{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/51.1-505.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/51.1-505.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/51.1-505.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/51.1-505.html"}],"law_id":86868,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86868,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-505","catch_line":"Amounts of life and accident insurance for each employee; reduction and termination of insurance","history":"1960, c. 604, \u00a7\u00a7 51-111.67:2, 51-111.67:4; 1962, cc. 43, 542; 1964, c. 594; 1966, c. 174; 1968, c. 736; 1970, c. 774; 1971, Ex. Sess., cc. 88, 89, 185; 1972, c. 708; 1973, cc. 545, 546; 1974, cc. 353, 484; 1975, cc. 306, 309, 597, 611; 1976, cc. 551, 654; 1977, c. 620; 1978, c. 841; 1980, cc. 595, 637, 638; 1981, cc. 151, 478; 1982, cc. 467, 478, 639; 1984, c. 430; 1986, c. 474; 1990, c. 832; 1991, c. 700; 1995, cc. 52, 307, 605; 1999, c. 111; 2001, c. 696; 2002, c. 313; 2003, cc. 9, 220; 2004, c. 102; 2005, cc. 147, 933, 945; 2006, c. 640; 2009, c. 362; 2010, c. 751; 2012, c. 696; 2015, c. 512.","full_text":"A\n\nEach employee to whom this chapter applies shall, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, be eligible to be insured for an amount of group life insurance plus an amount of group accidental death and dismemberment insurance, each amount equal to twice the amount of his annual salary. If an employee’s annual salary is not an even multiple of $1,000, his annual salary for purposes of this section shall be considered to be the next higher $1,000. For purposes of this section, the annual salary of a member of the General Assembly shall be his creditable compensation for his last full calendar year of service or his salary under § 30-19.11, whichever is greater, and shall include the full amount of any salaries payable to such member for working in covered positions, regardless of whether such salaries were paid, reduced, or not paid because of such member’s service in the General Assembly. The annual salary for an employee retired for service or disability on an immediate retirement allowance may be adjusted by the Board in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 1 (§ 51.1-124.1 et seq.).\n\t\t\tSubject to the conditions and limitations of the group insurance policy, the accidental death and dismemberment insurance shall provide payments as follows:\n\t\t\tFor any one accident, the aggregate amount of accidental death and dismemberment insurance that may be paid shall not exceed the maximum amount of accidental death and dismemberment insurance determined in accordance with this section.\n\t\t\tNotwithstanding the provisions of § 51.1-124.8, the amount of life insurance for which an employee shall be eligible shall be equal to twice the amount of his annual salary without regard to the date of the employee’s qualification for a retirement allowance.B\n\nThe amount of life insurance on an employee who retires for service on an immediate retirement allowance or who elects to postpone the receipt of his retirement allowance to some date other than his last day of service shall be the amount set forth in subsection A, reduced by an amount equal to 25 percent thereof on the January 1 following the first full year from the date the employee is separated from service and each January 1 thereafter. The amount of life insurance on an employee who retires for disability on an immediate retirement allowance shall be the amount set forth in subsection A on the date the employee last rendered service reduced by an amount equal to 25 percent thereof on January 1 following the first full year from the date the employee attains his “normal retirement date” as defined in § 51.1-124.3, and each January 1 thereafter. If the employee by statute or Board regulation has been construed to be in service to the beginning of the next school year, the reduction shall not apply until the beginning of the next school year. The reduction shall not decrease the amount of life insurance on an employee to less than 25 percent of the amount of life insurance to which the initial reduction is applied, provided, however, that the reduction shall not decrease the amount of life insurance to less than $8,000 for employees with at least 30 years of creditable service, which amount shall be increased by the same percentage as any annual post-retirement supplement for retirees, as calculated for employees hired on or after July 1, 2010, pursuant to § 51.1-166. For purposes of this subsection, an employee shall be deemed to have retired only if the employee has five or more years of service as an employee prior to the date of retirement. This requirement shall not be applicable if the employee is retired for disability.\n\t\t\tAny employee who was denied membership in the Retirement System because of having attained age 60 at the time of being employed or reemployed and who has five or more years of service immediately prior to separation from service shall retain the life insurance coverage as though he had retired on an immediate retirement allowance.C\n\nFor any employee who at any time has at least 20 years of creditable service in any retirement plan administered by the Virginia Retirement System or other Virginia public plan participating in the group life program established by this chapter, the amount of group life insurance shall be an amount equal to twice the amount of the highest annual salary earned during such employment.