Have you thought about taking out long-term care insurance for yourself but haven't wanted the hassle of getting medical clearance? Have you wanted to increase your life insurance coverage but keep postponing because you didn't want to get a physical first?

Now's the time to think again. Within the next week, all staff and faculty who are eligible for Cornell benefits will receive a booklet at their home address announcing a special benefits open enrollment period for long-term care insurance and life insurance. During this time, you can enroll in or increase your long-term care coverage as well as enroll in or increase your own, your spouse's or your same-sex partner's Cornell group universal life (GUL) insurance without needing to present medical qualifications. The special open enrollment period for these two insurances will run April 21-May 2.

Life Insurance

Do you have the basic life insurance coverage that Cornell University pays for, but want to increase your life insurance coverage by enrolling in Cornell's Group Universal Life insurance (GUL)? During the special open enrollment period, you may elect a level of life insurance equal to one times your salary without having to answer any medical questions. If you're currently enrolled in the GUL plan, you can increase your coverage by one times your salary during this open enrollment period, without answering medical questions. (Any greater increases will require medical review.) The maximum life insurance amount you can purchase through GUL is ten times your salary or $2,000,000, whichever is less.

Do you want life insurance for your spouse/same-sex partner? During the open enrollment period your spouse or partner can choose $10,000 of coverage without being required to have a physical examination by his/her primary care physician. If your spouse or same-sex partner is currently enrolled in Cornell's GUL, their life insurance can be increased by $10,000 without needing a physical. Your spouse/same-sex partner plan maximum is $100,000.

You will also be able to enroll or increase the levels of life insurance for your dependent children during the special enrollment period.

Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance provides for a range of benefits if you are unable to perform such activities of daily living as bathing, dressing or eating by yourself. It helps defray the costs of nursing home care, hospice care or custodial care that you might receive at home that are not covered by other health plans.

Cornell's long-term care plan through CNA offers various levels of coverage. You can choose your level of reimbursement, from $100 to $300/day, and a length of time the benefit will last, from three to 10 years. See CNA's Web site at http://www.ltcbenefits.com for full details. The password is cornelltc.

Pet Insurance

For the first time, Cornell will offer pet insurance, through Marsh@WorkSolutions, Cornell's broker for auto and home insurance. The pet insurance is described in the booklet, and greater details will be provided, April 21, on the Marsh@WorkSolutions web site at http://www.personal-plans.com/cornell/.

This pet insurance covers dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets. Pet owners can choose to purchase one of several levels of coverage; each pet must be covered individually. There is no special open enrollment period for pet insurance: You can enroll your pet at any time, but pre-existing conditions are not covered, and medical underwriting is required, including answering medical questions, for each pet you would like to cover.

Like long-term care insurance, pet insurance works on a flat reimbursement schedule: You decide how much you are willing to pay and choose how much insurance coverage you will purchase. You are reimbursed up to that amount when you incur the expenses covered by the plan.

In addition to the Web pages and booklet, more information is available April 21 in 163 Day Hall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Representatives from CIGNA (life insurance), CNA (long-term care) and Marsh@WorkSolutions (pet insurance) will be available to discuss your options.