Page 3 - University of the South-2022-Benefit Guide REVISED 3.30.22 FSA WAIT PERIOD

BENEFIT BASICS

Introduction to Benefits The following benefits are subject to IRS guidelines and
are deducted from wages on a pre-tax basis:
Benefits are an important part of the University’s
compensation program. Once eligibility requirements are • health insurance
met, employees with the following appointments are • dental insurance
eligible for all benefits, including those as outlined for • vision insurance
Tuition Remission and Exchange, and for the Secondary • medical care spending accounts
School Grant benefit: • dependent care spending accounts
• Full-time regular employees, including tenure track and All fringe benefits and practices are subject to change at
tenured faculty; the University’s discretion. Any benefit may be eliminated
• Term staff and contingent faculty with full-time at any time and eligibility requirements and premiums
appointments for more than 24 consecutive months may be adjusted at the University’s discretion. If such
who continue to work at least half-time after the changes occur, the University will attempt to advise
24th month. employees and retirees in a timely manner. Questions
• Part-time regular staff who are scheduled to work at concerning benefits should be directed to the Office of
least 3/4 time (1,560 hours annually for non-exempt Human Resources.
employees).
Staff members with an appointment of a minimum of Qualifying Life Events
1,560 hours (3/4 time) are eligible to participate in the Generally, you may only make or change your existing
University’s health plan. Contingent faculty members with benefit elections during the open enrollment window.
a one year, full-time appointment are also eligible to However, you may change your benefit elections during
participate in the University’s health plan.
the year if you experience an event such as:
Staff members with a regular, part-time appointment who • Marriage
are scheduled to work at least 1,000 hours annually are
eligible to participate in the retirement plans. Term staff • Divorce or legal separation
and contingent faculty members normally do not • Birth of your child
participate in the retirement plans unless they have held a • Death of your spouse or dependent child
full-time appointment for 24 consecutive months and • Adoption of or placement for adoption of your child
continue to hold at least a half-time appointment.
• Change in employment status of employee, spouse or
An employee’s benefit status is determined by his or her dependent child
primary appointment. Multiple positions normally will not
be combined to determine eligibility for benefits, and • Qualification by the Plan Administrator of a child
benefits earned in one position may not be used when an support order for medical coverage
employee is working in a position that is not eligible for • New entitlement to Medicare or Medicaid
benefits.
Employees must notify the Office of Human Resources You must notify Human Resources within 30 days of
of a change in marital status, deletions or additions of a qualifying life event. Depending on the type of event,
dependents, or changes of beneficiaries. you may need to provide proof of the event. Human
Resources will let you know what documentation you
should provide. If you do not contact Human Resources
Each employee should contact the Office of Human within 30 days of the qualified event, you will have to wait
Resources as soon as possible after employment (no until the next open enrollment window to make changes
later than 30 days) to discuss eligibility for benefits (unless you experience another qualifying life event).
and complete all necessary enrollment forms.

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