The MOSERS Annual Life Insurance Review and Open Enrollment Opportunity ends at midnight on October 31^st!

If your employees have questions about their optional life insurance needs, they may schedule a one-on-one session with a life insurance specialist from The Standard on October 19th, 23rd, or 30th.

Once every four years, MOSERS, along with The Standard Insurance Company, offers optional life insurance open enrollment for actively employed MOSERS members. The open enrollment period allows you to enroll in new coverage or increase coverage amounts without proving insurability (no medical questions):

• If you currently have coverage, you can increase it in increments of $10,000 up to $100,000.
• If you don’t have optional life insurance through MOSERS, this is your chance to enroll. You may elect coverage amounts in increments of $10,000 up to $100,000.

To be eligible for the life insurance open enrollment, you must be actively employed in a MOSERS benefit-eligible position before September 1, 2023. This enrollment offer applies to member coverage only (not spouse or child coverage). If you have been previously denied coverage by The Standard or you are already carrying the maximum* coverage, you are not eligible to add coverage.

For more detailed information review the 2024 Optional Life Insurance Open Enrollment for Active Members article.

*The maximum amount of optional life insurance coverage is six times your annual salary or $800,000, whichever is less.

It’s that time of year again!

For employees who already have optional life insurance, October is their window of opportunity to increase their coverage without proving insurability (no medical questions).

Additionally, this year, employees who do not have optional life insurance and have never been denied coverage through The Standard Insurance Company can enroll during October without proving insurability (no medical questions). This enrollment opportunity only comes around every four years.

Benefit-eligible employees actively employed before September 1, 2023, can increase or elect coverage amounts (in increments of $10,000) by up to $100,000 without proving insurability, provided the coverage amount does not exceed six times their annual salary or $800,000. The opportunity to increase coverage amounts up to $100,000 only comes around every four years.

Please note this opportunity does not apply to spouse and child(ren) coverage (see FAQs). If an employee wishes to maintain their current level of coverage, no action is required.

Remind Employees to Check Their Email

In late September, MOSERS will email eligible employees instructions explaining how to increase coverage or enroll in optional life insurance. They may view their notification in their Document Express online mailbox. Please encourage them to read it carefully. If no valid email address is on file, MOSERS will mail a letter.

Note: All MOSERS members have access to Document Express. Employees may use ESS and go to MOSERS or log in to myMOSERS and follow the prompts. To create a MOSERS Online ID & password, employees must have a valid email address on file with MOSERS. If an employee cannot enroll online, please have them contact a MOSERS benefit counselor at (800) 827-1063 for assistance.

Instructions for Increases Coverage and Enrolling

If your employee wishes to increase or enroll in optional life insurance, have them go to their MOSERS Member Homepage through ESS or log in to myMOSERS between October 1 and October 31, 2023 (midnight). On the MOSERS Member Homepage, the employee must click the Update Now button and follow the steps to increase or enroll in coverage.

Confirmation of Election

If an employee increases or enrolls in new coverage, we will post a confirmation letter to their Document Express, which they can access by logging in to myMOSERS. We will send an email notification alerting them when it is posted and ready to be viewed. If the employee opted out of electronic delivery, we will send a confirmation letter in the mail reflecting any changes to their coverage.

Important Details

• We will provide eligible employees with their current 2023 coverage amount and monthly premiums (if applicable), as well as their 2024 coverage and premiums if they increase or enroll in new coverage.
• Any new elections in October will go into effect on January 1, 2024, if they meet the “Actively-at-Work” requirement. More information is available in the Life Insurance Handbook.
• Term life insurance proceeds are paid to designated beneficiaries upon death. There is no cash or loan value.
• Employees can use the Optional Life Insurance Calculator to research premiums on their own.

Life insurance through MOSERS is not available to employees of the Department of Conservation or universities (except State Technical College of Missouri & Lincoln University) because those employers provide their own life insurance benefits.

Updating Beneficiaries

The Annual Benefit Statement employees receive from MOSERS includes primary life insurance beneficiary designations. If an employee has had a life event that may affect their beneficiary designation, such as a marriage, divorce, or death, please encourage them to update their beneficiary designation as soon as possible. Beneficiary designations can be updated online as follows:

• Log in to myMOSERS.
• Click on Forms, then Life Insurance Beneficiaries in the top menu.
• Follow the instructions for completing and submitting the online form.

The new beneficiary designation will become effective upon receipt by MOSERS.

Optional Life Insurance FAQs

Q: Can employees decrease or terminate their optional life insurance coverage?