\n\t\t\tThe provisions of subsection B providing a reduction in the amount of life insurance shall apply to the amount of group life insurance as determined under this subsection for such employees with at least 20 years of creditable service.D\n\nThe amount of life insurance for an employee who is retired for disability on an immediate retirement allowance, who also has attained age 55, and who elects to receive a retirement allowance as set forth in subsection C of § 51.1-160, shall be reduced as set forth in subsection B. The reduction shall begin the January 1 following the first full year from the date the employee elects a service retirement allowance.E\n\nAll accidental death and dismemberment insurance on an employee shall cease upon the earliest of (i) his separation from service; (ii) his failure to pay, in the manner prescribed by the Board, the contribution required for the first 24 months of leave without pay; (iii) if the employee has not returned to pay status, the expiration of 24 months of leave without pay; or (iv) his retirement.F\n\nExcept in case of retirement as provided in subsections B, C, and D, all life insurance on an employee shall cease upon the earliest of (i) his separation from service; (ii) his failure to pay, in the manner prescribed by the Board, the contribution required for the first 24 months of leave without pay; or (iii) if the employee has not returned to pay status, the expiration of 24 months of leave without pay. Except in the case of retirement, life insurance shall be subject to a temporary extension of 31 days. During this 31-day extension, the employee may convert his life insurance into an individual policy of life insurance (without disability or other supplementary benefits) in any one of the forms, except term insurance, then customarily issued by the insuring company. The amount of life insurance which may be converted shall not exceed the amount of his life insurance under the group insurance policy at the time coverage is terminated. The insurance shall be converted to an individual policy (a) without evidence of insurability, (b) at the premium applicable to the class of risk to which he belongs, and (c) to the form and amount of the individual policy at his then attained age, provided application for the individual policy and payment of the first premium thereon is made to the issuing company within the 31 days. The right to convert to an individual policy as provided in § 38.2-3333 shall not apply upon termination of this group policy or elimination of a class of insured employees.\n\t\t\tExcept as provided in subsection C, the amount of life insurance on each insured employee who retires shall be determined under the provisions of this chapter as it exists on the employee’s date of retirement.G\n\nEach employee of a public institution of higher education or of a local school board who remains in service until the completion of the school year and who makes contributions required to provide insurance coverage until service normally will be resumed the beginning of the next school year shall be deemed to be in service as an employee through the period to which the payments apply. If the employee is retired for service or disability during this period, contributions made by the employee shall be accepted and retained as proper.\n\t\t\tEach state employee of a public institution of higher education or a teaching hospital affiliated with a public institution of higher education who (i) is employed pursuant to a contract (a) that is for a term of employment of at least nine months and (b) that does not coincide with the normal scholastic year, (ii) remains in service until the completion of the contract year, and (iii) makes contributions required to provide insurance coverage until service normally will be resumed at the beginning of the next contract year shall be deemed to be in service as an employee through the period to which the payments apply. If the employee is retired for service or disability during this period, contributions made by the employee shall be accepted and retained as proper.H\n\nThe limit of 24 months of leave without pay, after which accidental death and dismemberment insurance and life insurance shall cease, referred to in subsections E and F shall not apply to an employee who is on leave without pay while performing active duty military service in the armed forces of the United States.I\n\nThe provisions of this section shall apply to all members of the Virginia Retirement System who, on and after July 1, 1995, are covered under the group life insurance program created pursuant to this section and whose effective date of retirement is (i) before July 1, 1970, or (ii) on and after July 1, 1970.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":311009,"text":"Each employee to whom this chapter applies shall, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, be eligible to be insured for an amount of group life insurance plus an amount of group accidental death and dismemberment insurance, each amount equal to twice the amount of his annual salary. If an employee’s annual salary is not an even multiple of $1,000, his annual salary for purposes of this section shall be considered to be the next higher $1,000. For purposes of this section, the annual salary of a member of the General Assembly shall be his creditable compensation for his last full calendar year of service or his salary under § 30-19.11, whichever is greater, and shall include the full amount of any salaries payable to such member for working in covered positions, regardless of whether such salaries were paid, reduced, or not paid because of such member’s service in the General Assembly. The annual salary for an employee retired for service or disability on an immediate retirement allowance may be adjusted by the Board in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 1 (§ 51.1-124.1 et seq.).\n\t\t\tSubject to the conditions and limitations of the group insurance policy, the accidental death and dismemberment insurance shall provide payments as follows:\n\t\t\tFor any one accident, the aggregate amount of accidental death and dismemberment insurance that may be paid shall not exceed the maximum amount of accidental death and dismemberment insurance determined in accordance with this section.\n\t\t\tNotwithstanding the provisions of § 51.1-124.8, the amount of life insurance for which an employee shall be eligible shall be equal to twice the amount of his annual salary without regard to the date of the employee’s qualification for a retirement allowance.