Eligibility and participation

Who is eligible

You may elect coverage under the Group Universal Life (GUL) Insurance program if you are classified as a full-time or part-time employee of a participating employer.

Full-time employee: An employee assigned to a position that:

• Requires full-time service as determined by BP;
• Is established to fill regular and ordinary employment requirements; and
• Is expected to continue for an indefinite period of time.

Occasional employee: For purposes of the plan, an "occasional employee" means an employee who is employed by BP for work that is irregular or infrequent in nature and which ordinarily should last no longer than four to six months, or an employee who works a regular schedule that is less than 20 hours per week and which is expected to continue for an indefinite period of time.

Part-time employee: An employee assigned to a position that is:

• Regular and ordinary in nature;
• Expected to continue for an indefinite period of time; and
• One in which the employee works a schedule that is less than that of a full-time employee but is at least 20 hours a week.

Temporary employee: An employee assigned to a position that:

• Requires full-time or part-time (not occasional) service as determined by BP;
• Requires a regular schedule of hours; and
• Will continue for a specified period of time or until the occurrence of a specified event, such as the return to work of a regular employee or the completion of a special assignment or project.

Interns and co-ops are considered temporary employees.

Eligible dependents

You may also elect coverage for your eligible dependents, including your:

• Spouse, including your legally separated spouse.
• Common-law spouse (if you and your common-law spouse reside in a state that recognizes your common-law marriage as a legal marriage).
• Domestic partner of the same or opposite sex. (GUL coverage cannot be offered to domestic partners in some states due to state regulations.)
• Eligible dependent child(ren). You or your spouse/domestic partner must elect GUL coverage in order to elect coverage for your eligible child(ren).

An “eligible dependent child” is a dependent child from age 14 days up to 26* years who is:

• Supported solely by you and permanently living in the home of which you are the head;
• Legally adopted; or
• A stepchild who lives in your home.

Regardless of whether your dependent child meets the conditions above, he/she may not be covered if he/she is:

• In the military of life forces of any country or any subdivision of a country; or
• Eligible under this plan as an employee.

* A child age 19 or over who works full time is not eligible. Any child covered under the GUL program who is totally and permanently disabled at the time he/she turns age 26 can continue to be covered after age 26. If this applies, you must contact MetLife to request a form documenting disability. The form must be completed, signed by the treating physician, returned to MetLife and approved before coverage will continue.

If both you and your spouse work for BP, you have two enrollment options:

• You and your spouse may each enroll as an employee; or
• One of you may waive coverage and enroll as a dependent under the other spouse’s coverage.

Domestic partners

There are two alternative methods for qualifying your same-sex or opposite-sex domestic partner as an “eligible dependent”:

• Alternative “A”: Register your domestic partnership or civil union in accordance with registration requirements in the state in which you and your domestic partner or civil union partner reside. Your registration date is the first date you can enroll your partner as a domestic partner under the plan; or
• Alternative “B”: Satisfy each of the following requirements for at least six full months before signing a Domestic Partner Affidavit. The date you are first eligible to sign the affidavit is the date your partner will be considered your domestic partner for plan purposes.
  • Be each other’s sole domestic partner and intend to remain so indefinitely.
  • Reside together in the same principal residence and intend to remain so indefinitely;
  • Be emotionally committed to one another, share joint responsibilities for the partnership’s common welfare and be financially interdependent;
  • Be at least 18 years old, of legal age and mentally competent to enter into contracts;
  • Not be related by blood closer than would bar marriage under applicable law where you live; and
  • Not be legally married to, nor the domestic partner of, anyone else.

Note: Under the plan, and pursuant to federal law, a civil union and a same-sex marriage must be treated the same as a domestic partnership.

Your domestic partner will cease being an eligible dependent as of the date you cease to satisfy any of the above conditions. If your domestic partnership ends, call the BP Benefits Center immediately.