Graduate/Teaching Assistant Benefit Orientation 2017-2018 Academic Year Office of Human Resources Management UAB 300 518-437-4727 www.albany.edu/hr SEHP Administrator Olivia Pettit opettit@albany.edu Orientation Summary Health Benefits Payroll Union Dues Attendance Reporting/Sick Leave Employee Assistance Program Flex Spending Account Retirement Voluntary Pre-Tax Savings NYS Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) NYS Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) administered by NYS Department of Civil Service www.cs.ny.gov/ebd Campus Administrator: Office of Human Resources Management UAB 300 or 518-437-4727 To be eligible to enroll in SEHP you must have at least half assistantship with a stipend of at least $4,692.50 (annually), $2,346.25 (per semester) Your benefit information and paperwork will be sent to your department as soon as we receive appointment forms
NYSHIP Overview Medical/Surgical Components of New York State Health Insurance Plan (NYSHIP)/Student Employee Health Plan (SEHP) Medical/Surgical United Healthcare Hospital Empire BlueCross BlueShield Mental Health and Substance Abuse Beacon Health Options Prescriptions CVS Caremark Dental EmblemHealth Vision Davis Vision No requirement to designate a primary care physician No referrals necessary Find participating providers (in the Empire Plan Network) by visiting: www.empireplanproviders.com Non-participating providers (not in the Empire Plan network) are subject to a deductible and co-insurance NYSHIP Contact Information Phone 1-877-769-7447 www.cs.ny.gov/employee-benefits/ Medical/Surgical Hospital You must call 1-877-769-7447, #1 for prospective procedure review Required prior to receiving scheduled (nonemergency) diagnostic tests, including, but not limited to: MRI, MRA, CT, PET Scan, Nuclear Medicine Test Failure to call or receive pre-certification will mean that you will be required to pay a larger portion, or all of the cost if the procedure is deemed not to be medically necessary You must call 1-877-769-7447, #2 for Hospital Pre-Admission Certification Before a scheduled, non-emergency hospital admission Before a maternity hospital admission Within 48 hours of emergency hospital admission, or as soon as reasonably possible If you do not call/are not certified, the plan only pays up to 50% of allowable amount after co-payment Inpatient hospital co-payment is $200
Mental Health and Substance Abuse The referral line is available 24/7 at 1-877-769-7447, #3 You are required to pre-certify for certain treatments/services, including, but not limited to: Psychological testing, behavior analysis If you are admitted as an inpatient during an emergency, you or someone acting on your behalf should call the number within 48 hours Prescription Drug To find out if a pharmacy participates in the CVS Caremark network, call 1-877-769-7447, #4 Mail Service is available The University Health Center is not a participating pharmacy Dental Vision Must use EmblemHealth participating providers no out of network coverage Call 1-800-947-0101 to find participating providers Covered Services: Initial exam, cleaning, bitewing x-rays and more Up to 2 fillings per 12 month period are covered; subject to co-payment Must use Davis Vision participating providers no out of network coverage Call 1-888-588-4823 to find participating providers Covered for a routine eye exam, subject to co-payment, once in a 24-month period Limited selection of frames and lenses or contacts offered by participating providers are covered in full Must purchase glasses at time of exam
SEHP Effective Dates for New Enrollments If you apply Prior to or on date of appointment: Coverage begins on date of appointment After date of appointment but before deadline: Coverage begins on date application is received in Human Resources After deadline: Coverage begins 30 days after date application is received in Human Resources (waiting period may be waived if you have experienced a qualifying event) For F1 and J-1 International Students: Coverage will be effective on the day of appointment regardless of application date SEHP Coverage Choice of Individual or Family coverage Eligible Dependents Spouse or Domestic Partner (separate paperwork required for domestic partner; contact HR for information) Children (natural, adopted, stepchildren) Other Children (statement of dependence required) Children covered to age 26 unless certified as disabled by NYSHIP Siblings and Parents are not eligible dependents SEHP - How to Enroll SEHP - How to Enroll Prior to enrolling: Review NYSHIP SEHP Benefit Summary Read Pre-Tax