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Group Life Insurance

Some active employees of the City and County of San Francisco and Superior Court of San Francisco may be eligible for Employer-Paid Group Life Insurance benefits. Eligibility depends on the labor union to which a member belongs. For questions regarding eligibility, see the Bargaining Units Chart below.

Note that Employer-Paid Group Life Insurance is different from Employee-Paid Voluntary Supplemental Life Insurance, which is optional and allows some members to purchase additional insurance to increase their total death benefit. More information can be found at the Voluntary Benefits page.

Employer-Paid Group Life Insurance

Life insurance offers your loved ones basic financial protection if you die. It can help pay your final expenses or help those you leave behind pay bills, like a mortgage or college tuition.

You are eligible for employer-paid life insurance if you:

  • Have a union contract that provides for employer-paid life insurance coverage; and
  • Are actively at work
  • Coverage begins the first day of the month following your date of hire

Employer-Paid Group Life Insurance Beneficiaries

A beneficiary is the person or entity who receives the life insurance payment when the insured dies. You can add or change a beneficiary at any time. It is important to make sure your beneficiary is always updated to honor your wishes. It is your responsibility to keep your beneficiary designations current. You may designate multiple beneficiaries.

Leaves of Absence

If you are not actively at work due to illness, injury, temporary layoff, personal leave, family care leave, administrative leave (for non-medical reasons), or paid-furlough, your life insurance coverage will continue for 12 months from the start of your absence. After six months, you may qualify for a Waiver of Premium, which will allow for the further extension of your life insurance benefits (Permanent and Total Disability Benefit); however, you must provide New York Life with a written notice of claim for this extended benefit within the 12-month coverage period. Call SFHSS at (628) 652-4700 for information about how a Leave of Absence can impact your life insurance coverage.

Life Insurance Benefits Change Over Time

When you reach age 65, your benefits will drop to 65% of the original coverage amount. At age 70, your benefits will drop to 50%. At age 75, your benefits will drop to 30%.

Free EstateGuidance®

EstateGuidance® walks you through the process by guiding you through a series of questions, and breaking down each step into easy-to-understand terms. Access is available anytime, anywhere via tablet, desktop, or mobile app. 

Topics Include:

  • Last Will and Testament
    • The central component of every estate plan.
  • Living Will
    • Spells out end-of-life medical decisions.
  • Final Arrangements
    • Specifies burial or cremation; funeral or
      memorial service options.

Employer-Paid Group Life Insurance Conversion

If you leave your job or otherwise lose eligibility, you may be able to convert your Employer-Paid Group Life Insurance to an individual policy, with premiums paid by you. If you would like to convert your Employer-Paid Group Life Insurance, go to the top of this page, click the Group Life Insurance button, download the portability and conversion form, and submit it to SFHSS.

2026 Plan Resources

2025 Plan Resources

Group Life Insurance Bargaining Units Chart

Outline of Life Insurance Plan Basics

Bargaining Unit¹

Coverage
Municipal Attorneys Association$150,000
Municipal Executives Association² 
Superior Court of San Francisco, Commissioners Association
Superior Court of San Francisco, Municipal Executives Association
Superior Court of San Francisco, Unrepresented Managers
Superior Court Attorneys311C, 312C, 316C$125,000
American Physicians & Dentists$50,000
Auto. Machinists Local 1414
Building Inspectors Association (6331, Unit 51 & 6333, Unit 51)
CCSF Unrepresented Employees
Consolidated Craft Coalition
Deputy Probation Officers
Electrical Workers Local 6
IFPTE Local 21
Laborers International Union Local 261
Operating Engineers Local 3 (Supervising Probation Officers)
Painters Local 4
SEIU Local 1021
SEIU Local 1021 Staff Nurses
Stationary Engineers Local 39
Superior Court Local 21
Superior Court Misc. Unrepresented
Superior Court Reporters
Superior Court SEIU Local 1021
Superior Court Interpreters
Supervising Probation Officers
Teamsters Local 856 Multi-Unit
TWU Local 200 SEAM
TWU Local 250-A (7410) Auto Svc. Workers
TWU Local 250-A Multi-Unit (Unit 28)
Union of Plumbers Local 38

¹If your bargaining unit or unrepresented classes are not listed above, you do not have employer-paid group life insurance. ²Fire and Police employees represented by MEA have other life insurance benefits.

This is a general summary. For a complete list of bargaining units with Group Life Insurance benefits and to view plan documents below or call New York Life at (800) 225-5695.