Optional Term Life (OTL) Insurance
Optional Term Life (OTL) Insurance, including accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, is available under the IBM Group Life Insurance Plan. Have a look around to find out more about coverage to protect you and your loved ones.
Open Enrollment Information
During IBM’s Annual Benefits Enrollment, October 27 through November 10, 2025, active IBMers can enroll in Optional Term Life Insurance through NetBenefits. Coverage will be effective on January 1, 2026.
During Annual Enrollment:
Current participants may increase up to the lesser of 3x annual base pay or $750,000 with no health questions. You may apply for higher coverage amounts by answering just five health questions.1
Non-participants may enroll for 1x annual base pay, up to $750,000 with no health questions. You may apply for higher coverage amounts by answering just five health questions.1
New Hires
If you were hired within the past 60 days, you have an opportunity to enroll for term life insurance coverage for yourself in an amount equal to three (3) times your annual base pay (capped at $750,000) without answering any medical questions. You can also enroll your spouse/domestic partner in term life insurance up to $50,000 without answering any medical questions. Coverage for child(ren) is also available; see below for more information. Coverage amounts for you are rounded up to the next higher multiple of $1,000 as applicable.1,2
What is OTL?
OTL provides term life insurance coverage in the form of yearly renewable life insurance as long as you are an IBM employee. Once you enroll in OTL, your insurance coverage will carry over from year-to-year, unless you request to discontinue your coverage or if you are no longer eligible. Any increase to your base pay will result in an increase in OTL (including AD&D insurance if you enroll) for yourself. If you are eligible for IBM-provided life insurance (GLI), you are eligible for OTL. IBM supplemental employees and Long-Term Supplemental employees are also eligible for MetLife OTL coverages.
OTL provides you with the opportunity to get additional life insurance for yourself as well as your spouse/domestic partner and child(ren). It is intended to supplement the Group Life Insurance coverage provided by IBM.
You can enroll your spouse/domestic partner and child(ren) in OTL, even if you choose not to enroll yourself.
- Spouses/domestic partners can be covered until the end of the month in which they attain age 80.
- Children can be covered until the end of the month in which they attain age 26, this includes your natural children, stepchildren, adopted children, and any child who resides with and is fully supported by you. Children who are disabled and were enrolled in OTL prior to attaining age 26 are eligible to retain coverage. Disabled means incapable of self-sustaining employment because of mental or physical handicap.
You must be actively at work to enroll in term life insurance coverage for yourself or your dependent(s).3
You pay for the costs of the term life insurance under OTL on an after-tax basis via payroll deductions. After you separate from IBM, you can continue coverage, however, with a different cost structure on a self-pay individual basis.
As part of OTL, if you purchase life insurance for yourself, you and your family are entitled to the following, at no additional charge:
- Will Preparation Services4 – Provides unlimited meetings with an attorney to prepare or update a will, living will, health care proxy, and Power of Attorney.
- Estate Resolution Services4 – Gives your beneficiary legal assistance for general questions about the probate process and settling estates.
Additionally, as part of OTL, if you purchase life insurance for yourself and/or your dependents, your beneficiaries and your enrolled dependents’ beneficiaries are entitled to the following, at no additional charge:
- Beneficiary Grief Counseling5 – Provides 5 in-person or telephonic counseling sessions and unlimited access to online self-help resources in the event of your passing.
- Empathy10 – Support and guidance for beneficiaries managing their grief as well as help with probating and settling an estate, closing accounts, home clearing, and more. Beneficiaries can choose to get the support they need online through the Empathy app/portal, or with a dedicated Care Manager, or a combination of both.
OTL is available for you and your dependents as follows:
- Employee: Half your annual base pay or 1 – 10 times your annual base pay, rounded to the next higher multiple of $1,000 (if applicable), up to $4,000,000.
- Spouse/Domestic Partner6: $10,000 – $250,000 in $10,000 increments, not to exceed 100% of the Employee’s GLI and OTL amount.
- Child(ren): $5,000 – $25,000 in $5,000 increments.
