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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. Microsoft Word® version of Benefit Information for PEF Employees.

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance and Vision Care

Retirement Programs

Social Security

Tax Deferred Savings Plans

Unemployment Insurance

Death Benefits

Tuition and Fee Assistance

Flex Spending Account

Long-Term Care Insurance

General Payroll Information

Automatic Paycheck Deposit

Accumulation of Sick Leave

Accumulation of Vacation and Personal Leave

Union Dues/Membership

A. HEALTH INSURANCE

Coverage is effective on the 43rd day 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.

Preferred Provider Organization:

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

The Empire Plan provides coverage for hospitalization through Blue Cross, combined medical/surgical and Basic Medical coverage through United HealthCare, mental health/substance abuse coverage through GHI Value Options, and prescription drugs through CIGNA Express Scripts. Under the Empire Plan, services rendered by participating providers are paid in full with the exception of a modest copayment for office visits, lab tests, x-rays, and office surgeries. The insurance carrier pays the provider directly.

The Empire Plan includes "managed care" components for mental health and substance abuse, provided through ValueOptions; for home health care and durable medical goods, provided through the Home Care Advocacy Program (HCAP); and for physical medicine (chiropractic and physical therapy). Benefits in these areas are substantially reduced if you choose to go outside the network.

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

Health Maintenance Organizations

The following HMOs are available to employees who live or work in the HMO service area. All plans provide comprehensive hospital, medical/surgical, mental health/substance abuse, and prescription drug coverage. All HMOs require members to select a primary physician from among a network of providers practicing in their own offices. Members must go to their primary provider for all health care needs or be referred by him/her to a specialist within the HMO’s network. The plan pays the provider in full, with the exception of a modest copayment. There is no paperwork for the member; the provider takes care of all claim forms.

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

This HMO serves Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, and Washington counties. CDPHP is also available at a higher premium cost in other areas of the State.

Empire HMO (http://www.empireblue.com)

This HMO serves Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Essex, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, and Washington counties. Empire BlueCross BlueShield HMO is also available at a higher premium cost in the Mid-Hudson and downstate regions.

GHI HMO Select, Inc. (http://www.ghihmo.com)

GHI does not re quire a referral for in-network specialty visits. This HMO serves Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, and Washington counties. GHI HMO is also available in downstate areas at a higher premium.

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

MVP does not require a referral for in-network specialty visits. This HMO serves Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, and Washington counties. MVP is also available at a higher premium cost in the Central and Mid-Hudson regions of the State.

At this time, the State pays 90% of the cost of individual coverage and 75% of the additional cost for dependent coverage in the NYS 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 NYS Empire Plan. Click here to view a chart containing the current biweekly premium rates arranged by bargaining unit.

All health plan premiums are deducted on a pre-tax basis unless specifically declined by an individual employee. All of our plans cover pre-existing conditions.

B. DENTAL INSURANCE & VISION CARE

The vision care plan (Davis Vision - www.davisvision.com) provides for one examination and pair of eye glasses for you and each eligible dependent every 24 months (every 12 months for children under age 19). Coverage is effective after four weeks of service. Dental coverage for you and your dependents is paid on a fee schedule basis with a $25 deductible for restorative services; GHI (www.ghi.com) is the carrier. Participating dentists accept the fee schedule as payment in full for covered services. Coverage is effective after eight weeks of service.

C. RETIREMENT PROGRAMS

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 (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. SOCIAL SECURITY
(www.ssa.gov)

All employees are covered by Social Security. Taxes are withheld from salary up to the Social Security base as determined each calendar year. In 2005, $90,000 is subject to Social Security taxes (7.65%). Amounts over $90,000 are subject only to the Medicare portion of the Social Security tax (1.45%).

E. 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 NYS Deferred Compensation Program. Contact UAlbany's NYS Deferred Compensation representative for information on enrollment and investment funds at 800/422-8463 or at www.nysdcp.com.

General Information on tax-deferred savings plans.

Loan Provision Information

F. UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

University employees are covered under State law provisions for unemployment insurance. The employee must have 20 weeks of covered employment in the previous 52-week employment period prior to filing for benefits.

G. 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.

H. 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.

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

1.      Dependent Care Advantage Account: This program allows employees to pay for up to $5,000/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. Enrollees receive an employer contribution of from $200 to $600, depending on salary.

2.      Health Care Spending Account: This program allows eligible State employees to set aside from $150 to $3,000 annually in pre-tax salary to pay for health-related expenses that are not reimbursed by health insurance. Medically necessary medical, dental, prescription, vision, and hearing expenses for enrollees and their dependents are eligible for reimbursement. Employees must enroll within the first 60 days of employment (or within 30 days of a change in family status) or wait until an annual enrollment period in the fall. There is no employer contribution to this program.

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

The NYS Public Employees and Retirees Long-Term Care Insurance Plan (NYPERL) allows eligible employees and their eligible dependents to purchase long-term care insurance through MedAmerica Insurance Company of NY. 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.

K. GENERAL PAYROLL INFORMATION

New York State employees are paid on a two-week lag basis. Under the lag payroll system, new employees must wait approximately four weeks for their first paycheck. For example, an employee hired on January 13, 2005, will receive their first paycheck on February 9, 2005, assuming timely receipt of appointment forms. An additional week of deferred pay is accomplished by deducting one day's pay from each of the first five checks.

Under the lag system, all employees separating from the State payroll receive their final paycheck approximately two weeks after their appointment ends. The deferred pay is repaid three payroll periods after the employee's last paycheck at the salary rate earned at the time of separation from service.

L. 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.

M. ACCUMULATION OF SICK LEAVE

All full-time employees accumulate 13 days of sick leave per year. Accruals for part-time employees are pro-rated. The maximum sick leave accumulation is 200 days.

N. ACCUMULATION OF VACATION AND PERSONAL LEAVE

The following table shows the vacation accrual rate for all full-time employees. Accruals for part-time employees are pro-rated. The maximum vacation leave accumulation is 40 days.

Year of Service

Full-Time Vacation Leave Accrual Rate

1

13 days per year

2

14 days per year

3

15 days per year

4

16 days per year

5

17 days per year

6

18 days per year

7

19 days per year

8+

20 days per year

Employees receive five days of personal leave each year.

O. UNION DUES/MEMBERSHIP

All employees in the Professional, Scientific & Technical bargaining unit represented by PEF are required to pay dues or an agency shop fee. You will pay dues in the amount of .9 percent of salary if you choose to join the Union. If you choose not to join the Union, you will pay the same amount toward an agency shop fee. Dues/agency shop is paid through payroll deduction.

Revised 12/7/2005

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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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