A: Yes. They must complete an Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance form and submit it to MOSERS. Employees can complete and submit the form electronically by logging in to myMOSERS. This can be done at any time throughout the year. Remember, to be eligible for future annual life insurance review periods, they must maintain at least $10,000 of optional life insurance coverage.

Q: Can employees continue their optional life insurance into retirement?

A: Yes. If they retire directly from active employment or within 65 days of leaving state employment, the state will continue to provide $5,000 in basic life insurance coverage at no cost to them. They may retain up to $60,000 in optional life insurance, provided they had at least that amount while actively employed. They may retain all their coverage until age 62 if they retire under the “Rule of 80" in MSEP 2000 or under the “Rule of 90” in MSEP 2011. At age 62, the coverage amount will automatically reduce to $60,000. They may reduce or terminate their optional life coverage amount after they retire, but they may not increase it.

Q: Can employees  purchase or increase coverage for their spouse or dependent child in October?

A: They may increase or add coverage on a spouse anytime but must prove insurability. To do so, they must complete and submit the following forms by logging in to myMOSERS:

• Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance
• The Standard Medical History Statement

Dependent child coverage can be requested at any time without proof of insurability by submitting an Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance form. Dependent changes can be requested at any time, not just during October. The coverage amount will remain $10,000 per child with a premium of $2 per month, regardless of the number of insured children.

For coverage purposes only, a child is defined as the member's child from live birth to age 26. This includes biological children, dependent stepchildren and grandchildren, adopted children, and children for whom the member is the court-appointed legal guardian, provided they live with the member. Full-time members of the armed forces of any country, regardless of age, are not included in the definition of an eligible child.

Disabled children older than age 26 who are continuously incapable of self-sustaining employment because of developmental, intellectual, or physical disability and are dependent on the member for support are also eligible for dependent coverage. However, the member must provide proof that their child is disabled and be approved by The Standard Insurance Company for continued coverage. (They may request a Continued Dependent Life Insurance for a Disabled Child form from a MOSERS benefit counselor.)

Q: Can employees increase or add coverage for themselves outside of the annual review?

A: Yes. Eligible employees may increase or add coverage on themselves at any time, but they must prove insurability outside the month of October. To do so, they must complete and submit the following forms by logging in to myMOSERS:

• The Standard Medical History Statement
• Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance

Additionally, if they have a family status change (includes marriage, divorce or legal separation; the birth of a child; adoption of a child; or death of a spouse or child) and already have optional life insurance coverage, they may be eligible to apply for additional optional life insurance coverage for themselves without proving insurability. Additional coverage must be in $10,000 increments, not to exceed $100,000. If they do not have optional life insurance coverage and have never been denied coverage by The Standard Insurance Company, they may add coverage in increments of $10,000 up to $30,000 for themselves without proving insurability. They must apply within 31 days of the event and submit proof of the event for the coverage to be effective.

We’re halfway through the 2022 Annual Life Insurance Review period. We will be sending emails reminding our eligible members of this opportunity, which ends on October 31st. During the month of October, members can log in to myMOSERS to increase their optional life insurance coverage, without having to prove insurability! Please encourage your employees to take advantage of this special opportunity to help provide financial security for their loved ones if something happens to them. Don’t miss out!

It’s that time of year again! The month of October is your employees’ window of opportunity to increase their optional life insurance coverage without proving insurability. Eligible employees can increase their coverage (in increments of $10,000) by up to $20,000 without proving insurability provided the coverage amount does not exceed 6 times their annual salary or $800,000.  Please note this review period does not apply to spouse and child(ren) coverage (see FAQs). If your employees wish to maintain their current level of coverage, no action is required.

Updating Their Beneficiaries

Included on your employees’ Annual Benefit Statement is their primary life insurance beneficiary designation. If your employees have had a life change that may affect this information, such as a marriage, divorce, or death, please encourage them to update their beneficiary designations as soon as possible. For your employees’ convenience, they may quickly and easily update their beneficiary designations online by following these steps:

• Log in to myMOSERS.
• Click on Forms then Life Insurance Beneficiaries in the top menu.
• Follow the instructions for completing and submitting the online form.

The new designation form will become effective upon receipt at MOSERS.

Remind Employees to Check Their Email

In late September, MOSERS sends instructions via email to eligible members explaining how to increase coverage. They may view their notification in their Document Express online mailbox. Please encourage them to read it carefully. If there is no valid email address on file for them, MOSERS will send a letter to them in the mail.