Depending on the amount of life insurance you select for yourself or your spouse/domestic partner, you may be required to complete a medical review, also known as a Statement of Health .7 You can enroll your dependent child(ren) without the need for a Statement of Health.7
Changes are permitted to OTL coverages outside of annual enrollment periods; however, a medical review will be required for any increase in life insurance for you or your spouse/domestic partner. Certain qualified status changes such as marriage, entering into a domestic partnership, or the birth/adoption of a child will allow you the opportunity to increase OTL coverage, without a medical review, between annual enrollment periods. Refer to the qualified status changes section below for more information.
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D)8
What is AD&D Insurance?
Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance is a separate election from term life insurance and provides coverage for severe accidents or loss of life. It covers various losses such as loss of limbs, sight, speech and hearing, various forms of paralysis, brain damage, and coma. The cost for AD&D insurance is paid by you on an after-tax basis.
You do not need to enroll yourself in AD&D insurance in order to enroll your spouse/domestic partner and child(ren) in AD&D insurance.
- Spouses/domestic partners can be covered until the end of the month in which they attain age 80.
- Children can be covered until the end of the month in which they attain age 26, this includes your natural children, stepchildren, adopted children, and any child who resides with and is fully supported by you. Children who are disabled and were enrolled in OTL prior to attaining age 26 are eligible to retain coverage. Disabled means incapable of self-sustaining employment because of mental or physical handicap.
As part of OTL, if you purchase AD&D insurance for yourself, you and your family are entitled to the following, at no additional charge:
Travel Assistance9 – This benefit provides you and your family access to emergency services while you travel, plus medical, legal, transportation and financial assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year when you are more than 100 miles away from home.
AD&D coverage is available for you and your dependents as follows:
- Employee: Half your annual base pay or 1 – 10 times your annual base pay, rounded to the next higher multiple of $1,000 (if applicable), up to $4,000,000.
- Spouse/Domestic Partner10: $10,000 – $500,000 in $10,000 increments.
- Child(ren): $5,000 – $25,000 in $5,000 increments.
Regardless of the amount of AD&D insurance you select for yourself or your dependents, you will not have to complete a medical review, also known as a Statement of Health .7
Changes are permitted to AD&D coverages between annual enrollment periods.
When choosing your benefits, it’s important to understand the difference between Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) and Accident Insurance. AD&D pays a lump sum for severe, life-altering injuries or accidental death such as loss of limbs, sight, or paralysis. It’s designed to support your family financially in the event of a tragic accident. Alternatively, Accident Insurance helps cover a broader range of costs from everyday injuries like fractures, burns, or ER visits. It pays benefits directly to you to help offset out-of-pocket expenses.
A qualified status change is an event impacting your family, employment, or coverage status. If you have a qualified status change, you must call the IBM Benefits Center – Provided by Fidelity within 60 days of the date of the qualified status change, otherwise you will not be able to take advantage of the lessened medical review requirements associated with certain qualified status changes, which are noted below.
Please note:
- Changes to accidental death and dismemberment insurance for yourself or your dependents never require a medical review.
- Retiree Supplemental employees must always complete a medical review when increasing term life insurance for themselves or their spouse/domestic partner.