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":311010,"text":"The amount of life insurance on an employee who retires for service on an immediate retirement allowance or who elects to postpone the receipt of his retirement allowance to some date other than his last day of service shall be the amount set forth in subsection A, reduced by an amount equal to 25 percent thereof on the January 1 following the first full year from the date the employee is separated from service and each January 1 thereafter. The amount of life insurance on an employee who retires for disability on an immediate retirement allowance shall be the amount set forth in subsection A on the date the employee last rendered service reduced by an amount equal to 25 percent thereof on January 1 following the first full year from the date the employee attains his “normal retirement date” as defined in § 51.1-124.3, and each January 1 thereafter. If the employee by statute or Board regulation has been construed to be in service to the beginning of the next school year, the reduction shall not apply until the beginning of the next school year. The reduction shall not decrease the amount of life insurance on an employee to less than 25 percent of the amount of life insurance to which the initial reduction is applied, provided, however, that the reduction shall not decrease the amount of life insurance to less than $8,000 for employees with at least 30 years of creditable service, which amount shall be increased by the same percentage as any annual post-retirement supplement for retirees, as calculated for employees hired on or after July 1, 2010, pursuant to § 51.1-166. For purposes of this subsection, an employee shall be deemed to have retired only if the employee has five or more years of service as an employee prior to the date of retirement. This requirement shall not be applicable if the employee is retired for disability.\n\t\t\tAny employee who was denied membership in the Retirement System because of having attained age 60 at the time of being employed or reemployed and who has five or more years of service immediately prior to separation from service shall retain the life insurance coverage as though he had retired on an immediate retirement allowance.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":311011,"text":"For any employee who at any time has at least 20 years of creditable service in any retirement plan administered by the Virginia Retirement System or other Virginia public plan participating in the group life program established by this chapter, the amount of group life insurance shall be an amount equal to twice the amount of the highest annual salary earned during such employment.\n\t\t\tThe provisions of subsection B providing a reduction in the amount of life insurance shall apply to the amount of group life insurance as determined under this subsection for such employees with at least 20 years of creditable service.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":311012,"text":"The amount of life insurance for an employee who is retired for disability on an immediate retirement allowance, who also has attained age 55, and who elects to receive a retirement allowance as set forth in subsection C of § 51.1-160, shall be reduced as set forth in subsection B. The reduction shall begin the January 1 following the first full year from the date the employee elects a service retirement allowance.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":311013,"text":"All accidental death and dismemberment insurance on an employee shall cease upon the earliest of (i) his separation from service; (ii) his failure to pay, in the manner prescribed by the Board, the contribution required for the first 24 months of leave without pay; (iii) if the employee has not returned to pay status, the expiration of 24 months of leave without pay; or (iv) his retirement.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":311014,"text":"Except in case of retirement as provided in subsections B, C, and D, all life insurance on an employee shall cease upon the earliest of (i) his separation from service; (ii) his failure to pay, in the manner prescribed by the Board, the contribution required for the first 24 months of leave without pay; or (iii) if the employee has not returned to pay status, the expiration of 24 months of leave without pay. Except in the case of retirement, life insurance shall be subject to a temporary extension of 31 days. During this 31-day extension, the employee may convert his life insurance into an individual policy of life insurance (without disability or other supplementary benefits) in any one of the forms, except term insurance, then customarily issued by the insuring company. The amount of life insurance which may be converted shall not exceed the amount of his life insurance under the group insurance policy at the time coverage is terminated. The insurance shall be converted to an individual policy (a) without evidence of insurability, (b) at the premium applicable to the class of risk to which he belongs, and (c) to the form and amount of the individual policy at his then attained age, provided application for the individual policy and payment of the first premium thereon is made to the issuing company within the 31 days. The right to convert to an individual policy as provided in § 38.2-3333 shall not apply upon termination of this group policy or elimination of a class of insured employees.\n\t\t\tExcept as provided in subsection C, the amount of life insurance on each insured employee who retires shall be determined under the provisions of this chapter as it exists on the employee’s date of retirement.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":311015,"text":"Each employee of a public institution of higher education or of a local school board who remains in service until the completion of the school year and who makes contributions required to provide insurance coverage until service normally will be resumed the beginning of the next school year shall be deemed to be in service as an employee through the period to which the payments apply. If the employee is retired for service or disability during this period, contributions made by the employee shall be accepted and retained as proper.\n\t\t\tEach state employee of a public institution of higher education or a teaching hospital affiliated with a public institution of higher education who (i) is employed pursuant to a contract (a) that is for a term of employment of at least nine months and (b) that does not coincide with the normal scholastic year, (ii) remains in service until the completion of the contract year, and (iii) makes contributions required to provide insurance coverage until service normally will be resumed at the beginning of the next contract year shall be deemed to be in service as an employee through the period to which the payments apply. If the employee is retired for service or disability during this period, contributions made by the employee shall be accepted and retained as proper.