Note: All MOSERS members have access to Document Express. They may use ESS and go to MOSERS. Or log in to myMOSERS and follow the prompts. To create their MOSERS Online ID & password they must have a valid email address on file with MOSERS. If they cannot enroll online, please have them contact a MOSERS benefit counselor at (800) 827-1063 for assistance.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Annual Term Life Insurance Review, your employees must:

• Be actively employed in a MOSERS benefit-eligible position before Septemeber 1, 2022
• Be currently insured with less than the maximum amount of optional life insurance coverage (the lesser of six times their annual salary or $800,000).

Online Election Method

If your employee wishes to increase their optional life insurance coverage amount, have them go to their MOSERS Member Homepage through ESS or log in to myMOSERS between October 1 and October 31, 2022 (midnight). On their MOSERS Member Homepage, they will need to simply click on the Learn More button and follow the steps to increase their coverage.

Confirmation of Their Election

If they increase their coverage, their confirmation letter will be posted to their Document Express, which they can access by logging in to myMOSERS.They will receive an email notification alerting them when it is posted and ready to be viewed; they may then save it to their computer, or print it. If they opted out of electronic delivery, they will receive a confirmation letter in the mail reflecting any changes to their coverage.

Important Details

• To aid in their decision, they will be provided with their current 2022 coverage amount and monthly premiums, as well as what their new 2023 premiums will be if they opt for the increase.
• Any new elections in October will go into effect on January 1, 2023, as long as they meet the “Actively-at-Work” requirement. More information is available in the Life Insurance Handbook.
• Term life insurance proceeds are paid to their beneficiary(ies) when they die. It has no cash or loan value.
• They can use the Optional Life Insurance Calculator to determine the premiums for themselves.

MOSERS’ life insurance is not available to employees of the Department of Conservation or universities (except State Technical College of Missouri & Lincoln University), because those employers provide their own life insurance benefits.

Optional Term Life Insurance FAQs

Q: Can they decrease or terminate their optional life insurance coverage?

A: Yes. They must complete an Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance form and submit it to MOSERS. The form can be completed and submitted electronically by logging in to myMOSERS. This can be done at any time throughout the year. Remember, to be eligible for future annual review periods, they must maintain at least $10,000 of optional life insurance coverage.

Q: Can they continue their optional life insurance into retirement?

A: Yes. If they retire within 60 days of leaving state employment, the state will continue to provide $5,000 in basic life insurance coverage at no cost to them. They may retain up to $60,000 in optional life insurance, provided they had at least that amount while actively employed. They may retain all their coverage until age 62 if they retire under the “Rule of 80" in MSEP 2000 or under the “Rule of 90” in MSEP 2011. At age 62, the coverage amount will automatically reduce to $60,000. They may reduce or terminate their optional life coverage amount after they retire, but they may not increase it.

Q: Can they purchase (or increase) coverage for their spouse or dependent child during the annual review?

A: They may increase coverage on a spouse at any time, but will need to prove insurability. To do so, they must complete and submit the following forms by logging in to myMOSERS:

• The Standard Medical History Statement
• Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance

Dependent changes for eligible children can be requested at any time without proof of insurability, not just during October. The coverage amount will remain $10,000 per child with a premium of $2 per month, regardless of the number of insured children. For coverage purposes only, a child is defined as the member's child from live birth to age 26. This includes dependent stepchildren and grandchildren, adopted children, and children for whom the member is the court-appointed legal guardian provided they are living with the member. Full-time members of the armed forces of any country, regardless of age, are not included in the definition of an eligible child.

Disabled children older than age 26, who are continuously incapable of self-sustaining employment because of developmental, intellectual, or physical disability and are dependent on the member for support, are also eligible for dependent coverage. However, the member must provide proof that their child is disabled and be approved by Standard Insurance Company for continued coverage. (They may request a Continued Dependent Life Insurance for a Disabled Child form from a MOSERS benefit counselor.)

Q: Can they enroll in the Optional Life Insurance Plan if they are currently not enrolled?

A: If they have a family status change (includes marriage, divorce or legal separation; birth of a child; adoption of a child; or death of a spouse or child), they may be eligible to apply for up to $30,000 of optional life insurance coverage, in $10,000 increments, for themselves without proving insurability. Those previously denied coverage or already carrying the maximum coverage are not eligible. They must complete an Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance form within 31 days of the event and submit proof of family status change. Otherwise, to enroll in the Optional Life Insurance Plan, they will need to submit the online Medical History Statement along with the Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance form and be approved by The Standard Insurance Company.

Q: Can they increase their optional life insurance coverage by MORE than $20,000 if they don’t have a family status change as described above

A: As a MOSERS member, they may increase coverage on themselves at any time, but they must prove insurability. To do so, they must complete and submit the following forms by logging in to myMOSERS:

• The Standard Medical History Statement
• Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance

The Standard has created an easy-to-use mobile app for travel assistance. This app lets members access a wide range of global emergency assistance services. This is replacing the previous wallet card.

