GraduateTeaching Assistant Benefit Orientation

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• Graduate/Teaching AssistantBenefit Orientation
• 2005-2006 Academic Year

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• Office of Human Resources
• Management
• UAB 300
• 437-4729
• http//hr.albany.edu

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Orientation Summary

• Paychecks
• Union Dues
• Attendance Reporting/Sick Leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flex Spending Account
• Retirement
• Tax Deferred Savings Plans
• Health Benefits

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Paychecks

• 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.

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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
• It is critical that you notify HR of address
  changes

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When Do I Get Paid?

• All GA/TA appointments begin on August 25, 2005
• End of payroll period is September 7
• First check arrives two weeks later on September
  21
• You must sign for your first paycheck (ask your
  department for details)

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When Does My Appointment End?

• Fall semester appointments end on January 11,
  2006
• Last check issued on January 25
• Academic year appointments end on May 31, 2006
• Last check issued June 14, 2006

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Union Dues

• 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

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Attendance Reporting

• Attendance Report sent to department each
  semester
• Must certify presence and record any absences
  each semester

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Sick Leave

• 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

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Employee Assistance Program

• Confidential assessment and referral
• Workshops Stress Reduction, Supervisory
  Training
• Self-enhancement/wellness programs
• Brown-bag sessions
• Book, video, tape, DVD library
• Watch for newsletters announcing programs

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Employee Assistance Program

• University EAP
• Roslyn Jefferson, MSW, EAP Coordinator
• MSC 200
• 442-5483
• www.albany.edu/eap/

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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
• Enrollees receive employer contribution of 500
  beginning with 2006 calendar year

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Flex Spending Account

• Information and enrollment kit is on the Flex
  Spending Account web site
• Enroll within 60 days of appointment for 2005 tax
  year (by October 24, 2005)
• Watch for announcement for 2006 tax year open
  enrollment period this fall
• 500 employer contribution beginning with the
  2006 tax year
• To enroll www.flexspend.state.ny.us or
  1/800/358-7202

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Retirement Plan

• ERS

NYS Employees Retirement System www.osc.state.ny.u
s/retire
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Retirement Plan

• Enrollment is voluntary
• May apply at any time
• Date of membership is date of application
• Membership is permanent once enrolled
• Contact HR if you are already a member so you can
  get service credit

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Employees Retirement System

• Defined Benefit Plan
• Guaranteed benefit based on formula
• At least 5 but fewer than 20 years of service
  final average salary (average of highest 3 years)
  x years of service x 1.66
• 20-30 years of service final average salary x
  years of service x 2
• 30 years of service additional 1.5 for each
  year above 30 years

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Employees Retirement System

• Retire with full benefits at age 62 or at age 55
  with 30 years of service
• Retirement possible at age 55 with fewer than 30
  years of service benefit is permanently reduced
  for each year you are under age 62

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Employees Retirement System

• Vested after 5 years (vesting benefit
  guaranteed at retirement age based on formula)
• Employee contributes 3 of salary for first 10
  years of membership
• Loans up to 75 of your contributions
• May withdraw membership if you leave with fewer
  than ten years of service

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Retirement Plan

• Other features
• Portable within NYS public employment
• Disability retirement ordinary disability and
  accidental disability retirement benefits
• Death benefit up to 3 x salary
• Accidental death benefit 50 of last years
  salary paid annually to surviving dependents as
  defined by law

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Tax-Deferred Savings

• Participation is optional
• Stop/start any time
• You direct investments
• 2 plans available
• TIAA-CREF
• NYS Deferred Compensation

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Tax-Deferred Savings

• TIAA-CREF
• 403(b) plan
• Tax-Deferred Annuity or Supplemental Retirement
  Annuity
• May contribute up to 14,000 annually
• Contact Diane Reed, 437-4729, for additional
  information and enrollment material

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Tax-Deferred Savings

• NYS Deferred Compensation
• 457(b) plan
• Available in all NYS agencies/local governments
• May contribute up to 14,000 annually
• Contact Deferred Comp representative at
  1/800/422-8463 for additional information and
  enrollment material

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NYS Health Insurance Program

• NYSHIP
• Administered state-wide by NYS Department of
  Civil Service
• Campus Administrator Office of Human Resources
  Management
• UAB 300
• 437-4729

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NYSHIP Student Employee Health Plan

• Eligibility
• half assistantship
• 4,002 annual stipend (2,001/semester)
• Benefit information is mailed c/o department as
  soon as we receive appointment forms
• Must enroll within 45 days after date of
  appointment (by October 10)

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SEHP

• F-1 International Students
• You are required to enroll in SEHP (not the
  International Students Scholars Insurance Plan)
• We will notify Student Accounts and International
  Education of your eligibility as soon as we
  receive your enrollment form the International
  Insurance fee will be removed from your bill

