Note: As employees think about their benefits elections for 2027, Penn State News is publishing a series of stories designed to help employees make informed choices.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State employees can protect their families and incomes from unexpected illness, injury or loss with disability and life insurance options through Unum.
In addition to the guaranteed basic, University-paid group term life insurance policy issued to faculty and staff ($50,000), technical service employees ($25,000) and University police ($50,000 tax free or $200,000 taxable options) upon the date of their appointment, Penn State employees have options to increase their coverage through age-graded employee, spousal and dependent child life insurance.
Employees already enrolled in an age-graded life insurance plan can increase their coverage amount by anywhere from the full amount of their salary up to a maximum of $1.5 million or 8 times their salary, whichever is less. Employees who did not elect for age-graded, spousal or dependent child life insurance policies upon their hire will be required to provide proof of good health satisfactory to Unum.
Unum also offers short-term and long-term disability coverage to provide employees and their families with protection if they are unable to work because of an accident, illness or injury. Life insurance coverage also includes a Travel Assistance benefit, which gives access through a phone number to emergency services such as locating hospitals, prescription replacement and passport replacement assistance.
Penn State Human Resources is holding a series of informational webinars over the coming weeks, highlighting the range of benefits available to faculty and staff heading into the 2027 Benefits Open Enrollment period. To learn more about Unum, access the Zoom link for webinars at 3 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 27 or 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 by visiting the presentation and webinars page on the 2027 Benefits Open Enrollment website.
More information about life insurance, short-term and long-term disability plans offered to Penn State employees through Unum, including frequently asked questions (FAQs), can be found on the Penn State HR benefits website.