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F","next_prefix":"H"},"7":{"id":311016,"text":"The limit of 24 months of leave without pay, after which accidental death and dismemberment insurance and life insurance shall cease, referred to in subsections E and F shall not apply to an employee who is on leave without pay while performing active duty military service in the armed forces of the United States.","type":"section","prefixes":["H"],"prefix":"H","entire_prefix":"H","prefix_anchor":"H","level":1,"prior_prefix":"G","next_prefix":"I"},"8":{"id":311017,"text":"The provisions of this section shall apply to all members of the Virginia Retirement System who, on and after July 1, 1995, are covered under the group life insurance program created pursuant to this section and whose effective date of retirement is (i) before July 1, 1970, or (ii) on and after July 1, 1970.","type":"section","prefixes":["I"],"prefix":"I","entire_prefix":"I","prefix_anchor":"I","level":1,"prior_prefix":"H"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13932,"edition_id":1,"name":"Group Insurance Program","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12947,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:20","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:20","permalink":{"id":236069,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13932,"identifier":"5","token":"51.1\/5","url":"\/51.1\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12947,"edition_id":1,"name":"Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement","identifier":"51.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","permalink":{"id":235029,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12947,"identifier":"51.1","token":"51.1","url":"\/51.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":86887,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-500","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/51.1-500\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-500","metadata":false},{"id":84578,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-501","catch_line":"Board authorized to purchase group life and accident insurance policies","url":"\/51.1-501\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-501","metadata":false},{"id":63115,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-502","catch_line":"Eligible employees and officers","url":"\/51.1-502\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-502","metadata":false},{"id":83648,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-502.1","catch_line":"Certain employees of teaching hospitals","url":"\/51.1-502.1\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-502.1","metadata":false},{"id":59497,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-502.2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/51.1-502.2\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-502.2","metadata":false},{"id":72342,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-502.3","catch_line":"Certain employees of the Virginia Port Authority","url":"\/51.1-502.3\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-502.3","metadata":false},{"id":76893,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-503","catch_line":"Limitation on coverage","url":"\/51.1-503\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-503","metadata":false},{"id":69960,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-504","catch_line":"Election of political subdivision to participate; approval by Board","url":"\/51.1-504\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-504","metadata":false},{"id":86868,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-505","catch_line":"Amounts of life and accident insurance for each employee; reduction and termination of insurance","url":"\/51.1-505\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-505","metadata":false},{"id":70590,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-505.01","catch_line":"Additional accidental death and dismemberment benefits","url":"\/51.1-505.01\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-505.01","metadata":false},{"id":55772,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-506","catch_line":"Employee contributions; payroll deductions; effect of failure to deduct","url":"\/51.1-506\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-506","metadata":false},{"id":60994,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-507","catch_line":"Notice of desire not to be insured","url":"\/51.1-507\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-507","metadata":false},{"id":55089,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-508","catch_line":"Employer contributions","url":"\/51.1-508\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-508","metadata":false},{"id":57511,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-509","catch_line":"Keeping records and furnishing information required by Board","url":"\/51.1-509\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-509","metadata":false},{"id":81121,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-510","catch_line":"Insurance exempt from process","url":"\/51.1-510\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-510","metadata":false},{"id":78151,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-511","catch_line":"Persons entitled to payment of insurance on employee's death","url":"\/51.1-511\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-511","metadata":false},{"id":78798,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-512","catch_line":"Optional life insurance","url":"\/51.1-512\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-512","metadata":false},{"id":65711,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-512.1","catch_line":"Optional life insurance for the spouse and minor dependents of