Contribution Fact Sheet To Enroll: Complete and sign Health Insurance Transaction Form (PS-404G) Return PS-404G and required proofs to HR in UAB- 300 on or before the deadline October 7, 2017 Provide the following proofs: Copy of birth certificate and social security numbers for enrollee and all dependents (passports accepted in lieu of a birth certificate for enrollee, partner or spouse only). SS card is required for enrollee only. To enroll a spouse a copy of your marriage certificate; for marriages occurring over 1 year ago, proof of joint ownership/financial obligation is also required (copy of prior year tax return, current bank/mortgage statement or homeowners policy) Additional documentation is required for domestic partnerships, disabled dependents over the age of 26 and other children
Adding a Dependent Qualifying Events All forms/documentation required within 30 days of the event Marriage Birth/Adoption Loss of prior employer, Medicaid or Medicare coverage Arrival of dependent in US OR If qualifying event does not apply, dependent can be added 30 days from the date the forms/documentation is received by HR SEHP Information for International Students F-1and J-1 International Students: You are required to enroll in SEHP (different than the International Students & Scholars Insurance Plan - HTH). We cannot process your enrollment without the required paperwork. We will notify Student Accounts and International Education of your SEHP enrollment as soon as we receive your enrollment paperwork and required proofs; the International Insurance fee will be removed from your bill automatically (may take 2-3 weeks) SEHP SEHP F-1 and J-1 International Students: You are still required to pay the medical evacuation/repatriation fee Request a refund of the International Insurance fee if you have already paid it Coverage is effective on date of appointment regardless of date of application; retroactive premiums will be owed if application is not submitted in a timely manner Domestic Student/Permanent Resident Enrollment in SEHP is optional
SEHP Summer Continuation Coverage Coverage may continue over the summer if you are expected to return to an eligible GSEU appointment next fall Timely verification from your department is required; HR will email instructions to enrollees in mid to late- March. Read information carefully and pay close attention to mid-april deadline for submitting verification form. If you are eligible and submit the necessary form by the deadline, summer coverage will be paid via extra deductions from your last 3 paychecks in spring SEHP Re-enrollment You must re-enroll if You were enrolled with Research Foundation and funding was changed to State Your SEHP coverage lapsed over the summer You currently have SEHP COBRA and need to change back to active coverage SEHP Ending Dates If assistantship ends for any reason, coverage will terminate 2 full pay periods after employment end date Fall semester appointments: Last day of coverage is February 7, 2018 Academic year or spring semester appointments: Last day of coverage is June 27, 2018 You will receive COBRA information from Civil Service and you must enroll within 60-day deadline in order to continue coverage Health Insurance Premiums Biweekly Cost for 2017 $15.79 individual; $95.27 family/domestic partner Rates change every January Premiums paid up front Example: deduction from check dated 9/20/17 pays for coverage for the period of 9/21/17 10/4/17 Arrears taken, if necessary, for coverage prior to first deduction
Health Insurance Premiums University Health Center If you are in the Pre-Tax Contribution Program (PTCP), SEHP premiums are paid before federal, state and SS taxes are computed Cannot cancel or lower level of coverage without timely notice of a qualifying event Initial Participation in the PTCP is only allowed if you are enrolling during the open enrollment period (ending 10/7/17). If you enroll at other times, you will be enrolled on a post-tax basis. You may change your tax election each November for the following calendar year can change between pre- and post-tax can cancel or lower level of coverage without a qualifying event change is effective at beginning of next plan year University Health Center is NOT a SEHP participating provider Two ways to receive medical care As a student (through the Health Center) As an Graduate or Teaching Assistant/employee (through SEHP) Insurance ID Cards Paychecks ID Card(s) mailed to home address within 2-4 weeks One health insurance card for each family member over the age of 18 Separate cards for dental and vision coverage Keep HR informed of address changes to ensure that you are receiving important information from the University Paid biweekly on Wednesday Checks and/or direct deposit advice delivered to department Review check stub for home address, deductions, taxes, year-to-date totals, etc. It is critical that you notify HR of address changes
