Life Insurance
Effective June 1, 2026, Basic Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), Supplemental Life, and Dependent Life will be insured by The Hartford.
The maximum amount of Life Insurance cannot exceed a combined Basic and Supplemental Life amount of $500,000.
If you have not completed a beneficiary form in the last 3 years, we encourage you to complete a new form to ensure your intended beneciaries are listed, Life Insurance Beneficiary Form.
What is it?
When you pass away, life benefits are disbursed to your beneficiaries in a lump sum to help them pay for things like:
- Burial and final expenses
- Debts such as student and car loans, and mortgages
- Future expenses, including college tuition, rent, childcare, retirement savings or even elderly parent care
Added benefits for life insurance participants may help you better plan for today and at life’s turning points with professional assistance, including:
- An online tool for drafting your will
- Emergency travel assistance in case an accident or illness occurs while you are away
- An “Express Pay” service where, under certain conditions, death claim proceeds can be received in as little as 48 hours
- Funeral planning and cost comparison services
- Face-to-face access to an attorney or counselor to assist beneficiaries after a death
Why do I need it?
You never know what the future may hold. That’s the whole reason behind life insurance. It can’t fill your shoes, but it can be a comforting source of income and support for your loved ones if you can’t be there. Your needs may change over time, but the need to protect the important things in life won’t. Take the time to help protect what’s taken a lifetime to build.
To Learn More
Check out the Welcome Flyer or review the Life Insurance Certificates - coming soon - on the Benefit Forms, Plan Documents and Important Information page.
Beneficiaries - Have they changed?
It is important that you keep your beneficiaries up to date. Your life insurance benefits are paid to the beneficiaries listed on the last form we receive. If you are unsure who is currently listed as your beneficiaries, or it has been more than 3 years since you have completed a beneficiary form, please submit an updated beneficiary form to the HR Benefits Unit. You can update your beneficiaries at any time.
If you are unmarried, if your spouse is designated as the 100% primary beneficiary, or if your spouse is not designated as the 100% primary beneficiary, please complete the Life Insurance Beneficiary Form.
Contact The Hartford
Customer Service and Group Number
The Hartford Group Policy Number: 715942
Claim Status and Evidence of Insurability (EOI) Status
Customer Service Representatives are available to answer your questions regarding the status of a claim or EOI application at (888) 563-1124.
County Employment Ending?
Your Life Insurance coverage ends at 11:59 p.m. the last day of the month on which your employment ends, or the day your benefit is terminated due to injury or illness.
When your employment with the County ends, you may be eligible to port or convert coverage for the plans in which you are enrolled. If you port or convert your policy, you will pay the entire cost of the premium, that is, the County will not contribute to the cost of the premium as it does (for Basic Life) while you are employed. Please review the documents in their entirety for details and restrictions.
Porting Coverage
For more information contact The Hartford at (877) 320-0484 or email portabilityandconversions@selmanco.com.
If you experience an eligible Port or Conversion event, you will receive information directly from The Hartford with more information.
Porting Coverage (Group Life Insurance Policy):
You will be eligible for Life Portability if you experience a loss of coverage as the result of a change in your employment status, change in marital status, you or a dependent has experienced an age reduction or maximum age limit, you have retired or you have separated employment from the County of Sonoma.
Premiums for a Life Portability policy may be higher than the County of Sonoma group policy rates and rates increase every five years (years in which your age on your birthday ends in 5 or 0, for example 45 or 50.).
Under the Portability option you may obtain a group life insurance policy to continue 50%, 75% or 100% of the amount of life insurance coverage (Basic, Supplemental, or both), including an Accidental Death benefit, that is equal to the Principal Sum which you had under the Group policy up to a maximum amount, generally $1,000,000 depending upon the provisions of the employer’s group policy.
The Portability policy provides group term coverage and is available to you provided you have not yet reached age 85. The amount of coverage you elect to port is reduced by 35% at ages 65, 70, 75; 25% at ages 80, 85, 90, 95 and coverage terminates at age 99.
Converting Coverage
Contact The Hartford directly at (877) 320-0484 or email portabilityandconversions@selmanco.com.
Converting Coverage (Individual Life Insurance Policy):
You will be eligible for Life Conversion if you experience a loss of coverage as the result of a change in your employment status, change in marital status, you or a dependent has experienced an age reduction or maximum age limit, you have retired or you have separated employment from the County of Sonoma.
