Optional Life Insurance Premium Updates for 2026
Premiums for Optional Life Insurance are determined by both age and salary. Updated premium amounts apply to employees who have had salary changes, as well as to employees and covered family members whose age category has changed since the 2025 premium update. These updated premiums are automatically reflected in employee paychecks based on billing information provided by the insurance carrier, Securian.
Monthly premium rates—listed by age range and cost per thousand dollars of coverage—are available in the program brochure.
Life Insurance
Faculty, University and Academic Professionals, Classified employees, and Postdoctoral Scholar employees who work 20 or more hours per week are eligible for basic and optional life insurance coverage from the Virginia Retirement System (VRS).
Basic Life Insurance
Basic coverage provides life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance. This program is managed for VRS by Securian Financial.
Basic life insurance benefits include:
- Group life insurance without a medical examination
- Natural death benefits
- Double indemnity for accidental death
- Dismemberment payments for accidental loss of one or more limbs or eyesight
- Accelerated death benefit for a terminal condition
The life insurance benefit is equal to your annual salary, rounded to the next highest thousand, and then doubled. An accidental death benefit is equal to the annual salary, rounded to the next highest thousand, and multiplied by four. If group life insurance coverage exceeds $50,000 for natural death, policyholders may be required to report a portion of the premiums paid as income for state, federal and FICA tax purposes.
For the accidental loss of one limb or sight of one eye, policyholders receive a payment equal to the annual salary rounded to the next highest thousand. For the loss of two or more limbs and/or total eyesight, payment is equal to the annual salary rounded to the next thousand and doubled.
View the Certificate of Life Insurance (PDF)View the Certificate of Life Insurance (PDF)
Optional Life Insurance
For a summary of optional life insurance benefits, including rates and enrollment instructions, visit the VRS optional group life insurance website. Visit the Optional Life Insurance Premium Calculator below to estimate premium costs. Further information about optional life insurance, enrollment forms, and additional resources are available on the Securian life insurance website.
VCU Optional Life Insurance Calculator
Contact Us
For questions about your benefits, please submit a help ticket through the HR Service & Support Tool. You can also contact benefits@vcu.edu or call (804) 827-1723.
Your HR Professional may also be able to answer some benefits related questions.