| Qualified Status Change | What Coverages can be changed? | Effective Date of Coverage Changes | Medical Review Requirements |
| Marriage or entering into a domestic partnership | May change coverage elections for employee and dependents | Changes are effective retroactively to the event date | Enrolled Employees: Can increase term life insurance by 1 level without a medical review, up to 3 times annual base pay or $750K, whichever is less. Employees may enroll for additional coverage by answering some medical questions1 Employees in ‘No Coverage’: Can elect 0.5 times or 1 times annual base pay, up to $750K, without a medical review. Employees may enroll for additional coverage by answering some medical questions1 Spouse/Domestic Partner: Can enroll for or increase term life insurance up to $50,000 without a medical review. Spouses/domestic partners may enroll for additional coverage by answering some medical questions1 Children: No medical review is required |
| The birth, adoption, or placement for adoption of a dependent child | May change coverage elections for employee and dependents | Changes are effective retroactively to the event date | Enrolled Employees: Can increase term life insurance by 1 level without a medical review, up to 3 times annual base pay or $750K, whichever is less. Employees may enroll for additional coverage by answering some medical questions1 Employees in ‘No Coverage’: Can elect 0.5 times or 1 times annual base pay, up to $750K, without a medical review. Employees may enroll for additional coverage by answering some medical questions1 Spouse/Domestic Partner: Can enroll for or increase term life insurance up to $50,000 without a medical review. Spouses/domestic partners may enroll for additional coverage by answering some medical questions1 Children: No medical review is required |
The employee’s dependent's ceasing to qualify as a dependent under this insurance or under other group coverage |
May decrease coverage elections for employee and dependents other than the dependent ceasing to qualify. Coverage for dependent ceasing to qualify would terminate | Changes are effective the first of the month following the date the employee requests the change | N/A |
| The death of a dependent | May decrease coverage elections for employee and dependents other than the deceased dependent. Coverage for deceased dependent would terminate | Changes are effective the first of the month following the date the employee requests the change | N/A |
| Divorce, legal separation, or annulment | May change coverage elections for employee and children. Coverage for spouse/domestic partner would terminate | Changes are effective the first of the month following the date the employee requests the change |
Enrolled Employees: Can increase term life insurance by 1 level without a medical review, up to 3 times annual base pay or $750K, whichever is less. Employees may enroll for additional coverage by answering some medical questions1 Employees in ‘No Coverage’: Can elect 0.5 times or 1 times annual base pay, up to $750K, without a medical review. Employees may enroll for additional coverage by answering some medical questions1 Spouse/Domestic Partner: N/A Children: No medical review is required |
| A change in the employee’s or the employee’s dependent's employment status, such as beginning or ending employment, strike, lockout, taking or ending a leave of absence, changes in worksite or work schedule, if it causes the employee or the employee’s dependent to gain or lose eligibility for group coverage | May change coverage elections for employee and dependents | Changes are effective the first of the month following the event | Enrolled Employees: Can increase term life insurance to 1 times coverage, up to $750K without a medical review. Employees may enroll for additional coverage by answering some medical questions1 Employees in ‘No Coverage’: Can elect 0.5 times or 1 times coverage, up to $750K, without a medical review. Employees may enroll for additional coverage by answering some medical questions1 Spouse/Domestic Partner: Can enroll for or increase term life insurance up to $50,000 without a medical review. Spouses/domestic partners may enroll for additional coverage by answering some medical questions1 Children: No medical review is required |
| A change in the employee's or the employee's dependent's residence, if it causes the employee's or the employee's spouse/domestic partner to gain eligibility for group coverage | May change coverage elections for employee and dependents | Changes are effective the first of the month following the date the employee requests the changes | Enrolled Employees: Can increase term life insurance to 1 times coverage, up to $750K without a medical review. Employees may enroll for additional coverage by answering some medical questions1 Employees in ‘No Coverage’: Can elect 0.5 times or 1 times annual base pay, up to $750K, without a medical review. Employees may enroll for additional coverage by answering some medical questions1 Spouse/Domestic Partner: Can enroll for or increase term life insurance up to $50,000 without a medical review. Spouses/domestic partners may enroll for additional coverage by answering some medical questions1 Children: No medical review is required |
| A change in the employee's or the employee's dependent's residence, if it causes the employee or the employee's dependent to lose eligibility for group coverage | May change coverage elections for employee and dependents | Changes are effective retroactively to the event date | Enrolled Employees: Can increase term life insurance to 1 times coverage, up to $750K without a medical review. Employees may enroll for additional coverage by answering some medical questions1 Employees in ‘No Coverage’: Can elect 0.5 times or 1 times annual base pay, up to $750K, without a medical review. Employees may enroll for additional coverage by answering some medical questions1 Spouse/Domestic Partner: Can enroll for or increase term life insurance up to $50,000 without a medical review. Spouses/domestic partners may enroll for additional coverage by answering some medical questions1 Children: No medical review is required |
Life Insurance
Why is having enough life insurance protection so important?
