Member benefits
MBA Brochures, Applications and Forms
Insurance plans offered by the MBA are designed to give NALC members and their families the best possible protection for the lowest cost.
$150,000 maximum value
MBA has recently increased its maximum insurance values to $150,000. To see a spreadsheet of the premium amounts for this coverage on all the insurance products, click here.
Brochures
Click here or on the images below to download the brochure.
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MBA Whole Life Insurance is a whole life insurance plan that lets you choose from $10,000, $15,000, $25,000, $50,000, $100,000 or $150,000 worth of coverage. Premiums are based on the amount of the policy benefit and your age at the time of purchase. With this plan, premiums remain the same throughout the life of your policy. You may pay premiums once a year, 12 times a year or biweekly under the payroll deduction plan.*
Premiums are payable for the insured's lifetime. You can borrow against your cash buildup and still keep your plan in force, or you may trade in your policy for the cash value (which you can take as a lump sum, or a regular income).
Should you decide to borrow against your policy, the interest rate will be 8%, or the rate determined by the state in which your policy is issued (whichever is lower).
* Retirees may choose to pay premiums monthly or annually. Sorry, retirees are not eligible to use payroll deductions.
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Paid Up at Age 65 MBA Whole Life Insurance is a limited payment whole-life insurance policy. It is ideal for all letter carriers and their family members. Paid Up at Age 65 offers lifelong insurance protection without lifelong payments. This plan allows the insured to reduce their financial obligations upon retirement while maintaining their insurance coverage. You can purchase life insurance coverage worth $10,000, $15,000, $25,000, $50,000, $100,000 or $150,000.
Premium payments are required up to the policy’s anniversary date after the insured’s 65th birthday. At that time the policy is fully paid up, yet coverage stays in force throughout the insured’s lifetime. This coverage continues in full, unless you decide to surrender the policy for its cash value. You may borrow against or surrender your plan at any time.
You may pay your premiums once a year, 12 times a year, or biweekly under MBA’s automatic payroll deduction plan.
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Paid Up in 20 Years MBA Whole Life Insurance is a limited-payment life insurance policy specially suited to letter carriers who want to insure their young children. It lets you build up cash for your children’s future. Whether you choose $10,000, $15,000, $25,000, $50,000, $100,000 or $150,000 worth of coverage, you pay premiums for 20 years. In the event of the insured’s death, MBA20 Pay Whole Life will pay survivors the full amount of the policy.
After the 20 years, you may keep the coverage at no cost, or surrender your policy for its cash value. If you choose to keep the policy in force, your cash value will continue to build up at current dividend rates. You may borrow against or surrender your plan any time.
Premiums may be paid once a year, 12 times a year or biweekly under the payroll deduction agreement.*
* Retirees may choose to pay premiums monthly or annually. Sorry, retirees are not eligible to use payroll deductions.
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MBA Term Life Insurance is a 10-year renewable and convertible term policy. In the event of your death, the policy will pay your beneficiaries the full amount of your policy for as long as it’s in force. This plan lets you choose coverage of $10,000, $15,000, $25,000, $50,000, $100,000 or $150,000.
Your premium will remain the same until the 10-year term has ended. You can renew for another 10 years of coverage without a medical exam. At each renewal period, your premium increases according to your age. You may continue Prime Protection coverage until age 80.
You can also convert your term life policy to a whole life policy, such as MBA Whole Life, without taking a medical exam, if the insured is under the age of 65.* Term Life is available for your spouse at the same benefit amounts open to you. Premiums can be paid annually, 12 times a year, or biweekly through payroll deductions.** You may choose to have your dividends paid in cash or left on interest-bearing deposit.
* If you convert to Whole Life, the premiums are specified according to your age on the date of conversion.
** Retirees may choose to pay premiums monthly or annually. Sorry, retirees are not eligible to use payroll deductions.
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MBA 5 Year Renewable and Convertible Term Life Insurance is a 5-year renewable and convertible term policy. In the event of your death, the policy will pay your beneficiaries the full amount of your policy for as long as it’s in force. This plan lets you choose coverage from $10,000 to $150,000.
Your premium will remain the same until the 5-year term has ended. You can renew for another 5 years of coverage without a medical exam. At each renewal period, your premium increases according to your age. You may continue Prime Protection coverage until age 80.
You can also convert your 5 year renewable and convertible term life policy to a whole life policy, such as MBA Whole Life, without taking a medical exam, if the insured is under the age of 65.* MBA 5 Year Term Life Insurance is available for your family (age 17 or older) at the same benefit amounts open to you. Premiums can be paid annually, 12 times a year, or biweekly through payroll deductions.**
* If you convert to Whole Life, the premiums are specified according to your age on the date of conversion.
