Summary Guide
View the current year's plan details and rates (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026)
Disclaimer: The scope and content reflect plan provisions. There is no intent to imply or confirm participation or amounts of insurance in effect for an individual who reads this communication.
Life Insurance Beneficiary Designations for The Hartford
Visit The Hartford's website to personally manage your beneficiary designations for Pitt group term coverage. The Beneficiary Designation form is available for download (via Pitt Passport).
Life Insurance Beneficiary Management
You must designate a beneficiary (or beneficiaries) at the time you enroll in any of the coverages. Basic coverage is provided by the University through The Hartford, and you may elect from optional programs of insurance sponsored by the University through The Hartford. You need to complete only one form for The Hartford.
Following initial enrollment, you may change a beneficiary designation at any time. Please check periodically to make sure your designation is current. To check or change your beneficiaries, call The Hartford at 1-855-396-7655. This will help to ensure that any claim in the event of your death is fulfilled according to your wishes. Personal life events typically require a review and perhaps an update to your beneficiary designations. Personal life events include, but are not limited to:
- Birth of a child
- Marriage
- Divorce
- Death
The Hartford provides a wide range of value-added services for University of Pittsburgh faculty, staff, and retirees.
Support Through All Stages Of Life
Discounts and Services included in The Hartford life insurance at no additional cost:
| While You're Living (Caring for Yourself) | If You Become Ill (Caring Support & Resources) | After You're Gone (Caring for Your Loved Ones) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial | Access to financial advice services | Accelerated Death Benefit | Financial Counseling |
| Legal | Access to online legal services | Access to in-person legal and estate planning | Access to legal advice and estate planning |
| Emotional | Access to funeral planning | Access to end-of-life into Compassionate Care website and funeral planning | Bereavement counseling and funeral planning |
| Physical | Discount programs | Care Advocacy |
Life Insurance Provisions for Loss of Coverage (Portability and Conversion)
Portability and conversion provide employees the opportunity to take their coverage with them should they no longer be eligible for the University-sponsored group plan.
| Plans | Conversion | Portability |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Life | Yes | Yes |
| Basic A&D | Yes | No |
| Optional Life | Yes | Yes |
| Optional A&D | Yes | No |
| Dependent Life | Yes | Yes |
If your employment ends, you can convert the full amount of coverage you had on the date your employment ended.
If your coverage is reduced due to retirement, you can convert the amount of coverage you are losing. (ex. $50,000 basic life - $15,000 retiree life = $35,000 to convert)
How to Port or Convert Your Coverage
To port or convert your coverage, you must fill out the Notice of Conversion and/or Portability Rights form and submit it to The Hartford.
Completed forms should be mailed to The Hartford at: The Hartford, Portability and Conversion Unit, P.O. Box 43786, Cleveland, OH 44143-0786. Forms can also be faxed to The Hartford at: 440-646-9339. Forms will not be accepted by the OHR Benefits Department.
For questions about portability and/or conversion, please contact The Hartford by calling 1-877-320-0484.
Additional Resources
- The Hartford informational site
- Learn about the benefits of life insurance (video)
- Learn about voluntary life insurance
- Learn about voluntary AD&D coverage
Note: The application and payment of the first premium must be made within 31 days of the date the coverage ends through the University of Pittsburgh Group Policy.
Note: Benefits premiums for health and welfare coverage are deducted from the employee’s paycheck. These deductions can occur on a pre-tax or after-tax basis depending on the election and employee’s job category. Review the Benefits Premium Collections page for more information about premium collections and the taxation of certain benefits.
Please visit the Glossary of Terms page for commonly used medical terms and definitions.