employees","url":"\/51.1-512.1\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-512.1","metadata":false},{"id":86106,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-513","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/51.1-513\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-513","metadata":false},{"id":68495,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-513.1","catch_line":"Long-term care insurance","url":"\/51.1-513.1\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-513.1","metadata":false},{"id":80264,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-513.2","catch_line":"Long-term care coverage program","url":"\/51.1-513.2\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-513.2","metadata":false},{"id":57791,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-513.3","catch_line":"Long-term care insurance program for employees of local governments, local officers, and teachers","url":"\/51.1-513.3\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-513.3","metadata":false},{"id":72025,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-513.4","catch_line":"Trust fund for long-term care programs","url":"\/51.1-513.4\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-513.4","metadata":false},{"id":54987,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-514","catch_line":"Policies to provide for accounting to Board; advance premium deposit reserve","url":"\/51.1-514\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-514","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":69960,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-504","catch_line":"Election of political subdivision to participate; approval by Board","url":"\/51.1-504\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-504","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":70590,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-505.01","catch_line":"Additional accidental death and dismemberment benefits","url":"\/51.1-505.01\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-505.01","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/51.1-505\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1960. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 604 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1960 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 31 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1962, chapters 43 and 542; in 1964, chapter 594; in 1966, chapter 174; in 1968, chapter 736; in 1970, chapter 774; in 1972, chapter 708; in 1973, chapters 545 and 546; in 1974, chapters 353 and 484; in 1975, chapters 306, 309, 597, and 611; in 1976, chapters 551 and 654; in 1977, chapter 620; in 1978, chapter 841; in 1980, chapters 595, 637, and 638; in 1981, chapters 151 and 478; in 1982, chapters 467, 478, and 639; in 1984, chapter 430; in 1986, chapter 474; in 1990, chapter 832; in 1991, chapter 700; in 1995, chapters 52<\/a>, 307<\/a>, and 605<\/a>; in 1999, chapter 111<\/a>; in 2001, chapter 696<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 313<\/a>; in 2003, chapters 9<\/a> and 220<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 102<\/a>; in 2005, chapters 147<\/a>, 933<\/a>, and 945<\/a>; in 2006, chapter 640<\/a>; in 2009, chapter 362<\/a>; in 2010, chapter 751<\/a>; in 2012, chapter 696<\/a>; in 2015, chapter 512<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":61992,"section_number":"51.1-155.1","catch_line":"Exceptions from general early retirement provisions for certain state employees and constitutional officers","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-155.1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":70533,"section_number":"30-19.11","catch_line":"Salaries of Speaker of House of Delegates and members of General Assembly","order_by":null,"url":"\/30-19.11\/"},{"id":63366,"section_number":"38.2-3333","catch_line":"Right to individual policy upon termination of group policy or elimination of class of insured persons","order_by":null,"url":"\/38.2-3333\/"},{"id":68506,"section_number":"51.1-124.1","catch_line":"Virginia Retirement System established","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-124.1\/"},{"id":70634,"section_number":"51.1-124.3","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-124.3\/"},{"id":83914,"section_number":"51.1-124.8","catch_line":"Persons affected by changes in retirement benefits","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-124.8\/"},{"id":79621,"section_number":"51.1-160","catch_line":"Cessation of disability retirement allowance","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-160\/"},{"id":83485,"section_number":"51.1-166","catch_line":"Post-retirement supplements generally","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-166\/"}],"permalink":{"id":236103,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86868,"identifier":"51.1-505","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-505","url":"\/51.1-505\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/51.1-505\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-505","dublin_core":{"Title":"Amounts of life and accident insurance for each employee; reduction and termination of insurance","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 51.1-505","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Each employee to whom this chapter applies shall, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, be eligible to be insured for an amount of group life insurance plus an amount of group accidental death and dismemberment<\/span> insurance, each amount equal to twice the amount of his annual salary. If an employee’s annual salary is not an even multiple of $1,000, his annual salary for purposes of this section shall be considered to be the next higher $1,000. For purposes of this section, the annual salary of a member of the General Assembly shall be his creditable compensation for his last full calendar year of service or his salary under § 30-19.11<\/a>, whichever is greater, and shall include the full amount of any salaries payable to such member for working in covered positions, regardless of whether such salaries were paid, reduced, or not paid because of such member’s service in the General Assembly. The annual salary for an employee retired for service or disability on an immediate retirement allowance may be adjusted by the Board<\/span> in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 1 (§ 51.1-124.1<\/a> et seq.).