You can generally convert up to the full amount of your terminating coverage. Conversion is also available to your dependents if they had coverage under the group policy. You may have the option to obtain a one year term policy prior to the permanent individual life policy becoming effective. If coverage is ending because The Hartford Group Life policy is terminating or coverage for a class of employees is terminating, some restrictions may apply.
Premiums for a Life Conversion policy are substantially higher than the employer group policy rates.
The Life Conversion option provides the opportunity for you to obtain an individual life insurance policy that accumulates cash value and is offered at individual insurance rates.
There are no mandatory age reductions and coverage can continue with premium payment until the Scheduled Maturity Date (standardly age 121) at which time the cash surrender value is paid to the insured.
More information regarding portability and conversion can be found on The Hartford’s dedicated Portability and Conversion portal.
Life Information for Employees
Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
Full-Time Employees Working 60 or More Hours Per Pay Period
Enrollment in Basic Life Insurance and AD&D is automatic for all regular full-time employees and regular part-time employees, regardless of bargaining unit, in an allocated position of 60 hours (.75 FTE) or more per pay period. Basic Life Insurance and AD&D premiums are paid by the County.
Part-Time DSA, ESC and SCLEA Employees Only
Part-time employees working less than 60 hours per pay period may purchase Basic Life and AD&D and Supplemental Life insurance at their own expense. You must be enrolled in Basic Life to enroll in Supplemental Life.
Basic Life and AD&D employee premiums
- DSA - $100,000 in coverage is $1.90 bi-weekly
- ESC - $25,000 in coverage is $0.48 bi-weekly
- SCLEA - 1x base annual salary at a rate of $0.19 per $1,000 in coverage bi-weekly
Supplemental Life premiums will be based on coverage amount. Premiums can be found under Employee Supplemental Life Insurance.
Supplemental Life Insurance
You must be enrolled in Basic Life Insurance to purchase Supplemental Life Insurance.
Guaranteed Issue
Guaranteed Issue is the amount of Supplemental Life Insurance that you are automatically approved for without completing an Evidence of Insurability (EOI) health form for approval by The Hartford. Guarantee issue is up to the lesser of 3x your annual salary amount or $250,000.
- New hire or newly eligible employees may elect up to the guaranteed issue, provided it does not exceed a combined Basic and Supplemental Life total of $500,000. Eligible election amounts are determined by your bargaining unit.
- Employees with existing Supplemental Life Insurance, who haven’t yet reached the maximum guaranteed issue, may increase coverage by 1 increment level, up to the guaranteed issue, during the annual enrollment period. Electing more that 1 increment and/or exceeding the guaranteed issue, will require an EOI and approval by The Hartford.
- Employees electing Supplemental Life Insurance for the first time during the annual enrollment period have no guaranteed issue. Any Supplemental Life elections will require the completion of an EOI and is subject to approval by The Hartford.
Supplemental Life Insurance requiring evidence of good health must be approved by The Hartford. An Evidence of Insurability (EOI) form must be submitted directly to The Hartford. If you are eligible for a guaranteed issue, your payroll deductions will begin on the first paycheck in the month that coverage began. Payroll deductions for additional coverage will begin only after the application has been approved.
2026-2027 Employee Supplemental Life Insurance Premiums Per $10,000 of Coverage
Premium changes are effective January 1st and are based on the age you will become in that year.
ex. If you are turning 40 at any point during 2026, your premiums will change January 1, 2026 to the 40-44 age group.
| Age | Bi-Weekly Premium | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 29 and under | $0.28 | $7.20 |
| 30-34 | $0.31 | $8.17 |
| 35-39 | $0.39 | $10.20 |
| 40-44 | $0.59 | $15.37 |
| 45-49 | $0.86 | $22.44 |
| 50-54 | $1.37 | $35.77 |
| 55-59 | $2.28 | $59.40 |
| 60-64 | $3.38 | $88.08 |
| 65-69 | $5.53 | $144.35 |
| 70+ | $10.12 | $264.13 |
Premium calculations assume 365.25 days per year with 26.089 bi-weekly pay periods.
Dependent Life Insurance
You must be enrolled in Basic Life Insurance coverage to purchase Dependent Life Insurance.
Dependent Life Insurance coverage may be purchased for your spouse or California state registered domestic partner and any dependent child(ren) through the end of the month they turn age 26. Dependents employed through the County are not considered eligible dependents for Dependent Life.
