The Life Insurance benefit is payable to your designated beneficiary or beneficiaries in the event of your death due to illness or accident. You may name anyone you wish as your beneficiary using the Fund's beneficiary form. This benefit has limitations as described in the Summary Plan Description. Life Insurance benefits are non-taxable.

The Active Member Life Insurance benefit is payable upon the death of an eligible Active Member in the amount of $25,000. A family member or beneficiary must contact the Fund Office to provide information on the death date and request a corresponding Life Insurance benefit application. If the death is accident-related, the Fund may pay out an additional $25,000 for the accidental death benefit.

The Retired Member Life Insurance benefit is payable for any eligible Retired Member in the amount of $5,000. A family member or beneficiary must contact the Fund Office to provide information on the death date and request a corresponding benefit application. 


Members who lose regular Fund coverage have the right to "convert" their prior life insurance coverage under the Fund (which was provided through an insurance company, MetLife) to an individual policy.  This right only deals with life insurance; members do not have the ability to elect to continue coverage for Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) or Weekly Disability benefits.  Members who exercise their conversion right must pay the full cost of their life insurance coverage to MetLife.  No proof of good health is required, but MetLife will determine the premium amount.  To take advantage of this conversion members must notify MetLife in writing within 31 days of the date on which you lost regular Fund coverage.  Members who are interested in converting their group coverage to individual coverage should write to the address below within the 31-day deadline, state that they wish to exercise their conversion right, and reference Policyholder: International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 478 Health Benefits Plan.

                                    MetLife
                                    Group Life Claims
                                    P.O. BOX 6100 
                                    Scranton, PA 18505-6100 
       
MetLife's telephone number for assistance is 1-877-275-6387. 
Email: solutions@metlife.com