** Retirees may choose to pay premiums monthly or annually. Sorry, retirees are not eligible to use payroll deductions.
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The MBA 20 Year Term Life Insurance plan offers insurance protection for a period of 20 years. In the event of your death, the policy will pay your beneficiaries the full amount of your policy for as long as it’s in force. This plan lets you choose coverage from $10,000 to $150,000.
The premium rate is based on the current age of the proposed insured and the amount of life insurance applied for. The premium rate will never change for the entire 20 year period. As long as the premiums are paid on the policy, the insured is guaranteed life insurance for a period of 20 years.
You can also convert your 20 year term life policy to a whole life policy, such as MBA Whole Life, without taking a medical exam, if the insured is under the age of 65.* MBA 20 Year Term Life is available for your family (age 17 or older) at the same benefit amounts open to you. Premiums can be paid annually, 12 times a year, or biweekly through payroll deductions.**
* If you convert to Whole Life, the premiums are specified according to your age on the date of conversion.
** Retirees may choose to pay premiums monthly or annually. Sorry, retirees are not eligible to use payroll deductions.
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The MBA Term to Age 65 Life insurance plan offers insurance protection until the insured reaches age 65. In the event of your death, the policy will pay your beneficiaries the full amount of your policy for as long as it’s in force. Regardless of the issue age of the insured, the policy will remain in force until the policy anniversary date after the insured reaches age 65. This plan lets you choose coverage from $10,000 to $150,000.
The premium rate is based on the current age of the proposed insured and the amount of life insurance applied for. The premium rate will never change during the lifetime of the policy. As long as the premiums are paid on the policy, the insured is guaranteed life insurance until the policy anniversary date after the insured reaches age 65.
You can also convert your MBA Term to Age 65 life policy to a whole life policy, such as MBA Whole Life, without taking a medical exam, if the insured is under the age of 65.* MBA Term to Age 65 Life insurance is available for your family (age 17 or older) at the same benefit amounts open to you. Premiums can be paid annually, 12 times a year, or biweekly through payroll deductions.**
* If you convert to Whole Life, the premiums are specified according to your age on the date of conversion.
** Retirees may choose to pay premiums monthly or annually. Sorry, retirees are not eligible to use payroll deductions.
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Indepe
ndence—Single Payment is one of the most convenient whole life plans available. For a single, once-in-a-lifetime premium payment you, or any eligible member of your family, can have life insurance coverage of $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $100,000, $150,000, or any amount you choose (subject to MBA’s maximum face value limitations).
With this plan you not only get immediate real-cash value, but also investment advantages like favorable tax-free interest earnings, easy low-interest loan availability, an instant cash-value option, a no cancellation guarantee, and of course, full death benefits.
Single Payment also lets you decide whether to leave your dividends on deposit to increase your cash value, or to use them to increase your death benefit or receive a dividend check.
It’s the most convenient way to give your loved ones added financial security.
If you are hospitalized for illness or injury, the MBA can help your financial health with cash payments of $30, $50, $75 or $100 a day. With Hospital Plus, cash benefits start on the first day you are hospitalized, and continue for up to 365 days.
Hospital Plus also lets you cover your spouse and children. The spouse benefit is the same as yours—$30, $50, $75 or $100 a day. Children's benefits are $18, $30, $45 or $60 a day.
Benefits are paid in full regardless of other health insurance benefits you receive. Cash benefits are paid directly to you and may be used for any purpose. This is extra cash protection to help you meet the financial burdens of accidents and illnesses.
All applying members, regardless of age, and their eligible dependents may be covered. As long as you pay your premium, you may keep your policy, regardless of prior benefits received or future health conditions. Rates will not be individually raised.
Repeat claims for the same or related causes will be treated as claims for the same cause (and included in a single 365-day limit), if recurring hospital stays are not separated by six months. Such claims will be covered only if the policy is then in force.
The policy contains a benefit restriction for pre-existing conditions—a condition for which medical advice or treatment was received during the 12 months before the effective date of our policy. Also, a pre-existing condition will not be covered until 12 consecutive months have passed in which no medical advice or treatment is received for such condition, or until your policy has been in effect for 1 year, whichever occurs first.
Disability is an inability to perform the duties of your regular occupation for the period stated in your policy.
For consideration of disability, you must discontinue working, remain under regular and appropriate care
of a physician, and proof of loss must be provided.
Disability Income insurance helps cover you when the unexpected happens. It helps ensure you have the
money you need – and are better able to continue living the lifestyle you’ve worked for – if you become
hurt or too sick to work.
