Human Resources

Science Library

Science Library Interior

Benefit Information for
Graduate and Teaching Assistants

2005-2006 Academic Year

Health Insurance

Employees' Retirement System

Flex Spending Account

Tax-Deferred Savings Plans

Automatic Paycheck Deposit

Sick Leave

Credit Union

Union Dues/Membership

Microsoft Word® version of Benefit Information for Graduate and Teaching Assistants.

A. HEALTH INSURANCE

Graduate and Teaching Assistants who have at least a half assistantship and who have an annual stipend of at least $4,002 ($2,001 per semester) are eligible for the Student Employee Health Plan as employees represented by the Graduate Student Employees Union (GSEU). This is different from the Accident and Sickness Insurance available to all students. An enrollment packet will be sent to eligible employees in care of the department once we are notified of an appointment.

J-1 Students:
Students on a J-1 visa are required to enroll in the International Student and Scholars Insurance Plan. Coverage becomes effective on the 15th of August or January, depending on whether the appointment starts in the fall or spring semester. The State will pay 90 percent of the cost of individual coverage and 75 percent of the additional cost for dependent coverage, or a dollar amount equal to what the State would contribute for dependent coverage under the Student Employee Health Plan, whichever is less. Information about rates and enrollment is available from the Student Insurance Office in the Office of International Education at 518/442-3525.

F-1 Students:
Students on an F-1 visa are required to enroll in the Student Employee Health Plan. Coverage becomes effective on the date of appointment. Enrollment in the program may be waived with proof of comparable coverage under another plan.

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents:
Enrollment in the Student Employee Health Plan is voluntary and must be requested within 45 days after the date of appointment. Health insurance coverage is effective on the date we receive the enrollment form, but not earlier than the date of appointment. Enrollment after the initial enrollment period is subject to a 30-day wait from the date of request, unless previous coverage is terminated and proof is provided. An open enrollment is held each year from mid-August to late September.

Student Employee Health Plan (SEHP)

The State will pay 90 percent of the cost of individual coverage and 75 percent of the additional cost for dependent coverage. All premium payments are made through payroll deduction. The bi-weekly premium rates for SEHP effective January 1, 2006, are:

Coverage

Bi-Weekly Rate

Individual:

$ 4.67

Family:

$35.22

Health insurance premiums generally change on January 1 of each year.

Eligible Dependents

Eligible dependents include spouse or domestic partner and unmarried children under the age of 19. Children include natural children, legally adopted children, dependent stepchildren, and other children who live with you and who are chiefly dependent on you for their support. A domestic partnership is one in which both partners are:

18 years of age or older,

unmarried and not related by marriage or blood in a way that would bar marriage,

residing together,

involved in a committed (lifetime) rather than casual relationship, and

mutually interdependent financially.

The partners must be each other's sole domestic partner and must have been involved in the relationship for a period of not less than one year. Domestic partners may be either the same or opposite sex. Additional information and domestic partner enrollment forms are available from Human Resources at 437-4729.

Enrollees need to provide the following documents when enrolling for health insurance:

Social Security Card and Birth Certificate or Passport for self and all dependents

Marriage Certificate if enrolling a spouse

Statement of Dependence for children who are other than natural, legally adopted, or dependent stepchildren.

Plan Provisions:

SEHP provides coverage through a number of insurance carriers. The plan has an annual benefit limit of $350,000, including a maximum benefit of $100,000 for out-of-network services and a maximum prescription drug benefit of $2,500.

Hospitalization is covered by Blue Cross. Expenses incurred at a network hospital are paid in full following a $200 copayment. Expenses incurred at a non-network hospital are reimbursed at 80% following a $200 copayment. Services received from a network provider while an inpatient are paid in full. Emergency Room services are subject to a copayment of $25. The copayment is waived if admitted directly from the Emergency Room. Outpatient services are covered with a $15 copayment.

A two-part medical expense benefit plan is provided through United HealthCare Insurance Company of New York.