Mobile App Features:

• Tap for Help. Use one-touch calling to reach Assist America's 24/7 Operations Center.
• Voice over Internet Protocols (VoIP). Avoid international phone charges by calling Assist America for free using a Wi-Fi connection.
• Pre-Trip Information. Access detailed country-specific information to prepare for your trip.
• Travel Alerts. Receive alerts on urgent global situations that may impact travel.
• Travel Status Indicator. Use the GPS feature to know when you're eligible for services.
• Embassy & U.S. Pharmacy Locator. Locate the nearest embassy/consulate of 23 countries and pharmacies near you (U S. pharmacies only).
• Mobile ID Card. Your Assist America ID card is conveniently stored within the app.
• Available in Seven Languages. The app is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, Thai, Bahasa, and French.

Please encourage your employees to download the app following the simple steps below.

1) Visiting Google Play or the App Store

2) Find the Assist America Mobile App

3) Enter reference number 01-AA-STD-5201 and member name

To learn more, see the Travel Assistance Flyer and Service Overview located in our online Library.

It’s that time of year again! The month of October is your employees’ window of opportunity to increase their optional life insurance coverage without proving insurability. Eligible employees can increase their coverage (in increments of $10,000) by up to $20,000 without proving insurability provided the coverage amount does not exceed 6 times their annual salary or $800,000.  Please note this review period does not apply to spouse and child(ren) coverage (see FAQs). If your employees wish to maintain their current level of coverage, no action is required.

Updating Their Beneficiaries

Included on your employees’ Annual Benefit Statement is their primary life insurance beneficiary designation. If their beneficiaries have had a life change that may affect this information, such as a marriage, divorce, or death, please encourage them to update their beneficiary designations as soon as possible. For your employees’ convenience, they may quickly and easily update their beneficiary designations online by following these steps:

• Log in to myMOSERS
• Click on Forms then Life Insurance Beneficiaries in the top menu.
• Follow the instructions for completing and submitting the online form.

The new designation form will become effective upon receipt at MOSERS.

Remind Employees to Check Their Email

In late September, MOSERS sends instructions via email to eligible members explaining how to increase coverage. They may view their notification in their Document Express folder. Please encourage them to read it carefully. If there is no valid email address on file for them, MOSERS will send a letter to them in the mail.

Note: All MOSERS members have access to Document Express. They may use ESS and go to MOSERS. Or log in to myMOSERS and follow the prompts. To create their MOSERS Online ID & password they must have a valid email address on file with MOSERS. If they cannot enroll online, please have them contact a benefit counselor at (800) 827-1063 for assistance.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Annual Term Life Insurance Review, your employees must:

• Be actively employed in a MOSERS benefit-eligible position.
• Be currently insured with less than the maximum amount of optional life insurance coverage (the lesser of six times their annual salary or $800,000).

Online Election Method

If your employee wishes to increase their optional life insurance coverage amount, have them go to their MOSERS Member Homepage through ESS or log in to myMOSERS between October 1 and October 31, 2021 (midnight). On their MOSERS Member Homepage, they will need to simply click on the Learn More button and follow the steps to increase their coverage.

Confirmation of Their Election

If they increase their coverage, their confirmation letter will be posted to their Document Express, which they can access by logging in to myMOSERS. They will receive an email notification alerting them when it is posted and ready to be viewed; they may then save it to their computer, or print it. If they opted out of electronic delivery, they will receive a confirmation letter in the mail reflecting any changes to their coverage.

Important Details

• To aid in their decision, they will be provided with their current 2021 coverage amount and monthly premiums, as well as what their new 2022 premiums will be if they opt for the increase.
• Any new elections in October will go into effect on January 1, 2022, as long as they meet the “Actively-at-Work” requirement. More information is available in the Life Insurance Handbook.
• Term life insurance proceeds are paid to their beneficiary(ies) when they die. It has no cash or loan value.
• They can use the Optional Life Insurance Calculator to determine the premiums for themselves.

MOSERS’ life insurance is not available to employees of the Department of Conservation or state regional universities (except State Technical College of Missouri & Lincoln University), because those employers provide their own life insurance benefits.

Optional Term Life Insurance FAQs

Q: Can they decrease or terminate their optional life insurance coverage?

A: Yes. They must complete an Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance form and submit it to MOSERS. The form can be completed and submitted electronically by logging in to myMOSERS. This can be done at any time throughout the year. Remember, to be eligible for future annual review periods, they must maintain at least $10,000 of optional life insurance coverage.

