Purpose

To promote a high standard of affordable medical care, and protect employees from undue financial hardship due to serious illness or injury.

Eligibility

All full-time employees with Regular appointments and their eligible dependents are eligible to participate in the Group Health and Dental Insurance program.

Enrollment

New employees must enroll themselves and their dependents in the Group Health Insurance Program within thirty (30) calendar days of their initial appointment. Failure to enroll within the initial enrollment period may disqualify the employee and his or her dependents from coverage under the program.

Effective Date of Coverage

Coverage will be effective on the first day of the month following the completion of one calendar month of employment.

Health and Dental Insurance

The University offers a comprehensive Group Health and Dental Insurance Program to eligible employees. Details of plan coverage are available in the form of a handbook provided by the carrier which may be obtained from the Human Resources Office.

Carrier

The University aspires to provide the highest level of coverage possible, at the most affordable price to the employee. To achieve this goal, from time to time the carrier for the University's insurance may change.

Dental Coverage

As a condition of participation, all employees must enroll in the Group Dental Insurance Program to qualify for Health Insurance.

Dependent Coverage

Dependents of eligible employees may participate in the Group Insurance Program according to the terms and conditions imposed by the Health Insurance Board of Trustees and/or the carrier. Employees must provide documentation of dependent eligibility upon request.

Cost of Coverage

The University contributes $115.00 toward the cost of basic Health Insurance for each employee enrolled under the group Health Insurance program. The remainder of the cost for Individual Health Insurance, and the total amount for Dental and Dependent coverage, is the responsibility of the employee. All employee contributions will be collected through payroll deduction. The University reserves the right to change the amount of the employee contribution when necessary for financial or other reasons.

Benefits During Leave Without Pay

Employees on Leave Without Pay (LWOP) may continue to participate in the Group Health and Dental program. The employee will be responsible for paying the total premium due, both employee and employer portions, for the duration of the period of time that they do not receive a paycheck. Premiums are due on the first day of each month. Failure to make prompt payments may result in the cancellation of insurance benefits.

An employee who is going on LWOP should contact the Human Resources Office to make arrangements for regular payments.

Waiver or Discontinuation of Benefits

An employee may opt to decline to be covered, or discontinue coverage under the Group Insurance plan at any time. An employee who waives coverage upon employment, or who drops out of the program will be subject to the eligibility requirements imposed by the carrier in order to re-enroll in the program and may be refused coverage. This provision also applies to dependents who are dropped from the plan.

Pre-Existing Conditions

New enrollees with pre-existing medical or dental conditions may have coverage restricted according to the requirements imposed by the carrier.

Retirement Benefits

Retired employees and their dependents are eligible to continue to participate in the Group Health and Dental Insurance Program.

For more details about this and other retiree benefits, please see Section [GERS or TIAA/CREF Retirement].