Division of Human Resources

Basic Life Insurance

The University provides basic group term life insurance of one times your benefits base salary (maximum of $300,000) at no cost to you. If your base salary is more than $50,000, you can choose to reduce your Basic Life Insurance to $50,000 to avoid imputed income tax on that benefit.

Who is eligible?

You are eligible for Basic Life Insurance if you are a full-time member of the University faculty or staff in a benefits eligible position.

When are you eligible?

Upon appointment. Basic Life Insurance coverage begins on your date of hire.

How do you get coverage?

Penn automatically gives you Basic Life Insurance. However, you still must name a beneficiary. You can do this online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at Penn’s online benefits enrollment site. If you have questions about Penn’s life insurance options, or about how to make your benefits elections online, please contact the Penn Benefits Center at 1-888-PENN-BEN (1-888-736-6236).

Who pays?

Penn pays for Basic Life Insurance. However, if your base salary is greater than $50,000, you will pay imputed income tax unless you choose to reduce your Basic Life Insurance coverage amount to $50,000.

Where is more information available?

For more detailed information about the rules governing Basic Life Insurance, please see the relevant section of the Health and Welfare Summary Plan Description [pdf].

Note: The provisions of applicable collective bargaining agreements govern the Health and Welfare benefits of employees in collective bargaining units. Click here for more information.