It is important to take steps to make sure your family and loved ones would be financially prepared if you were no longer there to handle expenses like:
1. Food
2. Mortgage or rent payments
3. Transportation
4. Child care/education fees or student loans
5. Credit cards
6. Funeral expenses
Covering everyday living expenses and household bills is just one part of the life insurance equation. Without enough life insurance coverage, a premature death could have a major impact on your family’s and loved one’s financial security, lifestyle and savings. Many people would probably have trouble keeping up with longer term expenses like college tuition, caring for an aging parent, or retirement.
It’s also important to consider life events that could cause you to need more protection as your financial commitments and lifestyle change. Getting a new job, getting married or entering into a domestic partnership, having children, continuing education, retiring, buying a home — these are all events that could call for adding more life insurance.
What’s the minimum amount of life insurance you should have?
To help you get an idea of how much to consider, try our calculator tool. Keep in mind that the amount of IBM-provided GLI insurance and other amounts of life insurance you or your spouse/domestic partner may have should be taken into consideration.
Please visit the FAQ section for more information on the Optional Term Life (OTL) coverages.
1 All applications for coverage are subject to review and approval by MetLife. If you choose to apply for increased coverage, the increase may be subject to underwriting. MetLife will review your information and evaluate your request for coverage based upon your answers to the health questions, MetLife’s underwriting rules and other information you authorize us to review. In certain cases, MetLife may request additional information to evaluate your request for coverage. Coverage will be effective in accordance with the applicable policy and certificate after approval by MetLife. Only applicants who reside in a US state, the District of Columbia, or Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico or US Virgin Islands are allowed to complete their SOH form online (where available). Otherwise, applicants will be provided with a paper SOH form. Individuals residing outside of the US or in certain US territories must be on US payroll and be approved by MetLife before being provided with an SOH form.7 This enrollment opportunity only applies to employees who are not considered Retiree Supplemental employees. Retiree Supplemental employees, and their spouse/domestic partner, will need to complete a medical review for all amounts of life insurance they enroll for.
2 If you are not actively at work, you will not be able to enroll in coverage for yourself or your dependents until you return to active work.
3 Included with Supplemental Life Insurance. Will Preparation and Estate Resolution Services are offered by MetLife Legal Plans, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. In certain states, legal services benefits are provided through insurance coverage underwritten by Metropolitan General Insurance Company, Warwick, Rhode Island. For New York sitused or principally located cases, the Will Preparation service is an expanded offering that includes office consultations and telephone advice for certain other legal matters beyond Will Preparation. Tax Planning and preparation of Living Trusts are not covered by the Will Preparation Service.
Certain services are not covered by Estate Resolution Services, including matters in which there is a conflict of interest between the executor and any beneficiary or heir and the estate; any disputes with the group policyholder, MetLife and/ or any of its affiliates; any disputes involving statutory benefits; will contests or litigation outside probate court; appeals; court costs, filing fees, recording fees, transcripts, witness fees, expenses to a third party, judgments or fines; and frivolous or unethical matters.
4 Beneficiary Grief Counseling services are provided through an agreement with TELUS Health. TELUS Health is not an affiliate of MetLife, and the services TELUS Health provides are separate and apart from the insurance provided by MetLife. TELUS Health has a nationwide network of over 30,000 counselors. Counselors have master’s or doctoral degrees and are licensed professionals. This program is available only to beneficiaries of MetLife group Life Insurance programs. Events that may result in a loss are not covered under this program unless and until such loss has occurred.
5 OTL spouse/domestic partner coverage: The amount of OTL your spouse/domestic partner is able to enroll in is contingent on the amount of life insurance you are eligible for under the IBM Group Life Insurance Plan.
For example, if you are eligible for 2 times annual base pay, rounded to the next higher $1,000 (if applicable), for IBM-provided GLI and 10 times annual base pay, rounded to the next higher $1,000 (if applicable), under OTL, your spouse/domestic partner cannot enroll in life insurance greater than the dollar amount of 12 times your annual base pay, rounded to the next higher $1,000 (if applicable), or $6,000,000, whichever is less.
