Coverage for Dependents in the Event of Your Death: If you die while actively employed, your covered dependents will be offered continuation of whatever state medical, dental, and vision insurance they have on the date of your death, according to the terms of the benefit health plan documents. Your dependents may also be able to convert life insurance.
Health: Your covered dependents may continue health coverage for up to six months at no cost. After that, your dependents may continue health coverage under COBRA for a maximum of 36 months, as provided in the health plan document. Instead of COBRA, your eligible dependents may continue coverage through retiree group health if you meet the plan document eligibility criteria for continuation of coverage as a retiree at the time of your death. It is important that surviving dependents contact Benefits Administration to confirm if they are eligible to continue coverage on the retirement plan.
If you are a member of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System, election of a monthly pension benefit is required to continue insurance for your covered dependents if you die. Your covered dependents do not have to be the pension beneficiaries, but if either you or your designated pension beneficiary elected to take a lump sum pension payout, this will result in your surviving dependents losing the right to continue retiree health insurance coverage.
Dental and Vision: Your dependents do not get six months free coverage after your death but they may be eligible for continuation of dental and vision coverage through COBRA or the retirement program as outlined in the dental/vision certificates of coverage.
- If you are eligible for continuation of coverage as a retiree at the time of your death, your dependents may elect COBRA or retiree continuation of dental and/or vision elections in effect for them on the date of your death; or
- If you are not eligible for continuation of coverage as a retiree at the time of your death, your dependents may elect COBRA continuation for dental and/or vision elections in effect for them on the date of your death.
- Your dependents must continue enrollment in the retiree health plan to be able to continue retiree vision insurance.
The surviving spouse should contact Benefits Administration to confirm eligibility.
If You Die in the Line of Duty: Your covered dependents will get six months of health coverage at no cost. After that, they may continue health coverage at an active employee rate until they become eligible for other insurance coverage through their employer or new spouse, or until they no longer meet the dependent eligibility rules.