Human Resources

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Benefit Information for
PEF Employees

The following benefits are available to all full-time employees at the University at Albany in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services bargaining unit, represented by the Public Employees Federation (PEF), as well as to part-time employees working at least half time, with an appointment of at least three months' duration. Programs, policies, and costs are subject to change without notice, and such changes are generally applicable to all future employees regardless of the date the original offer or acceptance of employment was made.

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance and Vision Care

Retirement Program

Tax Deferred Savings Plans

Death Benefits

Tuition and Fee Assistance

Flex Spending Account

Long-Term Care Insurance

A. HEALTH INSURANCE

Coverage is effective after 56 days of employment if enrollment forms are received by that date. Employees have a choice of one of five options: a preferred provider organization or one of four health maintenance organizations. All health plans cover pre-existing conditions.

Preferred Provider Organization:

NYS Empire Plan (http://www.cs.state.ny.us/ebd/)

The Empire Plan covers hospitalization through Blue Cross, surgical/medical care through United HealthCare, mental health/substance abuse treatment through GHI Value Options, and prescription drugs through Medco. Empire Plan enrollees are not required to designate primary care providers or to obtain written referrals for specialists. Generally, services rendered by participating providers are paid in full with the exception of modest co-payments. The insurance carrier pays the provider directly.

Claims for services from providers who do not participate in the plan must be submitted under the Basic Medical Program. The enrollee is responsible for paying all charges and will receive any reimbursement directly from United HealthCare. Once a deductible is met, Basic Medical will reimburse 80% of reasonable and customary charges to a prescribed maximum. The program pays 100% of reasonable and customary expenses after the coinsurance maximum limit is met.

The Empire Plan includes “managed care” components for certain services, such as hospital and skilled nursing facility admissions, mental health and substance abuse treatment, home health care and durable medical goods, and chiropractic/physical therapy. Benefits may be substantially reduced if members go outside the network or do not call for pre-approval.

Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)

1.       Capital District Physicians' Health Plan (http://www.cdphp.com)

2.       Empire BlueCross BlueShield HMO (http://www.empireblue.com)

3.       GHI HMO (www.ghihmo.com)

4.       MVP Health Plan (http://www.joinmvp.com)

All HMOs provide comprehensive hospital, medical/surgical, mental health/substance abuse, and prescription drug coverage. Generally, enrollees are required to select a primary care provider from the HMO’s network. Enrollees go to their primary provider for health care and referrals to specialists. (Note: GHI and MVP do not require referrals for in-network specialists.) The HMO pays the provider in full, except for modest co-payments. The provider takes care of claim forms and paperwork.

Premiums

At this time, the State pays 90% of the cost of individual coverage and 75% of the additional cost for dependent coverage in the Empire Plan. For HMOs, the State pays 90% of the cost of individual and 75% of the additional cost for dependent coverage, not to exceed 100% of its contribution to the Empire Plan. Health insurance contributions are deducted from payroll checks on a pre-tax basis, unless the employee specifically declines in writing to participate in the Pre-Tax Contribution Program (PTCP).

Click here to view a chart containing the current biweekly premium rates arranged by bargaining unit.

B. DENTAL INSURANCE & VISION CARE

Individual or family coverage is provided at no cost to eligible employees. Coverage becomes effective after 56 days of service. EyeMed covers one examination and pair of eye glasses for eligible employees and dependents every 24 months, or every 12 months for children under 19. Additional information may be obtained by contacting EyeMed’s Customer Call Center at 877/226-1412 or visiting the Civil Service website (http://www.cs.state.ny.us/ebd/) and clicking on the vision benefits link. GHI Preferred Dental Plan offers coverage on a fee schedule basis. Visit the above website and click on the dental benefits link or go to www.ghi.com for more details.

C. RETIREMENT PROGRAM

Full-time permanent employees are required to join the Employees' Retirement System. Election is optional for temporary and part-time employees.

New York State Employees' Retirement System(ERS) (http://www.osc.state.ny.us/retire/)

1.      Under current legislation, employees contribute 3 percent of annual salary toward retirement for the first ten years of service. Employee contributions are deducted prior to the computation of federal taxes.

