Everyone needs life insurance.
Contrary to popular belief, life insurance isn't just for parents. You need life insurance if anyone is financially dependent on you.

 

You've recently graduated from college.
You may have significant student loan obligations. If something were to happen to you, your loved ones would most likely be forced to shoulder that debt.

 

You're the parent of small children.
You want to make sure they'll be able to keep the same lifestyle and attend college—even if you're not there to see it happen.

 

Your grown children are on their own.
But your children may rely on you for support and help around the house. If you weren't there for them, your children would need extra money to pay someone to take care of things you've been managing for them.

 

Your spouse/domestic partner may be depending on your income for retirement.
But you're not sure your retirement savings is enough to keep up with a rising cost of living if your paycheck stopped. Life insurance can be a smart way to fill the gap.

 

Like many families, you rely on two incomes to make ends meet.
You'll need life insurance on both you and your spouse/domestic partner. Even if your spouse/domestic partner stays at home, you should consider life insurance on your spouse/domestic partner to cover the cost of hiring someone to take care of the things your spouse/domestic partner generally handles.

 

You want to be sure your children can protect their futures, too.
Most children's life insurance coverage contains an innovative feature that allows them to convert their term life protection to a permanent life insurance plan at a higher premium when they become adults. This ensures that your children can protect their own families—no matter what health problems they may develop.

With 150 years of experience, the MetLife companies are a leading innovator and a recognized leader in protection planning and retirement and savings solutions around the world.

You can enroll if you:

• Are a regular full-time or a regular part-time working at least 20 hours per week within 90 days of service.
• Are actively at work on both the date the enrollment form is signed and the effective date of coverage.
• Meet the eligibility requirements on the enrollment form.
• Are a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.

 

Coverage is also available for these family members:

• Your legal spouse/domestic partner²:
  • May enroll even if you do not enroll
  • May enroll as a spouse/domestic partner or employee if also an employee of Henkel, but cannot enroll as both
  • Spouse/domestic partner must not have been Hospitalized as defined on the Enrollment Form (not including well-baby delivery) in the past 90 days
  • You can enroll your new spouse/domestic partner up to certain limits within 60 days of your marriage/domestic partnership — with no questions or medical underwriting
• Your eligible children:
  • Your eligible children (14 days to age 26)
  • Must be your or your spouse’s/domestic partner’s children
  • May only have coverage if you or your spouse/domestic partner elects coverage, and only one parent may elect children’s coverage
  • Must not have been Hospitalized as defined on the Enrollment Form (not including well-baby delivery) in the past 90 days
  • You can activate guaranteed issue coverage for your first child within 74 days of birth, or within 60 days to enroll your newly eligible step child or adopted child; all of your other children are automatically covered at 14 days of age

You can enroll anytime!
At certain times you may be allowed to enroll in the Group Universal Life plan by not completing as many questions. These times include:

• Within 31 days of your initial eligibility date.
• During special enrollment periods as offered by your employer and the insurance provider.
• Within 31 days of marriage.
• Within 31 days of the birth or adoption of your first child. Coverage for a newborn will begin when the child is 14 days old, however the application for coverage could be received immediately following the birth. Additional newborns and newly adopted children are automatically covered at 14 days of age.

• If you are a full-time employee and are enrolling during the initial enrollment period you can enroll in coverage up to 2 times your base salary or $400,000, whichever is less.  Coverage is guaranteed as long as you meet eligibility requirements, no medical evidence is required!
• If you are enrolling after your initial eligibility period; if you answered “Yes” to any of the questions for you, your spouse/domestic partner, or dependent children; if you are electing more than 2 times your base salary or $400,000 in new coverage; or if you are electing new coverage for your spouse/domestic partner that exceeds $10,000 you must also complete a Statement of Health form for that individual. Mercer Voluntary Benefits will mail a Statement of Health form to the address listed on this enrollment form for your completion.

 

If you do not apply for yourself and your eligible family members during your initial eligibility date or during a special enrollment period, you will be required to answer a more comprehensive health questionnaire and be approved by the insurance company before coverage can begin.

Your cost is based on several factors including your age, any special features you select, and the amount of coverage you want. Also, you may be eligible for a premium discount if you do not use tobacco. See the rate chart below for rate information.

 

Age *	Non-Smoker Rates	Smoker Rates
< 30	$0.47	$0.67
30 - 34	$0.56	$0.86
35 - 39	$0.74	$1.14
40 - 44	$0.84	$1.44
45 - 49	$1.21	$2.11
50 - 54	$2.14	$3.70
55 - 59	$3.53	$6.80
60 - 64	$5.39	$8.60
65 - 69	$10.23	$16.40
70 - 74	$16.65	$26.60
75 - 79	$30.56	$55.36
80 - 84	$49.41	$87.38
85 - 89	$80.06	$141.83
90 - 94	$85.74	$141.83

 

* The age of an employee or spouse is his/her age on the last day of his/her taxable year.