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SEHP

• F-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

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SEHP

• J-1 International Students
• You are not eligible for SEHP
• You will be enrolled automatically in the
  International Students and Scholars Insurance
  Plan
• We will notify Student Accounts of your
  eligibility for a 90 employer contribution
  toward your premium

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SEHP

• J-1 International Students
• You are also eligible for a contribution of up to
  75 toward the additional cost of dependent
  coverage
• pay only the medical evacuation/ repatriation fee
  and 10 of the mandatory insurance fee
• You will receive a refund if you already paid the
  full cost of mandatory insurance

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SEHP

• Domestic Student/Permanent Resident
• Enrollment in SEHP is optional
• Also eligible to enroll in student accident and
  sickness plan (no employer contribution toward
  this plan)
• May request cancellation and refund from Student
  Accounts if you already purchased optional
  student insurance and prefer to enroll in SEHP
  (cancellation deadline applies contact
  University Health Center)

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SEHP

• To enroll
• Review NYSHIP SEHP Benefit Summary
• Read Pre-Tax Contribution Program Fact Sheet
• Complete and sign Health Insurance Transaction
  Form (PS404G)
• Return form to HR, UAB 300, on or before October
  10

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SEHP

• Effective date of coverage
• Apply prior to or on date of appointment
  coverage is effective on date of appointment
• Apply after date of appointment but before
  deadline coverage is effective the day
  application is received in Human Resources
• Apply after deadline coverage is effective 30
  days after receipt of application

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SEHP

• Provide the following proofs
• Copy of birth certificate or passport for self
  and all enrolled dependents
• Copy of Social Security card for self and all
  enrolled dependents
• Copy of marriage certificate if enrolling a spouse

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SEHP

• You must re-enroll if
• You were enrolled with Research Foundation and
  funding was changed to State
• Your coverage with SUNY SEHP lapsed over the
  summer
• You currently have SEHP coverage under COBRA and
  need to change back to active coverage

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SEHP Coverage

• Individual or Family
• Eligible Dependents
• Spouse or Domestic Partner (separate affidavit
  required for domestic partner contact HR for
  information)
• Children (natural, adopted, stepchildren)
• Other Children (statement of dependence required)
• Unmarried children covered to age 19

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SEHP Coverage

• Changing Coverage
• Notify Human Resources within 30 days to avoid
  waiting period
• Effective date of change
• Request coverage within 30 days of involuntary
  loss of coverage date form is received in HR
• Request coverage within 30 days of acquiring
  dependent date of event

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SEHP Coverage

• Effective date of change
• Request coverage within 30 days of involuntary
  loss of coverage by dependent date form is
  received in HR
• all other changes 30 days after form is
  received in HR

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Health Insurance Premiums

• Biweekly Cost
• 4.45 individual 33.15 family
• rates change every January
• Premiums paid up front
• Example deduction from check dated September 21
  pays for coverage from September 22-October 5
• Arrears taken, if necessary, for coverage prior
  to first deduction
• 7-day rule if you have coverage for 7 days of a
  payroll period, you owe a premium

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Health Insurance Premiums

• Pre-Tax Contribution Program
• SEHP premiums paid before Federal/State taxes are
  computed
• Cannot cancel or lower level of coverage
  arbitrarily
• Tax change period in November
• can change between pre- and post-tax
• can cancel or lower level of coverage arbitrarily
• change is effective beginning of next year

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When Does My Coverage End?

• Fall semester appointments
• Last day of coverage is February 8
• Academic year or spring semester appointments
• Last day of coverage is June 28

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SEHP Summer Enrollment

• Coverage continues over the summer if you are
  expected to return with an eligible appointment
  in fall
• Verification from department is required
• HR will contact enrollees with details
• Extra deductions are taken from the last 3 checks
  in spring

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SEHP Plan Benefits

• Carriers
• Empire BlueCross/BlueShield - hospital
• United HealthCare - medical/surgical
• ValueOptions - mental health/substance abuse
• Express Scripts prescription drugs
• GHI - dental
• Davis Vision - vision

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Not the Empire Plan

• SEHP is NOT the Empire Plan (different
  eligibility rules, benefits)
• Empire Plan is a health insurance program
  available to some other State employees
• SEHP uses Empire Plan carriers, providers, claim
  forms

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SEHP Plan Benefits

• Plan year runs from January 1 to December 31
• Annual Benefit Maximum
• Prescription Drugs 2,500
• Non-Network Benefits 100,000
• All benefits combined 350,000

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SEHP Precertification

• Pre-admission certification required ...
• before a scheduled hospital admission
• before a maternity hospital admission (call as
  soon as you know you are expecting)
• within 48 hours after emergency or urgent
  admission
• before having a scheduled (non-emergency) MRI