2.      At age 62, with 20 to 30 years of full-time credited service, the benefit will equal 2% of your final average salary (average of the highest consecutive 36 months of salary) multiplied by your years of credited service. The benefit includes an additional 1.5% of your final average salary for each year of credited service beyond 30 years. Retirement is possible at age 55 with certain pension reductions, or no reduction at age 55 with 30 years of service.

3.      The retirement benefit for those with more than five but fewer than 20 years of full-time credited service is computed at the rate of 1.66% of final average salary as described above.

4.      Members who terminate employment with the equivalent of at least five years of full-time credited service are vested in the system and are, therefore, entitled to a retirement allowance upon reaching age 55. Members who terminate employment with less than the equivalent of ten years full-time service credit may ask for a refund of their own contributions when they leave state service.

5.      The State makes appropriate annual contributions to ERS to provide a pension.

D. TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS PLANS

A tax-deferred annuity program is available to all University employees. Employees may elect to set aside a portion of their salaries before taxes as a retirement investment under a contract with TIAA-CREF. For TIAA-CREF, contact the Office of Human Resources at 437-4729 for information on enrollment; for general information, including investment fund performance, contact TIAA directly at 800/842-2776 or at www.tiaa-cref.org.

All employees are eligible to participate in the 457(b) NYS Deferred Compensation Plan (NYSDCP). For enrollment information and investment fund performance, contact NYSDCP directly at 800/422-8463 or at www.nysdcp.com. Enrollment packets can also be requested by calling the Office of Human Resources at 437-4729.

General Information (on these tax-deferred savings plans, including annual IRS maximum deferral limits)

Loan Provision Information

E. DEATH BENEFITS

A death benefit may be payable to the beneficiary of an individual who dies while employed by the University.

The Employees' Retirement System provides a benefit equal to one year's salary for each year of service up to three years maximum salary, but with death benefits reduced each year beyond age 61. This benefit is further reduced upon retirement.

If the death benefit provided by the retirement system is less than one-half final salary, a separate State program will provide or supplement that amount to a maximum of $10,000.

F. TUITION AND FEE ASSISTANCE

Full-time employees are eligible for a waiver of a percentage (usually 40-50%, based on the number of employees applying and the availability of funds) of tuition for up to eight credit hours of job-related courses taken at a SUNY campus. Tuition may not be waived for courses taken at a SUNY community college or at a campus external to SUNY. Tuition assistance is not available to the spouse or dependents of employees.

Under a separate union-negotiated program, employees represented by PEF may receive a voucher for up to $600 for one course per semester at participating institutions, subject to the availability of funds. Some reimbursement is possible for courses at non-participating institutions, as well as for continuing education courses for licensure and licensing exam preparatory/refresher courses.

G. FLEX SPENDING ACCOUNTS
(www.flexspend.state.ny.us)

1.      Dependent Care Advantage Account: This allows eligible employees to pay up to $5,000/year of dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis. Qualified dependents include children under the age of 13; disabled children of any age; and relatives residing in the employee's home who are incapable of caring for themselves. Employees must enroll within the first 60 days of employment (or within 60 days of a change in family status) or wait until an annual enrollment period in the fall. Visit the website for additional information, including the current employer contribution toward participation in this program.

2.      Health Care Spending Account: This allows eligible employees to set aside up to $4,000 annually in pre-tax salary to pay for health-related expenses that are not reimbursed by insurance. Medically necessary medical, dental, prescription, vision, and hearing expenses for enrollees and their eligible dependents may be reimbursed. Employees must enroll within the first 60 days of employment (or within 60 days of a change in family status) or wait until an annual enrollment period in the fall. Visit the website for additional information.

H. LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE
(www.nyperl.net)

The NYS Public Employees and Retirees Long-Term Care Insurance Plan (NYPERL) allows eligible employees and dependents to purchase long-term care insurance through MedAmerica Insurance Company of NY. Generally, long-term care insurance provides benefits for covered services from a nursing facility, home health care agency, adult day care center, assisted living facility, and hospice. Active employees who enroll within 60 days of employment are guaranteed issue of a policy without proof of insurability. Enrollment after 60 days requires proof of insurability. Eligible dependents are required to prove insurability regardless of when they apply.

Revised May 2007

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Employee Benefits
Office of Human Resources Management
University at Albany
Albany, NY 12222
(518) 437-4729 (Voice) 437-4731 (Fax)
Office Hours: M-F, 8:30am to 5:00pm, Summers, 8:00am - 4:00pm

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