This document is a summary of the most common benefit eligibility topics. Please refer to the Summary Plan Descriptions (SPD) of each plan for further information. In case of a discrepancy between this statement and the SPD, the SPD will prevail.

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• Full-time is 35 or more hours per week.
• Part-time is 20 or more, but less than 35, hours per week.
• Benefits for Postdoctoral Scholars and Fellows are administered externally by Arthur J. Gallagher.
• Visiting Professors are eligible for limited Medical and Dental coverage choices during the time of their Academic Appointments.
• Temporary and Seasonal positions are not eligible for benefits (except retirement plans).
• Qualifying Life Events include the following:
  • New Hire
  • Employment Status Change
  • Gain or Loss of Other Coverage
  • Birth/Adoption
  • Marriage/Civil Union Partnership
  • Divorce/Dissolution of Domestic or Civil Union Partnership
  • Medical coverage may be changed if the employee moves out of the geographic coverage area of their current plan
  • Dependent Care FSA contributions may be changed if the employee’s spouse or partner experiences an employment status change

Benefit Enrollment Timelines

• Changes can be made during annual Open Enrollment period or resulting from a Qualifying Life Event:

• • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Legal Assistance

• Changes can be made at any time throughout the year:

• • Health Savings Account
  • Life Insurance (including Spouse and Child Life)
  • Permanent Life Insurance with Long-Term Care
  • Personal Accident Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Retirement Plan contributions
    • Evidence of Insurability may be required for insurance changes

Dependents

• The following can be considered dependents:

• • Same- or opposite-sex spouse or civil union partner
  • Same-sex domestic partner registered with the University on or before December 31, 2016
  • Children under the age of 26 (including natural children, stepchildren, adopted children, or wards)
  • Disabled children over the age of 26
  • Military veteran children up to age 30

Retirement Plans

• Participation in any retirement plan requires the employee to be age 21 or older.
• Contributory Retirement Plan (CRP)

• • Faculty, Other Academic Appointees, and Staff who are considered Highly-Compensated Employees (HCE) at the time of hire according to the annual IRS threshold can participate in this plan.
  • Participation in this plan is mandatory for all eligible employees.
  • Must remain at or above 20 hours per week.
  • University contributions are 100% vested after three years of service from hire date.

• Retirement Income Plan for Employees (ERIP)

• • Staff (non-HCE) and Postdoctoral Scholars after one year of service during which they completed 1,000 hours of service can participate in this plan.
  • Participation in this plan is mandatory for all eligible employees.
  • Employees remain eligible for ERIP regardless of status changes.
  • University contributions are 100% vested after three years of service from hire date.
  • Staff or Postdocs who move to a Faculty or Other Academic role will be removed from the ERIP plan and enrolled in the CRP plan.

• Supplemental Retirement Plan (SRP)

• • Any employee age 21 or older with eligible earnings can participate in this plan.

• SRP Catch-up Plan

• • Any employee turning age 50 during the current calendar year or older with eligible earnings can participate in this plan.

• 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan

• • Any employee whose annual base salary is at least 175% of the Social Security taxable wage base for the preceding year can participate in this plan.
  • Enrollment is only offered for January 1 or July 1.

• • • Eligibility is evaluated each October (for January enrollment) and April (for July enrollment).

• • Must contribute IRS maximum annual limit to SRP and SRP Catch-up Plans, if eligible.

Health Savings Accounts/Flexible Spending Accounts

• Only employees enrolled in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Maroon Savings Choice Plan are eligible to contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA).

• • Employees turning age 55 during the current calendar year or older are eligible to contribute additional funds to the HSA Catch-up Plan.
  • Employees or Retirees over age 65 who are enrolled in Medicare Part A or B are not eligible to contribute to an HAS.

• Highly Compensated Employees may only contribute up to a maximum of $1,900 to the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) annually.