Q: Can they continue their optional life insurance into retirement?

A: Yes. If they retire within 60 days of leaving state employment, the state will continue to provide $5,000 in basic life insurance coverage at no cost to them. They may retain up to $60,000 in optional life insurance, provided they had at least that amount while actively employed. They may retain all their coverage until age 62 if they retire under the “Rule of 80" in MSEP 2000 or under the “Rule of 90” in MSEP 2011. At age 62, the coverage amount will automatically reduce to $60,000. They may reduce or terminate their optional life coverage amount after they retire, but they may not increase it.

Q: Can they purchase (or increase) coverage for their spouse or dependent child during the annual review?

A: They may increase coverage on a spouse at any time, but will need to prove insurability. To do so, they must complete and submit the following forms by logging in to  myMOSERS:

• Standard Medical History Statement
• Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance

Dependent changes for eligible children can be requested at any time without proof of insurability, not just during October. The coverage amount will remain $10,000 per child with a premium of $2 per month, regardless of the number of insured children. For coverage purposes only, a child is defined as the member's child from live birth to age 26. This includes dependent stepchildren and grandchildren, adopted children, and children for whom the member is the court-appointed legal guardian provided they are living with the member. Full-time members of the armed forces of any country, regardless of age, are not included in the definition of an eligible child.

Disabled children older than age 26, who are continuously incapable of self-sustaining employment because of developmental, intellectual, or physical handicap and are dependent on the member for support, are also eligible for dependent coverage. However, the member must provide proof that their child is handicapped and be approved by Standard Insurance Company for continued coverage. (They may request a Continued Dependent Life Insurance for a Disabled Child form from a MOSERS benefit counselor.)

Q: Can they enroll in the Optional Life Insurance Plan if they are currently not enrolled?

A: If they have a family status change (includes marriage, divorce or legal separation; birth of a child; adoption of a child; or death of a spouse or child), they may be eligible to apply for up to $30,000 of optional life insurance coverage, in $10,000 increments, for themselves without proving insurability. Those previously denied coverage or already carrying the maximum coverage are not eligible. They must complete an Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance form within 31 days of the event and submit proof of family status change. Otherwise, to enroll in the Optional Life Insurance Plan, they will need to submit the online Medical History Statement along with the Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance form and be approved by Standard Insurance Company.

Q: Can they increase their optional life insurance coverage by MORE than $20,000 if they don’t have a family status change as described above

A: As a MOSERS member, they may increase coverage on themselves at any time, but they must prove insurability. To do so, they must complete and submit the following forms by logging in to myMOSERS:

• Standard Medical History Statement
• Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance

Preparing for MOSERS Annual Life Insurance Review

MOSERS is making final preparations for our Annual Optional Term Life Insurance Review which will occur during the month of October. MOSERS does not send mail to members who have an invalid address on file in our system. It is important that we have correct mailing addresses on file for all benefit-eligible employees. Please sign in to the Employer Login and select the MOSERS Invalid Address report. Submit any necessary changes as soon as possible so that eligible employees will receive their review forms at the proper mailing address.

The Salary Verification Report is ready to work. If you are responsible for working this report, please sign in to the Employer Login, hover over the Error Reports heading, and click the Salary Verification Report.

Names of individuals responsible for working the report will appear. You may view any or all portions of the report by clicking on the appropriate name or department. You will then be able to submit your responses to MOSERS electronically.

The report is essential in ensuring that covered employees receive the correct amount of life insurance coverage each year. The report must be completed by September 7th.

Eligible employees receive one times their annual salary in basic life insurance coverage. The amount of coverage adjusts each January according to the employee's annual earnings in effect on July 31 of the previous year or the employee's first day of coverage, if not covered on July 31.

• Annual earnings include normal earnings from a benefit-eligible position, including shift differential pay.
• Overtime pay and other irregular payments are excluded from annual earnings.
• If an employee is working in both a benefit-eligible and non-benefit eligible position at the same time, only pay from the benefit-eligible position is included in annual earnings.

For the report, MOSERS used the SAM II base salary plus shift differential pay from the July 2021 payroll file to update basic and optional life insurance coverage amounts for most state employees. Manual salary verification is still needed for hourly and intermittent employees, employees on leave, employees working in multiple positions, and anyone not in SAM II.

Last year we received a few inquiries regarding the pay types of "retention pay," a "security differential," and "COVID-19 pay." Please note:

• Retention pay and a security differential (just as a shift differential noted above) are included in annual earnings.
• COVID-19 pay, on the other hand, is excluded from annual earnings.