 

Child Rate: $1.00 for each $5,000 increment of child coverage - covers all eligible children, regardless of the number of children in the family.

Monthly rates per $10,000 of coverage and are effective January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024.

Dependent children's coverage: $1 per $10,000 covers all eligible children, regardless of the number of children in your family.

When you leave or retire from your current employer, you can continue your coverage without interruption as long as the group policy is in effect, subject to applicable law and the policies' terms and conditions. Although payroll deduction will no longer be available if you retire or leave your company, you can opt for other payment methods such as direct checking or bank account deduction, credit card billing or home billing. You will be billed directly for your cost of coverage at portable rates. Portable rates may be higher.

Perhaps the best advantage of Group Universal Life Insurance is the availability of a special interest- bearing, tax deferred account. Accumulated cash value, if any, can be withdrawn tax-free up to an amount equal to your cost basis. Tax-favored loans and withdrawals may be available.^* You can access the money whenever you want and for whatever you want. You can also take a loan against the value in your cash fund and continue to earn interest on the borrowed amount. Minimum withdrawal amount is $200.

 

^* In general, participants may withdraw cash value equal to premiums paid without tax consequences although less favorable rules may apply in the first 15 years. However, if the funding of the certificate exceeds certain limits, it will become a “modified endowment contract’ (MEC) and become subject to “earnings first” taxation on withdrawals and loans.  An additional 10% penalty for withdrawals and loans taken before age 59½ will also generally apply. We will notify you if a contribution would cause your certificate to become a MEC. Withdrawals and loans reduce the death benefit and cash value, thereby diminishing the ability of the cash value to serve as a source of funding for cost of insurance charges, which increase as you age.

In addition to the advantages of this plan over other life insurance options, this plan offers even more special benefits:

• Nonsmoker rates: Reduced rates are available if the insured has not smoked or used any form of tobacco for 12 consecutive months prior to the date you complete the enrollment form. (If the insured qualifies at a later date, you may change your rate to nonsmoker by completing a smoker change form.)
• Automatic Coverage Increase: Your employee coverage will automatically increase annually on January 1 based on the increase in your annual earnings as of the prior August 31. If you would like to opt out of this feature you must contact Mercer Voluntary Benefits.
• Accelerated Benefit Rider: An advance payment of your life insurance benefits is available if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness with a life expectancy of 24 months or less or permanently confined to a nursing home or custodial care facility for life (may vary by state).
  You can request payment up to 80 percent of your coverage amount, up to a maximum of $500,000.
  Advance payment permanently reduces the death benefit.
  Premiums must continue to be paid on the remaining coverage amount after an advanced payment.
  This benefit is available to you and your covered spouse/domestic partner.
  
  

  Note: Receipt of accelerated benefits may also affect you or your family’s eligibility for public assistance programs. The accelerated life insurance benefits offered under your certificate are intended to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. If the accelerated benefits qualify for such favorable treatment, they will be excludable from your income and not subject to federal taxation. Tax laws relating to accelerated benefits are complex. You are advised to consult with a qualified tax advisor about circumstances under which you could receive accelerated benefits excludable from income under federal tax law (may vary by state).

• Paid Up Life Insurance: You may purchase a paid-up life insurance policy equal to your insurance coverage at any time. You will then own the coverage for the rest of your life with no additional premium payments. Contact Mercer Voluntary Benefits for information.
• MetLife Advantages^SM

MetLife Advantages is a comprehensive suite of meaningful services and benefits available at no cost to participants of the GUL program. Click on the links below to learn more about each of these valuable services.

• Estate Resolutions Services
• Estate Resolutions Services Frequently Asked Questions
• Will Preparation Services
• Will Preparation Services Frequently Asked Questions

• Children's Portability Privilege

When your child is no longer an eligible dependent, he or she can apply for an increase in coverage up to 5 times the amount of the children's rider not to exceed $50,000, as long as the group policy is still in effect. The child will be issued a Group Universal Life certificate and will be eligible to contribute to a cash fund. The request for coverage must be made by writing to Mercer Voluntary Benefits within 31 days of the date the child is no longer an eligible dependent.

 

A Children’s Portability Privilege is not available for a disabled child. Children's coverage may be continued for a disabled child as a rider to the existing adult Group Universal Life certificate. The dependent rider may remain in effect as long as the employee or spouse/domestic
partner maintains coverage. Please contact Mercer Voluntary Benefits to request continued coverage for a disabled child.

If evidence of good health is required...
Coverage is effective on the first of the month after coverage is approved by MetLife.

If evidence of good health is not required...
Coverage is effective the first day of the month in which your first payroll deduction begins.