Lag Payroll Payroll period starts on Thursday, ends two weeks later on Wednesday; paychecks arrive two weeks after the end of a payroll period Lag payroll means you have a check coming after you leave payroll Most GA/TA appointments begin on August 24, 2017 End of payroll period is September 6, 2017 First check arrives two weeks later on September 20, 2017 Union information for GSEU Graduate Student Employee Union (GSEU) 2% of base salary Membership is not required Will pay the same amount in agency fee if you do not join Membership provides ability to vote on elections and contracts; other benefits GSEU will send information For contact information, see below: www.gseu.org 1-607-762-1104 (Education Division Headquarters for GSEU) Albany contact James Searle jsearle@albany.edu or 206-295-4145 Attendance Reporting Sick Leave Attendance report sent to department each semester Must certify presence and record any absences each semester Eligible after one semester of service Up to 5 days per year (July 1-June 30) with approval Sick leave may be granted in units of ¼ day or greater May be used for illness or death in family If you need to be out longer than 5 days due to illness or injury, please contact the Office of Human Resources Management or your department administrator
Employee Assistance Program On-Campus confidential assessment and referral services on personal and work-related issues Self-enhancement/wellness programs Books, videos, tapes, DVD library Watch for newsletters announcing upcoming programs Brenda Seckerson BSeckerson@albany.edu 518-442-5483 Flex Spending Account Dependent Care Advantage Account Contribute up to $5,000 in pre-tax dollars Day care expenses Children under 13 Disabled children of any age Dependent adults living in your home Carefully estimate expenses -- use it or lose it Flex Spending Account Employees Retirement System Information and enrollment kit is on the Flex Spending Account web site Enroll within 60 days of appointment for 2017 participation 2018 enrollment period will be held in the fall To enroll: www.flexspend.state.ny.us or 1-800-358-7202 NYS Employees Retirement System www.osc.state.ny.us/retire
Employees Retirement System Enrollment is voluntary May enroll at any time Date of membership is the date application is received by ERS (please allow 5 days for processing after the application is submitted to HR) Membership is permanent while employed by a NYS public employer Tier 6 - members enrolled on or after April 1, 2012 previous members may be in different tiers Defined Benefit Plan that provides a guaranteed benefit at retirement, based on formula Employees Retirement System May retire with full benefits at age 63 Retirement is possible as early as age 55 with a reduction in benefits for each year under age 63 Member contributions are tiered based on salary annual salary of $45,000 or less requires a contribution of 3% of salary Vested after 10 years of full-time service; part-time service is pro-rated (50% PT takes 20 years to vest) Can withdraw membership if leaving public service with less than ten years of ERS service and request refund of contributions plus interest ERS Enrollment Submit an ERS application to UAB-300 Call 518-437-4729 with questions Office of the State Comptroller www.osc.ny.us/retire 518-474-7736 Voluntary Pre-Tax Savings Program Participation is optional An additional way to save money for retirement Deductions are taken on a pre-tax basis, lowering state and federal taxes Two options (you may elect one or both): 403(b) 457(b) You may elect or cancel your participation or change your contribution amounts throughout the year with 30 days notice
Voluntary Pre-Tax Savings Program Questions 403(b) Investment provider options Fidelity, VOYA, TIAA and VALIC Contact investment providers directly to open an account You must complete and submit a Salary Reduction Agreement to HR to start deductions Contact Human Resources UAB 300 518-437-4727 SEHP 518-437-4729 Retirement, voluntary savings and other general (non-sehp) benefit questions www.albany.edu/hr NYS Deferred Compensation System (NYSDCP) 457(b) Contact the NYSDCP directly to obtain enrollment materials or to obtain additional information www.nysdcp.com or 1-800-422-8463