USDA/ESRA SPONSORED GROUP LIFE TERM
The USDA/ESRA sponsored Group Term Life Plan through New York Life Insurance Company offers all USDA employees an insurance program with high maximum coverage of $300,000 for both employee and spouse and $3,000 of coverage for all dependent children.

Who is eligible?
The plan is available to all employees and retirees of USDA, ASC County Committees, State and County Extension Service and Farm Credit Administration, and their spouses and dependent children. Foreign nationals are not eligible. The employee, spouse or retiree must be under 70 years of age. Dependent children between the ages of 15 days and 19 years are also eligible. Children who are full-time students are eligible until they turn 23.

It's easy to apply
Just print the application (or two if you want one for your spouse). Please include dependent children information on one application only, not on both.


(1) Choose the amount of insurance that best suits your needs.
(2) Complete the application (both pages). Be sure to answer all questions, as an application cannot be processed unless it is complete.
(3) Determine your total premium amount. Make your check for the first quarterly premium payment payable to Mass Benefits.
(4) Mail your completed application(s) and your check for the first premium to:

Mass Benefits Consultants, Inc.
P.O. Box 828
Annandale, VA 22003-0828

Effective Dates
Your insurance will become effective on the first of the month following approval by New York Life and receipt of the first payment.

Health requirements
Just complete the application form. Occasionally, due to age, amount of insurance requested, or a previous medical history, a medical examination or other medical tests at a reasonable expense to the insurance company may be requested. Remember, because you are a member of USDA/ESRA you are eligible to apply for this life insurance. However, this does not mean that you will be accepted automatically. You must qualify under the company's standards for acceptance.

Beneficiary
You may name any beneficiary you choose, so may your spouse. Beneficiaries may be changed at any time by writing to Mass Benefits Consultants, Inc. In the event of a member's death, coverage for spouse and children may be continued.

Incontestability
Once your insurance has been in force for two years, the company cannot contest coverage unless you fail to pay your premium. If you leave USDA for other employment, your policy will continue in force as long as your premiums are paid.

Waiver of Premium
If you become totally and permanently disabled before you reach age 60, and are unable to earn your salary for six consecutive months, your premium payments will be waived for as long as the disability lasts. (This waiver does not apply to disability resulting from self-inflicted injury, injury or disease pre-dating your insurance, or service in the armed forces of any country at war.)

Conversion Privilege
If you, your spouse, or your children decide to convert this policy to a permanent life insurance plan, because the maximum age covered by this plan has been reached, conversion can be made for the benefit amount then in force on the policy without evidence of insurability. However, application for conversion must be made to Mass Benefits Consultants (MBC) within thirty-one days after the last day of the period for which premiums have been paid. (Contact MBC for details.)

Suicide Exclusion
If death is caused by suicide during the first two years your policy is in force, premiums will be refunded. However, no benefit payments will be made. After two years, benefits are paid no matter what the cause of death.

Termination of Coverage
You may cancel your insurance at any time. However, coverage will be terminated if:

+You fail to pay your premiums.
+You or your spouse reach age 75.
+Coverage for children will terminate when they are no longer eligible, or coverage for you and your spouse is terminated for any reason.
+Under any circumstances of termination, coverage for an employee, spouse or dependent children will continue until the end of the period for which premiums have been paid.


Renewability
This plan is renewable at the option of the insured and the USDA/Employee Services and Recreation Association.

Low Quarterly Premiums

Quarterly premiums for members and spouses are determined by their respective ages on the effective date and each premium due date thereafter. Premium rates are current as of November 2010.

Age Last Birthday
Member or Spouse Quarterly Premiums per $10,000 up to $300,000
All Children
$3,000*
Under 35
$3.30
$3.00
35-39
$4.40
$3.00
40-44
$6.60
$3.00
45-49
$11.20
$3.00
50-54
$17.40
$3.00
55-59
$27.80
$3.00
60-64
$41.90
$3.00
65-69
$82.30
$3.00
70-74*
$194.60
$3.00

Quarterly premiums for members and spouses are determined by their respective ages on the effective date and at time of renewal. Rates are subject to revision on a class basis.

• All eligible children, regardless of the number of children you have, are covered for $3,000 each by one quarterly payment of $3.00.

**At age 70 benefits are reduced 50%. Quarterly premiums are billed at a rate of $80.89 per $5,000 and are for renewal only.

A $2.00 administrative billing charge will be added to each quarterly premium notice.


How to figure your quarterly premium.

Member Only: Age 33
Quarterly Cost: $20,000 coverage 2 x $3.30 = $6.60

Family: Member age 37 $30,000 coverage 3x $4.40 = $13.20
Spouse age 33 $20,000 coverage 2 x $3.30 = $6.60
$3,000 all children 3.00
Quarterly Cost = $22.80

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Although every attempt has been made to verify the accuracy of the information contained on this website, errors and omissions may occur. You will receive a certificate of insurance describing the exact coverage and benefits purchased. This website explains the general purposes of the insurance described, but in no way changes or affects the insurance afforded under the group insurance policy actually issued. All coverage is subject to the actual policy conditions and exclusions