6 All applications for coverage are subject to review and approval by MetLife. If you choose to apply for increased coverage, the increase may be subject to underwriting. MetLife will review your information and evaluate your request for coverage based upon your answers to the health questions, MetLife’s underwriting rules and other information you authorize us to review. In certain cases, MetLife may request additional information to evaluate your request for coverage. Coverage will be effective in accordance with the applicable policy and certificate after approval by MetLife. Only applicants who reside in a US state, the District of Columbia, or Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico or US Virgin Islands are allowed to complete their SOH form online (where available). Otherwise, applicants will be provided with a paper SOH form. Individuals residing outside of the US or in certain US territories must be on US payroll and be approved by MetLife before being provided with an SOH form.
7 Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance does not include payment for any loss which is caused by or contributed to by: physical or mental illness, diagnosis of or treatment of the illness; an infection, unless caused by an external wound accidentally sustained; suicide or attempted suicide; injuring oneself on purpose; the voluntary intake or use by any means of any drug, medication or sedative, unless taken as prescribed by a doctor or an over-the-counter drug taken as directed; voluntary intake of alcohol in combination with any drug, medication or sedative; war, whether declared or undeclared, or act of war, insurrection, rebellion or riot; committing or trying to commit a felony; any poison, fumes or gas, voluntarily taken, administered or absorbed; service in the armed forces of any country or international authority, except the United States National Guard; operating, learning to operate, or serving as a member of a crew of an aircraft; while in any aircraft for the purpose of descent from such aircraft while in flight (except for self-preservation); or operating a vehicle or device while intoxicated as defined by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the accident occurs. Specific information pertaining to your insurance can be obtained by contacting your benefits administrator.
8 Travel Assistance services are offered and administered by AXA Assistance USA, Inc. Certain benefits provided under the Travel Assistance program are underwritten by Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s London (not incorporated) through Lloyd’s Illinois, Inc. Neither AXA Assistance USA Inc. nor the Lloyd’s entities are affiliated with MetLife, and the services and benefits they provide are separate and apart from the insurance provided by MetLife.
9 AD&D spouse/domestic partner coverage: The amount of AD&D insurance your spouse/domestic partner is able to enroll in is contingent on the amount of AD&D insurance you are eligible for under the IBM Group Life Insurance Plan. For example, if you are eligible for 10 times annual base pay, rounded up to the nearest $1,000 (if applicable), under AD&D insurance, your spouse/domestic partner cannot enroll in AD&D insurance greater than the dollar amount of 10 times your annual base pay, rounded up to the nearest (if applicable), or $500,000, whichever is lesser.
10 Empathy’s bereavement services and platform are provided through an agreement with The Empathy Project, Inc., (doing business as Empathy). Empathy is not an affiliate of MetLife, and the services Empathy provides are separate and apart from the insurance provided by MetLife. This program is available to the beneficiaries of deceased insureds covered under MetLife Group Life insurance programs and to insureds who are terminally ill and eligible to accelerate life proceeds under MetLife's Accelerated Benefit Option. Empathy’s terminal illness services are not available on NY policy forms or policy forms operating under NY jurisdiction. Empathy is only available to insureds and beneficiaries who are US residents. Information disclosed directly to Empathy is not disclosed to MetLife, and therefore is not subject to MetLife’s privacy policy.
These materials are intended to provide an overview of certain IBM plans and programs in which you may be eligible to participate. These materials are not an official Summary Plan Description and do not provide full details. The formal plan documents are the complete and exclusive statement of the company’s obligations under the Plan. The official Plan documents shall govern in the event of a conflict between the terms of the Plan documents and information contained in these or any other documents and statements. The Plan Administrator retains exclusive authority and discretion to interpret the terms of the IBM benefit plans and programs described herein.
Nothing in these materials is intended to be advice for any particular situation or individual. Life insurance benefits available under the IBM Group Life Insurance Plan are provided under MetLife group life insurance policies which, like most group insurance policies, contain certain exclusions, limitations and requirements for maintaining coverage in force. Any such exclusions, limitations and requirements will be described in the insurance certificate and/or the IBM Group Life Insurance Plan formal plan documents.
Like most group insurance policies, insurance policies offered by MetLife contain certain exclusions, exceptions, waiting periods, reductions, limitations and terms for keeping them in force. Please contact your benefits administrator or MetLife for costs and complete details.