Enrollment in FCPS group life insurance plans is based on an employee's enrollment in a retirement program.

VRS Group Life Insurance Plans

VRS Life Insurance Plans are available to full-time educational, administrative, and operational employees who are enrolled in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS).

If an employee is a participant in the VRS retirement plan, the employee is automatically enrolled in the VRS Basic Life Insurance plan. As part of this mandatory life insurance plan, employees are eligible to receive life insurance as well as accidental death and dismemberment benefits. This plan is sponsored by the Virginia Retirement System and insured through Securian Financial.

VRS Basic Group Life Insurance

All eligible employees receive basic life insurance through their retirement program.

• Basic coverage equals two times an employee's annual salary rounded to the next higher $1,000.

• If an employee should die in an accident, the benefit would generally be twice what it would be if the employee were to die of natural causes.

• If an employee is in an accident, the employee will receive benefits according to the loss experienced in the accident (such as the loss of an arm or leg or loss of sight).

• Employees can continue coverage while they are on a leave without pay, but they are responsible for the premiums.

VRS members, along with FCPS, each pay a share of the VRS Basic Life Insurance premium. Deductions are taken from each paycheck each pay period.

VRS Optional Group Life Insurance

Through the VRS Optional Life Insurance program, employees may purchase additional life insurance at group rates for themselves and their family.

Optional Life Insurance has certain guaranteed coverage amounts if you enroll within 31 calendar days of the date of hire/eligibility. Evidence of Insurability (EOI) is required if the coverage exceeds the guaranteed amount and/or if you do not enroll within the 31 days calendar days of your date of hire/eligibility. 

Employees may choose from eight options:

• Your Spouse's Coverage: If you elect coverage for your spouse, the amount of coverage corresponds to the option that you elected. For example, if you elect Option 2 for your Additional Employee Coverage (which is 2x your salary) and you elect spousal coverage, your spouse’s coverage is 1x your salary. Premiums for your spouse’s coverage are calculated based on your spouse’s age.

• Your Dependent Child(ren) Coverage: If you elect coverage for your dependent child(ren), the amount of coverage also corresponds to the option you selected for your additional coverage. 

Employees are responsible for the full cost of the Optional Life Insurance coverage selected. If enrolled, the cost is deducted from your paycheck, and deductions are taken from September through June. Refer to the Optional Life Insurance Overview for additional information. 

How to Apply

To apply for optional life insurance as a VRS member, you can apply online through your myVRS account. For benefit and coverage questions, contact Securian’s Richmond branch office at 1-800-441-2258 or send an email to [email protected]. 

County FCERS Life Insurance Plans

FCERS Life Insurance plans are available to full-time maintenance, custodial, food service, or transportation employees or less-than-full-time educational, administrative, and operational employees who are enrolled in Fairfax County Employee Retirement System (FCERS). Employees who work less than 50 percent of a normal scheduled workday are not eligible for life insurance. Food-service employees are eligible if they work at least 15 hours per week.

County FCERS Basic Group Life Insurance

If an employee is enrolled in the FCERS retirement plan, the employee is automatically enrolled in the County FCERS Basic Life Insurance plan. As part of this mandatory County FCERS Basic Life Insurance plan, employees are eligible to receive life insurance as well as accidental death and dismemberment benefits. The County FCERS Life Insurance plans are insured through MetLife.

• Employees are automatically covered for one times their salary rounded to the next higher $1,000.

• If an employee should die in an accident, the benefit would generally be twice what it would be if the employee were to die of natural causes.

• If an employee is in an accident, the employee will receive benefits according to the loss experienced in the accident (such as the loss of an arm or leg or loss of sight).

• Employees can continue coverage while they are on a leave without pay but they will be responsible for the premiums.

FCPS pays the full cost for County FCERS Basic Life Insurance coverage as long as employees are actively at work.

County FCERS Optional Life Insurance

Employees may purchase additional life insurance at group rates for themselves and their family.

Optional Life Insurance has certain guaranteed coverage amounts if you enroll within 30 days of the date of hire/eligibility. Evidence of insurability (EOI) is required if the coverage exceeds the guaranteed amount and/or if you do not enroll within the 30 days calendar days of your date of hire/eligibility. 

Employees may choose from these options:

• Optional Employee Coverage:
  • Option 1 = 1 x Salary
  • Option 2 = 2 x Salary
• Optional Dependent Coverage:
  • Low Option = Spouse $5,000; Child(ren) $2,500
  • High Option = Spouse $10,000; Child(ren) $5,000

Employees are responsible for the full cost of the Optional Life Insurance selected. If enrolled, the cost is deducted from your paycheck, and deductions are taken from September through June.

How to Apply

To apply for optional and/or spouse/dependent life, you can apply online through your MetLife account. Under employer name, search for “Fairfax County Public Schools”, then log in to your account. If you are a new user, you will need to click “Register” to create your account. If you have any questions, please contact MetLIfe at 1-866-492-6983 (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET.).

Changing Beneficiaries

If you would like to change or update your beneficiaries for life insurance, please visit the Updating or Changing Your Beneficiaries website.