\n\t\t\tSubject to the conditions and limitations of the group insurance policy, the accidental death and dismemberment<\/span> insurance shall provide payments as follows:\n\t\t\tFor any one accident<\/span>, the aggregate amount of accidental death and dismemberment<\/span> insurance that may be paid shall not exceed the maximum amount of accidental death and dismemberment<\/span> insurance determined in accordance with this section.\n\t\t\tNotwithstanding the provisions of § 51.1-124.8<\/a>, the amount of life insurance for which an employee shall be eligible shall be equal to twice the amount of his annual salary without regard to the date of the employee’s qualification for a retirement allowance. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The amount of life insurance on an employee who retires for service on an immediate retirement allowance or who elects to postpone the receipt of his retirement allowance to some date other than his last day of service shall be the amount set forth in subsection A, reduced by an amount equal to 25 percent thereof on the January 1 following the first full year from the date the employee is separated from service and each January 1 thereafter. The amount of life insurance on an employee who retires for disability on an immediate retirement allowance shall be the amount set forth in subsection A on the date the employee last rendered service reduced by an amount equal to 25 percent thereof on January 1 following the first full year from the date the employee attains his “normal retirement date” as defined in § 51.1-124.3<\/a>, and each January 1 thereafter. If the employee by statute<\/span> or Board<\/span> regulation has been construed to be in service to the beginning of the next school year, the reduction shall not apply until the beginning of the next school year. The reduction shall not decrease the amount of life insurance on an employee to less than 25 percent of the amount of life insurance to which the initial reduction is applied, provided, however, that the reduction shall not decrease the amount of life insurance to less than $8,000 for employees with at least 30 years of creditable service, which amount shall be increased by the same percentage as any annual post-retirement supplement for retirees, as calculated for employees hired on or after July 1, 2010, pursuant to § 51.1-166<\/a>. For purposes of this subsection, an employee shall be deemed to have retired only if the employee has five or more years of service as an employee prior to the date of retirement. This requirement shall not be applicable if the employee is retired for disability.\n\t\t\tAny employee who was denied membership in the Retirement System<\/span> because of having attained age 60 at the time of being employed or reemployed and who has five or more years of service immediately prior to separation from service shall retain the life insurance coverage as though he had retired on an immediate retirement allowance. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> For any employee who at any time has at least 20 years of creditable service in any retirement plan administered by the Virginia Retirement System<\/span> or other Virginia public plan participating in the group life program established by this chapter, the amount of group life insurance shall be an amount equal to twice the amount of the highest annual salary earned during such employment.\n\t\t\tThe provisions of subsection B providing a reduction in the amount of life insurance shall apply to the amount of group life insurance as determined under this subsection for such employees with at least 20 years of creditable service. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The amount of life insurance for an employee who is retired for disability on an immediate retirement allowance, who also has attained age 55, and who elects to receive a retirement allowance as set forth in subsection C of § 51.1-160<\/a>, shall be reduced as set forth in subsection B. The reduction shall begin the January 1 following the first full year from the date the employee elects a service retirement allowance. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> All accidental death and dismemberment<\/span> insurance on an employee shall cease upon the earliest of (i) his separation from service; (ii) his failure to pay, in the manner prescribed by the Board<\/span>, the contribution required for the first 24 months of leave without pay; (iii) if the employee has not returned to pay status, the expiration of 24 months of leave without pay; or (iv) his retirement. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> Except in case of retirement as provided in subsections B, C, and D, all life insurance on an employee shall cease upon the earliest of (i) his separation from service; (ii) his failure to pay, in the manner prescribed by the Board<\/span>, the contribution required for the first 24 months of leave without pay; or (iii) if the employee has not returned to pay status, the expiration of 24 months of leave without pay. Except in the case of retirement, life insurance shall be subject to a temporary extension of 31 days. During this 31-day extension, the employee may convert his life insurance into an individual policy of life insurance (without disability or other supplementary benefits) in any one of the forms, except term insurance, then customarily issued by the insuring company<\/span>. The amount of life insurance which may be converted shall not exceed the amount of his life insurance under the group insurance policy at the time coverage is terminated. The insurance shall be converted to an individual policy (a) without evidence<\/span> of insurability, (b) at the premium applicable to the class of risk to which he belongs, and (c) to the form and amount of the individual policy at his then attained age, provided application for the individual policy and payment of the first premium thereon is made to the issuing company<\/span> within the 31 days. The right to convert to an individual policy as provided in § 38.2-3333<\/a> shall not apply upon termination of this group policy or elimination of a class of insured employees.