to date.”

Presentations and help sessions

WEST LAFAYETTE CAMPUS
NOTE: Special sessions will be scheduled for employees working evening/night shifts in Housing and Food Services and Physical Facilities at the West Lafayette campus. Watch for communications directly from your departments announcing these dates and times.
-- Monday, April 6
• Presentations (open to all faculty and staff): 3:30-4:30 p.m. and 5:15-6:15 p.m. STEW 310.
-- Tuesday, April 7
• Presentations: 7:30-8:30 a.m., 12:30-1:30 p.m. and 2-3 p.m. STEW 202.
• Walk-in help sessions, including assistance with online enrollment: 9-11:30 a.m. and 3-5:30 p.m., STEW 202.
-- Wednesday, April 8
• Walk-in help session: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. STEW 322.
• English as a Second Language session. Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese interpreters will be on-site to assist. 3-4:30 p.m. Purdue Village Community Center (next to the Patty Jischke Early Care and Education Center).

NORTH CENTRAL
-- Wednesday, April 8
• Presentations: 1:30-2:30 p.m. and 3-4 p.m. LSF2.

FORT WAYNE
-- Thursday, April 9
• Presentations: 9:30-11 a.m. in Kettler G46 and 1-2:30 p.m. in Kettler G98F.
• Walk-in help sessions:
9-9:30 a.m. and 11-11:30 a.m. in Kettler G46. 2:30-5 p.m. in Kettler G98F.

CALUMET
-- Thursday, April 9
• Presentations: 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-2:30 p.m. Room 121, Calumet Conference Center.