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Optional life insurance

Summary

Optional life insurance for yourself

You can purchase additional life insurance coverage for yourself, up to a maximum of $500,000. If you wish to purchase coverage more than 31 days after becoming eligible, you must provide evidence of good health.

You pay the full cost of this life insurance. Premiums are based on your age, sex and whether you are a smoker.

Optional life insurance for your spouse

You can purchase optional life insurance coverage for your spouse, up to a maximum of $500,000. If you wish to purchase coverage, your spouse must provide evidence of good health.

You pay the full cost of this life insurance. Premiums are based on spouse's age, sex and whether your spouse is a smoker.

Optional life insurance for your dependent children

Optional life insurance for your eligible children provides up to a maximum of $50,000 coverage. You pay the full cost of this life insurance.

Eligibility

You are eligible if you are:
  • A term employee who has completed 1 year of continuous service
  • A permanent employee
  • under age 71

You can select either employee, Spouse (must be under age 65), and/or Dependent child optional life coverage.

Premiums

You pay the full cost of Optional Life Insurance.

Premiums for employee

Your premiums are based on your age, sex, and whether you are a smoker.

Monthly cost for each $1,000 of coverage.
Age Male smoker Male non-smoker Female smoker Female non-smoker
Under 30 $0.041 $0.029 $0.017 $0.017
30-34 $0.041 $0.029 $0.017 $0.017
35-39 $0.069 $0.041 $0.029 $0.023
40-44 $0.127 $0.062 $0.056 $0.035
45-49 $0.23 $0.114 $0.102 $0.062
50-54 $0.36 $0.20 $0.166 $0.109
55-59 $0.571 $0.342 $0.274 $0.183
60-64 $0.696 $0.463 $0.36 $0.239
65-70 $1.355 $0.951 $0.613 $0.43

Premiums for spouse

The premiums are based on the smoking habits, age and sex of your spouse. Premiums for spouse are the same as for employees but coverage ends when spouse turns 65.

Monthly cost for each $1,000 of coverage.
Age Male smoker Male non-smoker Female smoker Female non-smoker
Under 30 $0.041 $0.029 $0.017 $0.017
30-34 $0.041 $0.029 $0.017 $0.017
35-39 $0.069 $0.041 $0.029 $0.023
40-44 $0.127 $0.062 $0.056 $0.035
45-49 $0.23 $0.114 $0.102 $0.062
50-54 $0.36 $0.20 $0.166 $0.109
55-59 $0.571 $0.342 $0.274 $0.183
60-64 $0.696 $0.463 $0.36 $0.239

Premiums for dependent children

For children, you pay a monthly premium of $0.419 for each unit of $10,000 of coverage.

Coverage

Employee coverage

You can purchase additional life insurance coverage up to $500,000, in units of $25,000.

If you are receiving Long Term Disability benefits, your coverage will be the amount in effect on the date of your disability.

If you wish to purchase coverage after 31 days of becoming eligible, you will have to provide evidence of good health. Your coverage will take effect when Canada Life approves your application.

In the event of your death, the benefit will be paid to your designated beneficiary for Optional Life Insurance or your estate if no such designation is made.

If you become disabled and begin receiving Sick Leave benefits (Short Term Disability), your coverage under the Optional Life Insurance Plan will continue as though you were at work; you continue to make any required premiums. If you begin receiving Long Term Disability benefits, you may apply for a premium waiver under the Optional Life Insurance Plan. If the waiver is approved, coverage will continue at no cost to you for as long as you are eligible to receive long term disability benefits, until you recover, until you reach age 65 or until you die, whichever occurs first.

Spouse coverage

You can purchase additional life insurance coverage for your spouse up to $500,000, in units of $25,000.

If you are receiving Long Term Disability benefits, your spouse’s coverage will be the amount in effect on the date of your disability.

Your spouse will have to provide evidence of good health for the purchase of any amounts of insurance. Coverage will take effect when Canada Life approves the application. Coverage will end when your spouse reaches age 65, when you leave the University or you die, whichever occurs first.

You are the beneficiary of your spouse's insurance.

If you become disabled and begin receiving sick leave benefits, your spouse’s coverage under the Optional Spouse Life Insurance Plan will continue as though you were at work; you continue to make any required contributions. If you begin receiving long term disability benefits, you may apply for a premium waiver under the Optional Spouse Life Insurance Plan. If the waiver is approved, coverage will continue at no cost to you, for as long as you are eligible to receive Long Term Disability benefits, until you recover, until you reach age 65, until you die, or until your spouse reaches age 65, whichever occurs first.

Dependent child coverage

You can purchase life insurance for your dependent child up to $50,000, in units of $10,000.

You are the beneficiary of your children's insurance.

If you become disabled and begin receiving Sick Leave benefits, your coverage under the Optional Dependent Life Insurance Plan will continue as though you were at work; you continue to make any required premiums. If you begin receiving Long Term Disability benefits, coverage will be maintained by the University on your behalf, at no cost to you, for as long as you are eligible to receive Long Term Disability benefits, until you recover, until you reach age 65 or until you die, whichever occurs first.

Exclusions

  • Optional Employee Life Insurance will not be paid to your beneficiary if you commit suicide (while sane or insane) less than one year after purchasing this coverage.
  • Optional Spouse Life Insurance will not be paid to you if your spouse commits suicide (while sane or insane) less than one year after purchasing this coverage.

Apply, modify or end your coverage

To apply for this insurance, to modify or end your coverage, login to the Canada Life Secure Site - You will then need the following:

  • your contract number, which is 177714
  • your certificate number, which is your 9 digit uOttawa employee number, and
  • your password. If you do not have a password, you must first sign up online

Help lines

You can contact Canada Life:
  • Via the Canada Life website or
  • By phoning the Canada Life customer service hotline at 1-833-794-0225

If you encounter any problems or issues, contact Human Resources at hrinfo@uottawa.ca or 613-562-5832