\n\t\t\tExcept as provided in subsection C, the amount of life insurance on each insured employee who retires shall be determined under the provisions of this chapter as it exists on the employee’s date of retirement. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> Each employee of a public institution of higher education or of a local school board<\/span> who remains in service until the completion of the school year and who makes contributions required to provide insurance coverage until service normally will be resumed the beginning of the next school year shall be deemed to be in service as an employee through the period to which the payments apply. If the employee is retired for service or disability during this period, contributions made by the employee shall be accepted and retained as proper.\n\t\t\tEach state employee of a public institution of higher education or a teaching hospital affiliated with a public institution of higher education who (i) is employed pursuant to a contract<\/span> (a) that is for a term of employment of at least nine months and (b) that does not coincide with the normal scholastic year, (ii) remains in service until the completion of the contract<\/span> year, and (iii) makes contributions required to provide insurance coverage until service normally will be resumed at the beginning of the next contract<\/span> year shall be deemed to be in service as an employee through the period to which the payments apply. If the employee is retired for service or disability during this period, contributions made by the employee shall be accepted and retained as proper. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

H.<\/span> The limit of 24 months of leave without pay, after which accidental death and dismemberment<\/span> insurance and life insurance shall cease, referred to in subsections E and F shall not apply to an employee who is on leave without pay while performing active duty military service in the armed forces of the United States. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

I.<\/span> The provisions of this section shall apply to all members of the Virginia Retirement System<\/span> who, on and after July 1, 1995, are covered under the group life insurance program<\/span> created pursuant to this section and whose effective date of retirement is (i) before July 1, 1970, or (ii) on and after July 1, 1970. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nAMOUNTS OF LIFE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE FOR EACH EMPLOYEE; REDUCTION AND\nTERMINATION OF INSURANCE (\u00a7 51.1-505)\n\nA. Each employee to whom this chapter applies shall, subject to the terms and\nconditions thereof, be eligible to be insured for an amount of group life\ninsurance plus an amount of group accidental death and dismemberment insurance,\neach amount equal to twice the amount of his annual salary. If an\nemployee’s annual salary is not an even multiple of $1,000, his annual\nsalary for purposes of this section shall be considered to be the next higher\n$1,000. For purposes of this section, the annual salary of a member of the\nGeneral Assembly shall be his creditable compensation for his last full calendar\nyear of service or his salary under § 30-19.11, whichever is greater, and\nshall include the full amount of any salaries payable to such member for working\nin covered positions, regardless of whether such salaries were paid, reduced, or\nnot paid because of such member’s service in the General Assembly. The\nannual salary for an employee retired for service or disability on an immediate\nretirement allowance may be adjusted by the Board in accordance with the\nprovisions of Chapter 1 (§ 51.1-124.1 et seq.).\n\t\t\tSubject to the conditions and limitations of the group insurance policy, the\naccidental death and dismemberment insurance shall provide payments as follows:\n\t\t\tFor any one accident, the aggregate amount of accidental death and\ndismemberment insurance that may be paid shall not exceed the maximum amount of\naccidental death and dismemberment insurance determined in accordance with this\nsection.\n\t\t\tNotwithstanding the provisions of § 51.1-124.8, the amount of life\ninsurance for which an employee shall be eligible shall be equal to twice the\namount of his annual salary without regard to the date of the employee’s\nqualification for a retirement allowance.\n\nB. The amount of life insurance on an employee who retires for service on an\nimmediate retirement allowance or who elects to postpone the receipt of his\nretirement allowance to some date other than his last day of service shall be\nthe amount set forth in subsection A, reduced by an amount equal to 25 percent\nthereof on the January 1 following the first full year from the date the\nemployee is separated from service and each January 1 thereafter. The amount of\nlife insurance on an employee who retires for disability on an immediate\nretirement allowance shall be the amount set forth in subsection A on the date\nthe employee last rendered service reduced by an amount equal to 25 percent\nthereof on January 1 following the first full year from the date the employee\nattains his “normal retirement date” as defined in §\n51.1-124.3, and each January 1 thereafter. If the employee by statute or Board\nregulation has been construed to be in service to the beginning of the next\nschool year, the reduction shall not apply until the beginning of the next\nschool year. The reduction shall not decrease the amount of life insurance on an\nemployee to less than 25 percent of the amount of life insurance to which the\ninitial reduction is applied, provided, however, that the reduction shall not\ndecrease the amount of life insurance to less than $8,000 for employees with at\nleast 30 years of creditable service, which amount shall be increased by the\nsame percentage as any annual post-retirement supplement for retirees, as\ncalculated for employees hired on or after July 1, 2010, pursuant to §\n51.1-166. For purposes of this subsection, an employee shall be deemed to have\nretired only if the employee has five or more years of service as an employee\nprior to the date of retirement. This requirement shall not be applicable if the\nemployee is retired for disability.