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Role of University Health Center

• Two ways to receive medical care
• as a student
• as an employee (through SEHP)
• University Health Center is NOT a participating
  provider in SEHP

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Hospital Coverage

• Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
• 200 deductible
• Network Covered in full after deductible
• All NYS hospitals participate 92 of hospitals
  nation-wide are in network
• Non-network Reimbursed 80 of allowable charges
  after deductible. Pay provider, submit claim
  forms

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Copays

• In Network
• 25 Emergency Room (waived if admitted)
• 15 hospital outpatient department (waived if
  admitted)
• Non-Network
• Emergency Room same as network
• Outpatient plan pays 80 after 100 annual
  deductible
• Pay provider, submit claim form

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Medical/Surgical Coverage

• United HealthCare
• Maximum 15 network visits 10 copay
• Your responsibility to find network providers
• Participating providers not guaranteed in all
  specialties or geographic areas
• Participating provider in hospital covered in
  full (not subject to 15 visit max)

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Medical/Surgical Coverage

• Routine health exams
• Reimbursed up to 60 once every two years if
  under 40 annually if over 40
• Spouse/domestic partner not covered for routine
  health exams
• Allergy testing
• only covered in-network
• Review exclusions in Benefit Summary (page 10)

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Managed Physical Medicine

• Chiropractic Care - separate 15 visit limit
• Physical therapy - 60 visit limit
• Guaranteed access to participating provider
• Out of network additional 100 deductible
  reimbursed 80 of allowable expenses

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Home Care Advocacy Program

• Call for prior authorization
• Home care services in lieu of hospital care
• Paid in full network benefits
• Out of network 80 reimbursement if precertified
• Diabetic supplies paid in full in network
• pre-certification required
• out of network up to 100 of allowable rates

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Mental Health/Substance Abuse

• ValueOptions
• Pre-certification required (referral line
  available 24/7)
• Outpatient mental health up to 30 visits per year
• Network first 10 visits covered in full after
  15 copay visits 11-30 covered at 50 up to 35
  per visit
• Non-network 50 up to 25 per visit for up to 30
  visits per year

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Mental Health/Substance Abuse

• Inpatient mental health
• up to 30 days per year
• plan pays 80 after 200 copay (50 if not
  preauthorized)
• Out of network same as network if precertified
  (50 of allowable expenses if not precertified)

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Mental Health/Substance Abuse

• Outpatient alcohol/substance abuse
• 10/visit for medically necessary pre-certified
  care (maximum 20 visits per year for family
  members)
• non-network 10/visit up to 60 visits per year
  (20 of which can be used by family members) 50
  of allowable expenses if not pre-certified
• Inpatient alcohol/substance abuse
• Up to 7 days for detox under hospital benefit

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Prescription Drugs

• Express Scripts
• 30-day supply at participating retail pharmacy
• 5 generic
• 15 preferred brand-name
• 30 non preferred brand name
• 90-day supply through mail order
• 5 generic
• 20 preferred brand name
• 55 non-preferred brand name

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Prescription Drugs

• If you choose a brand-name drug that has a
  generic equivalent, you will pay the
  non-preferred brand name copayment plus the cost
  difference between the brand-name and generic
  drug.
• Out of Network Pharmacy
• reimbursed up to the amount the program would
  reimburse a network pharmacy

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Prescription Drugs

• University Health Center is NOT a participating
  pharmacy
• 200 pharmacy benefit per semester as a student
• Anything above 200 at University Health Center
  considered out of network for SEHP

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SEHP Carrier Contact Information

• 1/877/7-NYSHIP (1/877/769-7447)
• Option 1 United HealthCare
• Option 2 BlueCross/BlueShield
• Option 3 ValueOptions
• Option 4 Express Scripts

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Dental Benefits

• GHI (Group Health Incorporated)
• MUST use a GHI participating provider
• call 800/947-0101 or visit www.ghi.com
• Exam, cleaning, x-rays - 20 copayment two
  visits per year
• 2 fillings per year subject to a 10 copayment

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Dental Benefits

• Additional services available at discounted rates
  if you visit a GHI provider who participates in
  the GHI Discounted Dental Access Program.
• Not all GHI dentists participate in the discount
  program.

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Vision Care

• Davis Vision
• MUST use participating providers
• call 800/999-5431 or ww.davisvision.com
• Exam - 10 co-pay
• Select frames and lenses or daily wear,
  disposable, or planned replacement contact lenses
  paid in full if purchased at time and place of
  eye exam.

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Insurance ID Cards

• ID Card(s) mailed to home address
• one card for each family member
• separate from dental ID card
• Important to keep HR informed of address changes

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Questions

• Contact Human Resources
• UAB 300
• 437-4729
• http//hr.albany.edu