Voluntary Supplemental Benefits
Open Enrollment

Voluntary Supplemental Benefits (VSB) give you the flexibility to enroll in optional coverage such as life, disability, and critical illness insurance—tailored to meet your and your family’s unique needs. Enrollment is entirely optional, so you can choose only the plans and coverage levels that work best for you.

All eligible State employees and employees of a participating political subdivision are eligible to participate in open enrollment.

Enroll Now

Visit the VSB webpage webpage for eligibility rules and detailed information about each benefit.

For help navigating the Benefitfocus platform, view this helpful enrollment guide. PDF

Supplemental Life Insurance Enhancements

The Supplemental Life Insurance plan, available to eligible employees of the State of Alaska and participating political subdivisions, is offering several enhancements in 2026, including increased benefit amounts, an increased threshold for proof of health, and, for this year’s open enrollment, a simplified process for providing proof of health.

Increased Benefit Amounts

In prior years, Supplemental Life Insurance has included coverage options of:

• $10,000
• $50,000
• $100,000
• $200,000
• $300,000

Beginning in 2026, we will be adding the following levels to offer you even more options:

• $400,000
• $500,000
• $600,000
• $700,000
• $800,000

These additional levels offer you more flexibility and greater coverage to ensure your Supplemental Life Insurance is enough to protect the ones you love. Please read the next section for important information about when proof of health is required for enrolling in this coverage.

Statement of Health

In prior years, newly eligible enrollees were required to provide proof of health (also called a Statement of Health) for any coverage amount above $100,000. Beginning this year, that threshold will be raised to $300,000. This means that new hires can enroll in coverage up to $300,000 without providing a Statement of Health.

If you are already enrolled in Supplemental Life Insurance and wish to increase your coverage, you will have a special opportunity during this year’s Open Enrollment to increase your coverage up to $300,000 without providing a Statement of Health.

If you are not a new employee and are not already enrolled in Supplemental Life, or if you are electing a coverage amount of $400,000 or higher, you will need to complete a Statement of Health.

Good news! If you are required to submit a Statement of Health, you will see a simplified process during this year’s Open Enrollment. Instead of completing the usual form, you will be able to answer just five health questions as proof of your insurability. This simplified process is exclusively available during this year’s Open Enrollment as a special opportunity to make it easier for you to enroll.

Following this year’s Open Enrollment, employees who are enrolled in coverage will be able to increase their coverage by one level each open enrollment period up to $300,000 without a Statement of Health.

You can find more information about the Supplemental Life Insurance plan on the VSB webpage webpage.

New! Dependent Life Insurance Plans

In 2026, the State of Alaska will be offering two new dependent life insurance plans, Spouse Supplemental Life and Child Supplemental Life, to eligible employees of the State of Alaska and participating political subdivisions. These plans are intended to protect your family after an unexpected loss, and are available regardless of whether you enroll in Supplemental Life Insurance for yourself.

Spouse Supplemental Life

Employees will have the option to elect life insurance for an eligible spouse in $10,000 coverage increments ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Any amount over $50,000 will require a Statement of Health. During this year’s Open Enrollment, you will be able to answer just five health questions as proof of your spouse’s insurability. This simplified process is exclusively available during this year’s Open Enrollment as a special opportunity to make it easier for you to enroll your spouse.

To learn more about this plan, visit the Spouse Supplemental Life Insurance section webpage of the VSB webpage webpage.

Child Supplemental Life

Employees will have the option to elect life insurance for eligible children in coverage increments of:

• $5,000
• $10,000
• $15,000
• $20,000

You can cover any or all of your eligible children under the same Child Life plan, with no extra premiums for additional children. No Statement of Health is required.

To learn more about this plan, visit the Child Supplemental Life Insurance section webpage of the VSB webpage webpage.

Long-Term Disability Plan Enhancements

Beginning in 2026, the State of Alaska is making the following enhancements to the Long-Term Disability Plan (available to eligible employees of the State of Alaska and participating political subdivisions):

• Increase to Long-Term Disability Plan B: The benefit amount for Plan B will be increasing from 50% to 60% of your pre-disability earnings. If you are enrolled in this plan and you do not participate in Open Enrollment, your benefit amount will automatically increase from 50% to 60%.
• Increased Benefit Maximum: The Long-Term Disability maximum monthly benefit will increase from $8,000 to $12,000 for both Plan B and Plan C.
• Lower Premiums: Both Plan B and Plan C will have reduced premiums in 2026.
• Increased Duration for Mental Illness and Drug and Alcohol: The duration of benefits for mental illness or drug and alcohol disabilities will increase from 24 months to 36 months.

Reduced Premiums

Effective January 1, 2026, you will see a reduction in the premiums for Select Life, Supplemental Life, and Long-Term Disability insurance.

2026 Group Life and Voluntary Supplemental Benefits Premiums

You can change or enroll in your voluntary benefit options during an open enrollment period or within 31 days of a qualified status change (for example, employment changes or family changes like marriage or the birth of a child). Simply click the “Enroll Now” button at the top of this page.

You can select from the following voluntary options:

• Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
  • Select Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
  • Supplemental Life Insurance
  • Supplemental Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (if Supplemental Life is also elected)
• Dependent Life Insurance
  • Spouse Supplemental Life Insurance
  • Child Supplemental Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
  • Short-Term Disability
  • Long-Term Disability
• Critical Illness Insurance

Please note that upon hire, you are automatically enrolled in employer-paid benefits, which may include Basic Life, Basic Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), and Basic Travel Accident, depending on your employer. If provided, these benefits are offered to you premium-free by your employer. You will not need to enroll in these benefits separately.

To learn more about each of these employer sponsored benefits, please visit our VSB webpage.

Getting Prepared Before You Enroll

Taking time now to review your options ensures you’re making informed choices that support your health, finances, and future.

• Review your options, including any changes in premiums or benefits. Think about what options will work best for you and your family in the upcoming year.
• Log in to the VSB enrollment system to review your dependents/beneficiaries and ensure the information is still accurate.
• Log in to the VSB enrollment system to review and make any necessary changes to your benefits.
• If you do not participate in this year’s Open Enrollment period, your current elections will roll over to the 2026 plan year.

  Please note: If you are currently enrolled in Long-Term Disability Plan B, your coverage amount will automatically increase from 50% to 60% of your pre-disability earnings, with lower premium rates.

Changing your coverage before Open Enrollment ends

You may change your mind about any benefit choices as long as you re-enroll in your final choices before the enrollment deadline. Remember, each time you re-enroll, a new enrollment is processed. The previous enrollment will no longer exist. Make sure to re-select each of your elections and print your confirmation page for your records.

Changing your coverage after Open Enrollment ends

After Open Enrollment ends at 5 p.m. on the last day of the enrollment period, you will not be able to make changes to your benefits unless you have a qualified life event. Make certain you have elected coverage that is the right fit for you and your eligible dependents.

After open enrollment, you can only make changes in conjunction with a qualified status change or other applicable event. Examples can include a change in your employment, legal marital status, or the birth of a child.

For a complete list, see the eligibility provisions in the specific MetLife Insurance Certificate. You must make changes and report most qualifying status changes or other applicable events within 31 calendar days from the event.