BENEFITS

Benefit Basics

The basics about the type of benefits offered and who is eligible; how to enroll in benefits; how to make changes to your benefits; and what happens with your benefits when you leave Tulane.

How Benefits Work
An Overview of Benefits
Who is eligible for Benefits?
Waiting Periods  
How Do I pay my Share of Benefits?
Enrolling in Benefits
Making changes at times Other Than Open Enrollment
Children Who Reach the Maximum Age for Dependent Coverage
Registering a Domestic Partner
What Happens to my Benefits When I Leave Tulane?

How Benefits Work

Benefits begin on your date of hire and end on your last day worked.  Employee benefits at Tulane include a broad range of programs to help protect the health, wealth, and future of you and your family. As a part of the President’s Strategic Plan, the university is committed to the people who make up our campus community.  The University invests funds each year to provide these benefits to you. They represent an important and substantial part of your compensation package.

Please read Tulane’s Benefit Information carefully so you do not overlook important benefits and rights for you and your family. Also, take advantage of the many online resources about your employee benefits. Web addresses for many resources are included in this site.  Or pick up the phone and call; a directory is included so you know exactly where to call for answers to your questions.

An Overview of Benefits

Staff Benefits Summary
Faculty Benefits Summary

 

Who is eligible for Benefits?

Your eligibility to participate in benefit programs depends on your status.  Your employment status must be Regular Full time or Regular Part time with Benefits.  You must work at least 50% of Full time to participate in most benefits offered by Tulane.  You can enroll in benefits for yourself, for you and your spouse, for you and your child (ren) or enroll the entire family.

Eligible Dependents

Eligible dependents are:

• Your spouse
• Your registered domestic partner (same sex relationships)
• Dependent, unmarried children up to age 21 for Health Insurance (to Age 25 for health if a full-time student)
• Dependent, unmarried children up to age 19 for Dental Insurance (to Age 26 for dental if a full-time student)
• Dependent, unmarried children up to age 19 for Voluntary Life Insurance (to Age 26 for life insurance if a full-time student)

Waiting Periods   

All benefits-eligible employees can participate in most benefits from the date of hire. Waiting periods apply to Tuition Waiver and Retirement Benefits.

Tuition Waiver

Tuition waiver waiting periods apply to staff only.  There is a six-month waiting period and service requirement before Full-time benefit-eligible employees may begin participation in the Tuition Waiver Program.  There is a three year waiting period before dependents of Full-time benefit-eligible employees may begin participation in the Tuition Waiver or Tuition Exchange Program.

Retirement

There is a two year waiting period and service requirement before benefit-eligible employees may begin participation in the Retirement Program and have the University remit retirement contributions on their behalf.

How do I Pay My Share of Benefits?

The cost of all employee benefits is paid through payroll deduction or salary reduction agreements. Benefit contributions that are eligible for a salary reduction (pretax payments) reduce your tax liability by reducing your taxable income.  The premium is deducted before taxes are calculated. These benefits are covered under Premium Conversion Plan.  Employee benefit contributions eligible under Premium Conversion may include health and dental insurance, retirement plans, and flexible spending accounts. Parking also if paid through payroll deduction

Enrolling in Benefits

Enrollment is conducted during Orientation Sessions and Sign-Up Meetings.

Within 30 Days of Employment
New employees must enroll in the benefit programs they choose within 30 days of their date of hire. New benefits-eligible employees can complete the enrollment forms for all benefits programs.  After 30 days you may need to go through an eligibility review (for example, for life insurance) or you will be automatically enrolled in the default health plan for employee only coverage.  

Open Enrollment
Open enrollment period is held in the fall of each year. You can make changes to any of your benefits during this time, which will then become effective on January 1. Open enrollment is the only time you can make changes to your medical plan, dental plan and flexible spending plan (such as adding or deleting dependents or changing from one medical plan to another), except for certain changes in your employment or family status.  During open enrollment, benefit meetings are held on both the Uptown Campus and Health Sciences Campus. Any change is subject to the terms of the applicable plan (e.g. supplying evidence of insurability).

Making Changes at Times Other than Open Enrollment

Employees who have a qualifying event have additional opportunities other than Open Enrollment for making changes. If you have a qualifying event you may change your benefits within 30 days of the qualifying event.   Qualifying status changes for you and your dependents include:

• legal separation, divorce, registration or termination of a domestic partnership,
• loss of spouse’s insurance coverage
• change in employment status, reduction in number of hours worked,
• death, marriage, birth, adoption (or placement for adoption) of a child,
• changes in health insurance eligibility due to a relocation of residence or workplace
• changes in health insurance eligibility because a dependent has reached the maximum age.

The changes you may make are limited to those related to the qualifying event.  Please submit a Change in Family Status Form and the appropriate insurance enrollment /drop form to the Workforce Management Office within 30 days of such a status change. You are required to provide documentation of the status change to have the insurance enrollment/drop from processed.

Children Who Reach the Maximum Age for Dependent Coverage

Medical Coverage

Children may be covered under your medical plans until their 21st birthday. Coverage may be extended to age 25 if the child is a full-time student. Once your child ceases to be an eligible dependent, you must submit forms within 30 days of the event date that causes the ineligibility to remove your child from your medical coverage.   If your child graduates prior to age 25, the child will be covered through the end of the month.  Your child will be sent notification about the opportunity to continue coverage under the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).

If COBRA is elected, the child may be covered under a continuation plan for up to 36 months by paying the total premium. If you do not submit paperwork to remove your child from your plan within 60 days of the event that causes the ineligibility, the COBRA opportunity is forfeited. Claims will not be paid for an ineligible dependent beyond the end of the month in which the event occurs and premiums paid for the ineligible child’s coverage will not be refunded retroactively.

Dental Coverage

Dental coverage is not included in the medical plan; you will need to complete the appropriate form for each benefit in order to remove your ineligible child from both.   

Children may be covered under your dental plan until their 19th birthday. Coverage may be extended to age 26 if the child is a full-time student. Once your child ceases to be an eligible dependent, you must submit forms within 30 days of your child’s 19th or 26th birthday.   If your child graduates prior to age 26, the child will be covered through the end of the month. 

COBRA benefits are also available and your rights under COBRA must be exercised within 60 days of the date of the graduation or their birth date.

Registration of a Domestic Partner (same-sex relationships)

To enroll your registered domestic partner, you must submit documentation acceptable to the university that substantiates the registration of your partnership. (Domestic Partner Affidavit) You must submit the United HealthCare Insurance Enrollment and Change Form and the Dental Plan Enrollment form within 30 days of the registration to add your registered domestic partner to your medical and dental coverage. If you do not enroll your registered domestic partner in your plan within 30 days of registration, your next opportunity will be during the university’s next open enrollment with coverage effective January 1.

Read the entire policy on Domestic Partnerships.

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