The amount of coverage is $5,000 for each eligible dependent
- The employee is the beneficiary
- The premium rate is $0.23 bi-weekly, which covers all eligible dependents
- You will be required to show proof of dependent eligibility at the time a claim is made
Coverage Eligibility - Basic and Supplemental Life by Bargaining Unit
Full-Time Employees
Scheduled to Work 60 or More Hours Per Pay Period
|
Unrepresented (00) |
4 | 1.5x Base Annual Salary |
6B | Increments of $10,000 (Up to a combined total of $500,000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
DSA (46,47) |
3 | $100,000 | 3 | Increments of $10,000 (Up to a combined total of $500,000) |
| Confidential (51) | 4 | 1.5x Base Annual Salary |
4 | 1-4x Basic Life Amount |
| Adminitrative Management (50) Board of Supervisors (49) Department/Agency Heads (52) DSLEM (43) SCDPDAA (60) SCLEMA (44) SCPA(45) |
5 | 2x Base Annual Salary |
5 | 1-4x Basic Life Amount |
| Local 39 (85) SEIU (01,05,10,25,80,95) SCLEA (30,40,41,70) SCPDIA (55) |
6 | 1x Base Annual Salary |
6B | Increments of $10,000 (Up to a combined total of $500,000) |
| WCE (21) | 6 | 1x Base Annual Salary |
7 | 1-4x Basic Life Amount |
| ESC (75) | 8 | $25,000 | 8 | 1-5x Base Annual Salary |
| Bargaining Unit | Basic Life Class | Basic Life and AD&D (Employer Paid) |
Supp Life Class | Supplemental Life (Employee Paid) |
Part-Time DSA, ESC and SCLEA Only
Schedule to Work Less than 60 Hours Per Pay Period
| Bargaining Unit | Basic Life Class | Basic Life and AD&D (Employee Paid) |
Supp Life Class | Supplemental Life (Employee Paid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part-Time DSA (46,47) | 3 | $100,000 | 3 | Increments of $10,000 (Up to a combined total of $500,000) |
| Part-Time ESC (75) | 8 | $25,000 | 8 | 1-5x Base Annual Salary |
| Part-Time SCLEA (30,40,41,70) | 6 | 1x Base Annual Salary |
6B | Increments of $10,000 (Up to a combined total of $500,000) |
On a Leave of Absence?
When you are on a Leave of Absence (LOA), including paid, unpaid, workers compensation, labor code 4850, and any time you are not physically working, your life insurance eligibility ends 30 months from the last date worked.
If your life insurance benefits end, you may be eligible to port or convert coverage for the life plans you are currently enrolled in. If you port or convert your policy, you will pay the entire cost of the premium, that is, the County will not contribute to the cost of the premium as it does (for Basic Life) while you are employed. Please review the documents in their entirety for details and restrictions.
Returning from a Leave of Absence (LOA)
If your life insurance benefits were lapsed due to non-payment or your leave extends for more than 30 months from your leave date, you will need to contact the HR Benefits Unit within 31 days of your return to work, to enroll in or reinstate your Suuplemental Life and/or Dependent Life insurances. Your Basic Life Insurance will automatically be reinstated.
If you do not enroll within 31 days of your return date, you may enroll during annual enrollment. You will not be eligible for the guaranteed issue amount. Any amount you elect will require you to complete and submit an EOI to The Hartford for approval.
Life Information for Retirees
Retiree Life Insurance
You have a one-time option to enroll in Retiree Life Insurance. You must enroll within 31 days of your Retirement Date. You will not be eligible to enroll at a later date.
Retiree Life provides $10,000 in Life Insurance coverage. The 2026-2027 monthly premium is $9.50. This amount is subject to change at annual renewal effective June 1st each year. Retirees enrolled prior to March 1, 2011 were eligible for $2,000 in Life Insurance coverage.
As a new Retiree, you may be eligible to port or convert your coverage within 31 days of your Retirement Date. If you port or convert coverage, you may also enroll in the Retiree Life benefit. Enrolling in both will reduce your ported or converted coverage by $10,000.
If you port or convert coverage, you will pay the entire cost of the premium, that is, the County will not contribute to the cost of the premium as it does (for Basic Life) while you are employed.
See County Employment Ending? above for more information about Porting and Converting coverage.
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