If you’re a Verdugo Hills employee, please see your own insurance page for information.
Life insurance
Life insurance protects your family financially in the event of your death. Money is generally paid income tax free to your beneficiaries, who can use the money for any purpose.
All benefits-eligible employees have basic life insurance/accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance at no charge, providing $50,000 in coverage through USC’s insurance provider, MetLife. For details on this benefit and pricing for Supplemental Life Insurance – an option you can exercise at any time – visit the MetLife life insurance page.
Please note that in the event of death, USC Benefits will file a claim on your behalf once they are notified. In order to finalize a life insurance claim Benefits needs an original death certificate.
Insurance companies do not pay proceeds directly to minors (under age 18 in most states). We require a certified copy of court-issued letters of guardianship (or conservatorship) for the property (or estate) of the minor.
A note about naming a minor as your beneficiary
Minors may be named as beneficiaries, but this designation raises special issues which may delay a claim payment. When there is a minor beneficiary the proceeds are placed into a Minor Deposit Account (TCA Account). As minor children are adjudged to be incompetent by law, MetLife generally cannot distribute the proceeds to the minor directly. Even a surviving parent who has custody or control of the minor’s well-being or living arrangements may not be authorized to collect assets on behalf of the minor. Consult an attorney to determine what options best match your intentions. An attorney also can assist in preparing what is known as “Letters of Guardianship” for the minor’s estate should you need them to petition the court. However, if a person of legal age has petitioned the court, and has been appointed as guardian of the “property” or “estate” of the minor, the proceeds may be released to that person in his/her capacity as guardian. If a guardian of the minor child’s estate or property is named, such guardian may access the proceeds upon presenting court-issued guardianship papers.
Voluntary insurance benefits
In addition to the university providing all benefits-eligible employees $50,000 in basic life and AD&D coverage at no cost, USC also offers you access to a suite of valuable coverages through MetLife for you and your family’s additional protection.
Visit the MetLife for USC portal to learn about the following options, which are available upon hire, during annual open enrollment, or with a qualifying life event):
- Accident Insurance – provides a lump sum payment to help pay for expenses that medical insurance does not cover if you are injured or in an accident. This plan includes a wellness benefit that pays you $60 for completing one of a number of preventive health care activities (completing USC’s health assessment is one of them).
- Critical Illness Insurance – provides a lump sum payment to provide financial support if you are diagnosed with a serious illness. This plan includes a wellness benefit that pays you $50 for completing one of a number of preventive health care activities, but if you have critical illness insurance only and complete a mammogram, the plan pays you $200.
- Hospital Indemnity Insurance – provides a lump sum payment to help pay for hospital admission costs that may not be covered by your medical insurance. This plan includes a wellness benefit that pays you $50 for completing one of a number of preventive health care activities (undergoing an annual physical is one of them).
- Identity and Fraud Protection Insurance – this benefit keeps you and your family’s identity(ies) secure with monitoring and alerts if there are threats to your personal information — like your bank accounts, credit, Social Security Number, IDs, etc.
- MetLife Legal Plans – access legal experts, whenever you need them, at a very low cost.
- MetLife Pet Insurance – coverage for your four-legged dependents. Pet parents have the power of choice to customize their pet insurance to meet their needs. This benefit is directly through MetLife and can be accessed through the MetLife Pet Insurance website all year round.