Life Insurance
Life insurance is an employee benefit where an insurer (MetLife) pays a designated beneficiary (someone you name) a sum of money upon the death of the insured person, providing financial security for your loved ones.
This MetLife individual basic life insurance policy is FREE to eligible grad students and postdocs. You can also elect to augment your plan by purchasing additional supplementary coverage.
GEO Life Insurance
NEW IN 2025-2026: Grad employees now have access to a $10K Basic Life Insurance plan! See details below.
Postdoc Life Insurance
NEW IN 2025-2026: The basic life insurance plan for postdocs has increased from $10K to $20K! ​
PLEASE NOTE: Because of the changes required to implement these additions to our life insurance offerings, these plans will be effective starting 10/1/2025.
Standard FREE Basic Plan
Eligible grad student employees will receive a $10,000 individual basic life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment policy at no cost when they apply for Trust Fund benefits.
Eligible postdocs will receive a $20,000 individual basic life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment policy at no cost when they apply for Trust Fund Benefits.
For any policy amounts above the maximum or for dependents, you can purchase additional MetLife supplemental life insurance at affordable group rates for yourself, spouse/domestic partner & children.
If you do not want this policy, you can opt out as part of the regular benefits application.
To Apply:
Complete the regular benefits application at https://portal.hwtf.org/
If we do not receive a beneficiary form from you, there is a legal sequence of legal spouse, kids, parents, siblings, estate. This sequence would be followed if no beneficiary is designated or if the designated beneficiary is not alive at the time of a claim.
Supplemental Plan
Within 30 days of the start of employment, eligible employees who work at least 20 hours per week can elect to purchase optional, 100% employee paid supplemental life insurance for themselves, their spouse / domestic partner, and dependents. This purchased policy would be over and above the $10,000 or $20,000 life insurance and AD&D policy provided as a free benefit to all eligible grad student employees and postdocs respectively who have an active benefits application on file.
Benefit Highlights include:
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You can purchase up to 5 times your salary to a max benefit of $500,000
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Spouse & Domestic partner can purchase up to $100,000 (rates based on your age)
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Dependent coverage can be purchased at increments up to $10,000
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Your first $100,000 of coverage is without medical evidence, $25,000 for spouse, and $10,000 for dependents
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Coverage is portable at group rates if you leave UMass
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Free, face to face, will preparation service if you participate in the plan
To Apply:
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Complete the benefits application and in the life insurance section, choose your coverage preferences.
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Request a secure email by contacting us at uawdental@external.umass.edu
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Reply to the secure email with Form 1 if you are applying for less than $100,000 of coverage and/or your spouse is applying for less than $25,000 of coverage.
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Form 2 is ONLY required for those applying for more than $100,000 of coverage. The completed form should be mailed or faxed to MetLife per directions on top of form.