Life Insurance Benefits for Medicare-Eligible Retirees
Medicare-Eligible Retirees Open Enrollment is scheduled for
October 19 – November 13, 2026
For Plan Year January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027
Eligible retirees will have an opportunity to cancel or make changes to their existing medical and/or dental insurance coverage.
Details on the specific plan changes and options will be posted at the Medicare Eligible Retirees Open Enrollment page.
If you need to update benefits due to a qualifying change in status, visit the Qualifying Change in Status webpage
About the Plan
UNM offers Group Term Life and Additional Life Insurance to eligible retirees through The Hartford.
The amount of coverage available at age 65 is a fixed coverage amount. UNM contributes a percentage toward the total cost of premiums for Basic coverage. Additional Life insurance is 100% paid by the retiree.
If you are a retiree enrolled in UNM Basic Life insurance, your coverage level will be reduced to $4,000 at age 65. If you are also enrolled in Additional Life coverage, the additional coverage will be reduced to $6,000 for a total life insurance coverage of $10,000.
Spouse/Domestic Partner and Dependent Child coverage purchased prior to retirement will terminate at the time of retirement. You may apply for a conversion of this coverage to an individual policy within 31 days of separation from UNM. For more information about this option, please contact The Hartford.
Eligibility
In order to retire with life insurance benefits from UNM, an employee must be enrolled in the life insurance benefit for one year leading up to retirement, and elect retiree life insurance during the retirement application process.
FY27 Plan Year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027)
- Retiree Rates
- Plan Highlights
- Medicare-Eligible Enrollment Guide
- Decrease or Cancel Coverage Change Form
- Certificates of Insurance are available upon request.
FY26 Plan Year (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026)
- FY26 Retiree Rates
- Plan Highlights
- Medicare-Eligible Enrollment Guide
- Decrease or Cancel Coverage Change Form
- Certificates of Insurance are available upon request.
Review or Change your Life Insurance Coverage
Review Coverage: Contact Benefits & Employee Wellness at hrbenefits@unm.edu or call The Hartford directly at 1.866.551.1494
Change Beneficiary: Contact HR Benefits at 505.277.6947 to request a Hartford Beneficiary Change Form.
Cancel Coverage: Please know that if you cancel coverage, you may never re-enroll. To cancel your life insurance coverage, complete the Decrease or Cancel Coverage Change Form. Follow the instructions on the Form to submit it to Benefits & Employee Wellness.
Choosing or Changing Beneficiaries
If you enroll in UNM’s life insurance, there is an important step to ensure you’re making the most of this important coverage – choosing or updating a beneficiary. A beneficiary is the person who will receive the proceeds of your life insurance should you pass away. You can choose anyone as your beneficiary and change your designation at any time. And when you add or change a beneficiary online, your designation becomes effective immediately.
Examples of when to consider your beneficiary designation(s) are marriage, birth or adoption of a child, or divorce.
- The Hartford Beneficiary Guide
- Choose (designate) or change your beneficiary or beneficiaries by logging into The Hartford Beneficiary Management portal
- Go to https://enroll.thehartfordatwork.com/unmbene
- Login Instructions
- Beneficiary Login Assistance 1-855-396-7655
Contact Information
The Hartford
1.866.551.1494thehartford.com/employeebenefits
Questions about Beneficiary Designations?
1.855.396.7655
Benefits & Employee Wellness
505.277.6947
hrbenefits@unm.edu
See HR Contact List for direct links to your designated HR Technician