A participating provider program, limited to 15 visits per year, provides full benefits after a $10 per visit copayment when medical services are rendered by a participating provider.

Benefits for covered services from a non-participating provider, or after the 15^th visit to a participating provider, are reimbursed at 80% of allowable expenses, subject to an annual deductible of $100.

Prescription drug coverage is provided through Express Scripts with $5 copayment for a 30-day supply of generic drugs, $15 for preferred brand-name drugs, and $30 for non-preferred brand-name drugs. If you choose a brand-name drug that has a generic equivalent, you will pay the non-preferred brand-name drug copayment plus the difference in cost between the brand-name drug and the generic drug. Significant savings may be achieved by purchasing a 90-day supply through mail order.

Dental care benefits, provided by GHI, include 2 visits per year for examination, cleaning, and x-rays subject to a copayment of $20. Fillings are subject to a $10 copayment per filling, maximum 2 fillings per year. Benefits are available only from a GHI participating provider. Other services may be provided at a discount if received from a GHI provider who participates in the GHI Discounted Dental Access Program.

Vision care coverage through Davis Vision provides a routine eye examination, subject to a $10 copayment, every two years. Additional fees for contact lens fitting are not covered. Select frames and lenses or certain contact lenses offered by a participating provider at the time and place of an eye exam are paid in full. This benefit is available only once in any 24-month period.

Additional information about SEHP medical benefits is available at the following web site: www.cs.state.ny.us/ebd Click on NYS Actives, Executive Branch, SUNY GSEU.

B. EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
(http://www.osc.state.ny.us/retire/)

All Graduate and Teaching Assistants are eligible for membership in the NYS Employees' Retirement System (ERS). Membership, which is optional, requires a contribution of three percent of salary that is deducted from your paycheck. Service credit is pro-rated for part-time employees (all Graduate and Teaching Assistants are part-time). Membership may be transferred to other public retirement systems in New York State.

Under current legislation, employees contribute 3% of salary toward retirement for the first 10 years of service. Employee's contributions are deducted prior to the computation of federal taxes.

At age 62, with the equivalent of 20 or more years of full-time service, the benefit is computed at the rate of 2% of the average of the three best consecutive annual salaries, multiplied by the number of years of service (but not to exceed 30 years). Retirement is possible at age 55 with certain pension reductions, or with no reductions at age 55 with 30 years of service.

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

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 of full-time credited service may ask for a refund of their own contributions when they leave State service.

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

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

The Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAA) allows employees to pay for up to $5,000 per year of dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis. Qualified dependents include children under the age of 13, handicapped children of any age, and adults who live 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.

D. TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS PLANS

A 403(b) 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. Employees may also enroll in the NYS Deferred Compensation 457(b) plan.

TIAA-CREF: www.tiaa-cref.org
NYS Deferred Comp: www.nysdcp.com

General Information on tax-deferred savings plans.

E. AUTOMATIC PAYCHECK DEPOSIT

University employees may elect to have their paychecks automatically deposited via electronic funds transfer with any financial institution that is a member of the New York Automated Clearing House and chooses to participate in the direct deposit program. Funds may be deposited in up to 7 different accounts and financial institutions. Enrollment in Direct Deposit will automatically be cancelled prior to the start of each fall semester. Students may re-enroll after signing for their first check at the beginning of the fall semester.

F. SICK LEAVE

Graduate and Teaching Assistants are entitled to a maximum of five days of sick leave per academic year after one semester of service.

G. CREDIT UNION

All employees are eligible for membership in the State Employees' Federal Credit Union.

H. UNION DUES/MEMBERSHIP

All employees represented by GSEU are required to pay dues or an agency shop fee. Employees who join the Union will pay dues of two percent of gross salary bi-weekly. Employees who choose not to join the Union will pay the same amount toward an agency shop fee. Dues/agency shop fee is paid through payroll deduction.

Revised 12/7/2005

Microsoft Word is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Top

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

University at Albany Home Page