Here’s how it works
Your disability income benefits start 14 days after your disability begins (elimination period). Payments continue for as long as you’re disabled, up to six or twelve months, depending on which benefit period you selected for your plan.
Exclusively for active NALC members
MBA Individual Disability Income is available to active NALC members between the ages of 18 and 59. (Spouses and family members are not eligible.)
MBA Individual Disability income is guaranteed!
Guaranteed Renewable. You may continue the policy to age 65 by payment of the premium on each renewal date. As long as the premium is paid on time, we cannot change any benefits or refuse to renew your policy. We, however, reserve the right to change premiums.
Premiums will not be changed on an individual basis. Premiums will be based on the table of rates in effect for all people insured under the policy who have the same issue age and policy date and are in the same class as you at renewal. Any premium paid after age 65 for a period not covered by your policy will be returned to you.
If protecting your financial security is important, your income is a necessity and being without it could have serious consequences. If you and your family rely on a paycheck to meet your day-to-day expenses, how long can you afford to go on without regular income?
MBA Retirement Savings Plan is a retirement income plan designed to supplement your pension. You make small payments to the plan while you're young, so you can receive a lifetime of monthly payments after you retire—even if you live to be 200!
Under the MBA Retirement Savings Plan, you can also request a guaranteed number of monthly payments.
You choose the amount you want to contribute to your MBA Retirement Savings Plan. It can be as little as $15 per pay period (the minimum amount allowed). You may also select your method of payment: MBA can deduct payments automatically from your paycheck, or bill you monthly or annually.*
With as little as a one-time $15.00 payment, your can start your MBA Retirement Savings Plan and never have to make any additional deposits in order to maintain your policy in force. You may also make a lump sum deposit into the MBA Retirement Savings Plan at any time to help build your plan’s value.
As your MBA Retirement Savings Plan grows, you can expect to earn competitive interest rates. The plan is tax-deferred, which means you do not pay taxes on any of your interest until you draw on it, further improving your yield.
When you're ready to retire, MBA offers a choice of four ways to collect monthly benefits:
Life Annuity With Period Certain. Receive a lifetime of monthly payments. You're guaranteed this income for as long as you live. If you die during a specified period (5, 10, 15 or 20 years), payments go to your beneficiary until the end of the period.
Life Annuity. Receive monthly payments through your lifetime. No further benefits will be paid after your death.
Joint Life Annuity. You or your beneficiary receive monthly payments as long as either of you live.
Full Cash Refund. Receive monthly payments as long as you are alive. When you die, the MBA will pay any money in your account to your beneficiary.
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*Retirees may choose to pay premiums monthly or annually. Sorry, retirees are not eligible to use payroll deductions.
MBA Family Retirement Savings Plan can mean the difference between worry and well-being in your family member’s retirement —because it is an annuity policy that delivers extra cash to the annuitant every month to supplement their retirement income.
A family member (annuitant) can make small contributions now (as little as $25 a month, with a $1,000 initial deposit) into an interest-bearing annuity that guarantees above-market returns. The annuitant chooses how much to contribute and how often. The plan has certain tax advantages, depending on the options selected.
Best of all, you get all the advantages of your Mutual Benefit Association:
- Dependability. NALC stands behind every policy written by the MBA, which was created more than a century ago to give letter carrier families reliable savings and insurance plans.
- Affordability. The MBA operates with low overhead, no fees and no salespeople on commission, and the savings are passed on to the annuitant.
- Simplicity. Just fill out an application to join the Family Retirement Savings Plan. The annuitant will receive a policy to examine for 30 days. If the annuitant is not fully satisfied for any reason, return it for a full refund of any premium paid. There’s no risk.
NALC CCA Retirement Savings Plan is a retirement income plan designed for City Carrier Assistants (CCA’s) to supplement your pension. You make small payments to the plan while you're young, so you can receive a lifetime of monthly payments after you retire—even if you live to be 200!
Under the NALC CCA Retirement Savings Plan, you can also request a guaranteed number of monthly payments.
City Carrier Assistants who participate in the plan may transfer their Traditional IRA funds to the Thrift Savings Plan once they become carrier letter carriers. The Surrender Charge will be waived in this instance only. Note: The Thrift Savings Plan is not set up to receive Roth IRA transfers at this time.
You choose the amount you want to contribute to your NALC CCA Retirement Savings Plan. It can be as little as $15 per pay period (the minimum amount allowed). You may also select your method of payment: MBA can deduct payments automatically from your paycheck, or bill you monthly or annually.*
With as little as a one-time $15.00 payment, your can start your NALC CCA Retirement Savings Plan and never have to make any additional deposits in order to maintain your policy in force. You may also make a lump sum deposit into the NALC CCA Retirement Savings Plan at any time to help build your plan’s value.