\n\t\t\tAny employee who was denied membership in the Retirement System because of\nhaving attained age 60 at the time of being employed or reemployed and who has\nfive or more years of service immediately prior to separation from service shall\nretain the life insurance coverage as though he had retired on an immediate\nretirement allowance.\n\nC. For any employee who at any time has at least 20 years of creditable service\nin any retirement plan administered by the Virginia Retirement System or other\nVirginia public plan participating in the group life program established by this\nchapter, the amount of group life insurance shall be an amount equal to twice\nthe amount of the highest annual salary earned during such employment.\n\t\t\tThe provisions of subsection B providing a reduction in the amount of life\ninsurance shall apply to the amount of group life insurance as determined under\nthis subsection for such employees with at least 20 years of creditable service.\n\nD. The amount of life insurance for an employee who is retired for disability on\nan immediate retirement allowance, who also has attained age 55, and who elects\nto receive a retirement allowance as set forth in subsection C of §\n51.1-160, shall be reduced as set forth in subsection B. The reduction shall\nbegin the January 1 following the first full year from the date the employee\nelects a service retirement allowance.\n\nE. All accidental death and dismemberment insurance on an employee shall cease\nupon the earliest of (i) his separation from service; (ii) his failure to pay,\nin the manner prescribed by the Board, the contribution required for the first\n24 months of leave without pay; (iii) if the employee has not returned to pay\nstatus, the expiration of 24 months of leave without pay; or (iv) his\nretirement.\n\nF. Except in case of retirement as provided in subsections B, C, and D, all life\ninsurance on an employee shall cease upon the earliest of (i) his separation\nfrom service; (ii) his failure to pay, in the manner prescribed by the Board,\nthe contribution required for the first 24 months of leave without pay; or (iii)\nif the employee has not returned to pay status, the expiration of 24 months of\nleave without pay. Except in the case of retirement, life insurance shall be\nsubject to a temporary extension of 31 days. During this 31-day extension, the\nemployee may convert his life insurance into an individual policy of life\ninsurance (without disability or other supplementary benefits) in any one of the\nforms, except term insurance, then customarily issued by the insuring company.\nThe amount of life insurance which may be converted shall not exceed the amount\nof his life insurance under the group insurance policy at the time coverage is\nterminated. The insurance shall be converted to an individual policy (a) without\nevidence of insurability, (b) at the premium applicable to the class of risk to\nwhich he belongs, and (c) to the form and amount of the individual policy at his\nthen attained age, provided application for the individual policy and payment of\nthe first premium thereon is made to the issuing company within the 31 days. The\nright to convert to an individual policy as provided in § 38.2-3333 shall\nnot apply upon termination of this group policy or elimination of a class of\ninsured employees.\n\t\t\tExcept as provided in subsection C, the amount of life insurance on each\ninsured employee who retires shall be determined under the provisions of this\nchapter as it exists on the employee’s date of retirement.\n\nG. Each employee of a public institution of higher education or of a local\nschool board who remains in service until the completion of the school year and\nwho makes contributions required to provide insurance coverage until service\nnormally will be resumed the beginning of the next school year shall be deemed\nto be in service as an employee through the period to which the payments apply.\nIf the employee is retired for service or disability during this period,\ncontributions made by the employee shall be accepted and retained as proper.\n\t\t\tEach state employee of a public institution of higher education or a teaching\nhospital affiliated with a public institution of higher education who (i) is\nemployed pursuant to a contract (a) that is for a term of employment of at least\nnine months and (b) that does not coincide with the normal scholastic year, (ii)\nremains in service until the completion of the contract year, and (iii) makes\ncontributions required to provide insurance coverage until service normally will\nbe resumed at the beginning of the next contract year shall be deemed to be in\nservice as an employee through the period to which the payments apply. If the\nemployee is retired for service or disability during this period, contributions\nmade by the employee shall be accepted and retained as proper.\n\nH. The limit of 24 months of leave without pay, after which accidental death and\ndismemberment insurance and life insurance shall cease, referred to in\nsubsections E and F shall not apply to an employee who is on leave without pay\nwhile performing active duty military service in the armed forces of the United\nStates.\n\nI. The provisions of this section shall apply to all members of the Virginia\nRetirement System who, on and after July 1, 1995, are covered under the group\nlife insurance program created pursuant to this section and whose effective date\nof retirement is (i) before July 1, 1970, or (ii) on and after July 1, 1970.\n\nHISTORY: 1960, c. 604, \u00a7\u00a7 51-111.67:2, 51-111.67:4; 1962, cc. 43, 542; 1964,\nc. 594; 1966, c. 174; 1968, c. 736; 1970, c. 774; 1971, Ex. Sess., cc. 88, 89,\n185; 1972, c. 708; 1973, cc. 545, 546; 1974, cc. 353, 484; 1975, cc. 306, 309,\n597, 611; 1976, cc. 551, 654; 1977, c. 620; 1978, c. 841; 1980, cc. 595, 637,\n638; 1981, cc. 151, 478; 1982, cc. 467, 478, 639; 1984, c. 430; 1986, c. 474;\n1990, c. 832; 1991, c. 700; 1995, cc. 52, 307, 605; 1999, c. 111; 2001, c. 696;\n2002, c. 313; 2003, cc. 9, 220; 2004, c. 102; 2005, cc. 147, 933, 945; 2006, c.\n640; 2009, c. 362; 2010, c. 751; 2012, c. 696; 2015, c. 512.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}