As your NALC CCA Retirement Savings Plan grows, you can expect to earn competitive interest rates. The plan is tax-deferred, which means you do not pay taxes on any of your interest until you draw on it, further improving your yield.
When you're ready to retire, MBA offers a choice of four ways to collect monthly benefits:
Life Annuity With Period Certain. Receive a lifetime of monthly payments. You're guaranteed this income for as long as you live. If you die during a specified period (5, 10, 15 or 20 years), payments go to your beneficiary until the end of the period.
Life Annuity. Receive monthly payments through your lifetime. No further benefits will be paid after your death.
Joint Life Annuity. You or your beneficiary receive monthly payments as long as either of you live.
Full Cash Refund. Receive monthly payments as long as you are alive. When you die, the MBA will pay any money in your account to your beneficiary.
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*Retirees may choose to pay premiums monthly or annually. Sorry, retirees are not eligible to use payroll deductions.
The Mutual Benefit Association has a retirement option called an Immediate Annuity that is perfect for a retiree. An Immediate Annuity is when an individual gives an insurance company a lump sum of money in exchange for a guaranteed income stream starting immediately. This product can be made an important part of a letter carrier’s retirement portfolio. This option, along with Social Security proceeds, investments, savings and pension payments will help foster a safe and comfortable retirement.
One of the defining features of an Immediate Annuity is that the annuitant may select one of three options:
1) A life annuity that pays equal payments for life.
2) A life annuity with a guaranteed period certain of 5, 10, 15 or 20 years.
3) A joint life annuity that pays equal payments for life; upon death, your beneficiary would receive annuity payments for life.
If you are interested, the MBA will provide a quote with the estimated monthly payment based on the amount invested, the annuitant’s current age, and the immediate payout option selected.
Benefits
A principle benefit of an Immediate Annuity is that you will know how much money you will receive in each payment for the rest of your life. This characteristic will alleviate the stress of an individual outliving his or her investments. In addition, you will not need to make investment decisions about how to earn a comparable sum of money, since the MBA is responsible for the growth of your funds. The MBA is your non-profit fraternal association providing competitive rates on its products. You will find that the MBA’s fixed immediate annuity rates are higher than most of our competitors. The MBA has been providing high-quality service to our members since 1891.
Considerations
Like all decisions, there are pros and cons to every choice in these matters. A factor to consider is that the money that you invest with the Immediate Annuity cannot be withdrawn or used for another purpose once the annuity proceeds have begun. You should consider your decision carefully and not invest money that you might need for an emergency. Another consideration is that the money invested in an Immediate Annuity is not available to your
heirs, except in the case where the annuitant chose a 5-, 10-, 15- or 20-year guaranteed payment or a Joint Survivor option. There are different tax advantages for annuity withdrawals and payments based on the type of assets used to purchase the annuity (qualified versus nonqualified). You should consult your tax advisor for information on how annuity taxation applies to your situation.
Final thoughts
An Immediate Annuity is a valuable investment option available to our NALC retirees. There are various payment options, such as Life with Period Certain and Joint Survivor, that minimize the downside to the mortality issue. Each of the options comes with a corresponding monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual payment amount. Just another way that your MBA is working to provided options for the members.
Applications for U. S. Letter Carriers Mutual Benefit Association Policies
MBA applications by state (states not listed are in "all other states")
MBA Parent Life applications by state are listed at the bottom under "MBA Parent Life Applications"
Forms & Filing Information for U. S. Letter Carriers Mutual Benefit Association Policies
If you would like to make a change or file a claim on a U.S. Letter Carriers Mutual Benefit Association Life or Health insurance policy, you can print the form by clicking on the appropriate link below. Fillable forms require using Internet Explorer or saving the form to your computer. Please be advised, the MBA can not accept digitally signed forms. Original signatures must be placed on all documents.
Please mail completed form(s) to:
U.S. Letter Carriers Mutual Benefit Association
100 Indiana Avenue, NW
Suite 510
Washington, D.C. 20001-2144
Due to their sensitive nature and to protect your privacy interests, personal inquiries and problems will not be handled through the MBA or NALC website. For general benefit information, please talk to your local MBA Representative.
- For more information contact your local NALC branch office
- or call MBA's nationwide WATS line: 1 (800) 424-5184 Tuesday & Thursday—8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time
- or call MBA at (202) 638-4318 Monday thru Friday—8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time