Grinnell College intends to continue the benefit plans described in this section indefinitely. However, since future changes in conditions cannot be foreseen, Grinnell College reserves the right to change, suspend, or terminate any or all terms of the benefit plans or a particular benefit at any time.
The insurance benefit programs listed in this section are administered by the Director of Compensation, Benefits, and Insurance, located in the Office of the Treasurer.
The information provided here is a summary of eligibility and benefits. Detailed information about your coverage is in the appropriate Summary Plan Descriptions. The Office of the Treasurer will provide you with Summary Plan Descriptions for the benefit programs in which you enroll and assist you in finding answers to specific questions you have about your policies.
If you are a regular employee scheduled to work at least half time during the academic year, you are eligible for all the insurance benefits described in this section. By college policy, temporary employees are not eligible for insurance benefits.
Unless otherwise noted under the specific benefit, the following effective date of coverage applies: if you begin work at the college on the first working day of the month, you are eligible for insurance effective that month. Otherwise, your insurance coverage begins on the first day of the month following the first day of work.
· The college offers coverage options for individual, spouse/domestic partner, and children.
· You are required to complete an enrollment form upon employment. You may elect one of four coverage options or you may decline coverage and receive flex credits through the Cafeteria/Flex Plan.
· The college currently pays 90% of employee only and 70% of employee and dependant(s) premium cost.
· Changes in monthly premiums are generally effective January 1. Premiums are paid one month in advance. This means the new premium rate for January coverage is withheld in December. Deductibles are calculated on the calendar year (January 1 - December 31)
· Medical insurance premiums will be withheld from your monthly paycheck. These premiums may be eligible to be treated on a pretax basis under the Cafeteria/Flex Plan. (See Cafeteria/Flex Plan, later in Section 4, for more details.)
· Changes in your family status (such as marriage, birth, dependant child status, divorce, or retirement) can affect your insurance status. Please let the Office of the Treasurer know of changes in your family status as they occur.
· If you are not scheduled to work during specific months of the year, and you are not receiving a paycheck during that time, you can request that insurance premiums be deducted from your last paycheck before your time-off period begins.
· You have the option to convert your group medical insurance contract to an individual contract when you leave the college or retire.
· The college offers plans for individual or individual plus one or more dependants.
· You are required to complete an enrollment form upon employment. You may elect one of four coverage options or you may decline coverage and receive flex credits through the Cafeteria/Flex Plan.
· The college currently pays 90% of employee only and 70% of employee and dependant(s) premium cost.
· Changes in monthly premiums are generally effective July 1. Premiums are paid one month in advance. This means the new premium rate for July coverage is withheld in June. Deductibles are calculated on the calendar year (January 1 - December 31).
· Dental insurance premiums will be withheld from your monthly paycheck. These premiums may be eligible to be treated on a pretax basis under the Cafeteria/Flex Plan. (See Cafeteria/Flex Plan, later in Section 4, for more details.)
· You may enroll your spouse, domestic partner, and/or dependants at any time; however, they will not be eligible for some dental benefits until they have completed a waiting period, if they are not enrolled during the open enrollment period. Refer to your Summary Plan Description for details.
· You will be issued insurance cards.
· Changes in your family status (such as marriage, birth, dependant child status, divorce, or retirement) can affect your insurance status. Please let Office of the Treasurer know of changes in your family status as they occur.
· If you are not scheduled to work during specific months of the year, and you are not receiving a paycheck during that time, you can request that insurance premiums be deducted from your last paycheck before your time-off period begins.
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), as amended, requires that the college offer you and your dependants the opportunity for a temporary extension of medical and dental insurance coverage at group rates in certain circumstances when coverage under these plans would otherwise end. You are responsible for the cost of the continued insurance coverage.
Employees may continue coverage for 18 months under the following circumstances:
Your spouse or dependant child covered under the college's group medical and/or dental insurance plans may continue coverage for 36 months under the following circumstances:
A cafeteria plan allows employees to customize their insurance by selecting those coverage options that benefit them most. If declining health and/or dental insurance, the employee receives flex credits. These credits may be applied toward flexible spending accounts, the employee's contribution to the health or dental insurance premium, or they may be received back in the form of cash. The Cafeteria/Flex plan permits you to lower your taxable income through payroll reduction.
The plan year is from January 1 through December 31.
You decide the amount of payroll reduction you want to commit to your Cafeteria/Flex plan and the accounts for which you want funds withheld. The account choices are: health insurance premium, dental insurance premium, medical expense reimbursement program, and dependant-care reimbursement program. This decision is effective January 1 of each year.
You are encouraged to carefully estimate your costs for each account you choose because you will forfeit unreimbursed account funds.
Money withheld for one account cannot be used to reimburse expenses from another account. For example, funds withheld for reimbursement of dependant-care expenses cannot be used to reimburse health-care expenses.
The amounts you choose to have withheld and the accounts you designate cannot be changed during the plan year unless there is a change in your family status.
Changes in your family status (such as marriage, birth, dependant child status, divorce, or retirement) can affect your insurance status. Please let the Office of the Treasurer know of changes.
You may obtain reimbursement for expenses incurred in your chosen accounts by submitting a receipt and request form to Kabel Business Services. Request forms are available online at www.ezflexplan.com/kabel.
Requests received by Wednesday at noon will be processed by Friday of the same week.
Requests for reimbursement of expenses incurred during the plan year (January 1 - December 31) must be submitted by March 31 or any remaining funds in your account will be forfeited.
Refer to your Summary Plan Description for details.
· The college currently pays the entire cost of your life insurance premiums.
· The life insurance benefit amount is 1 ½ times your annual earnings or $20,000, whichever is greater.
· Life insurance in excess of $50,000 is a taxable benefit for each month the insurance is provided in accordance with a schedule determined by the federal government.
· You must designate your beneficiaries on the life insurance enrollment form. You may change this designation at any time by completing a new enrollment form available at the Office of the Treasurer.
· You have the option to convert your group life insurance contract to an individual contract when you leave the college.
· If you die while employed at the college, the college will pay your estate your regular compensation to the end of the pay period in which death occurs. In addition, your beneficiaries will receive additional compensation: administrative staff (exempt) - an additional two months salary; support staff (non-exempt) - an extra eight weeks of regular compensation. This payment is fully taxable.
As a college employee, you are covered under the provisions of the federal Social Security law, the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (F.I.C.A.).
· You and/or your spouse and dependant children receive Social Security benefits when you retire, become disabled, or die. Your eligibility to receive benefits is determined by federal law, not by the college.
· You and the college pay Social Security and Medicare taxes. These taxes are deducted from each paycheck and the college matches these deductions.
· The amount of the Social Security tax and Medicare tax you pay is established by federal law and based on taxable earnings.
· You do not pay Social Security taxes on earnings over the maximum taxable amount, but your taxable earnings are subject to the Medicare tax.
The policy provides you with a taxable monthly income payment in the event that you become totally disabled.
· There is a one year waiting period. If you were enrolled in an employer sponsored long-term disability plan immediately prior to your date of employment at Grinnell College, the waiting period will be waived.
· The college currently pays the entire cost of your long-term disability insurance premiums.
· Your benefit amount equals 66 2/3% of the first $15,000 of monthly pre-disability earnings (actual salary divided by 12) not to exceed $10,000 of monthly benefit. The amount of your benefit will be reduced by deductible income (e.g., social security disability, workers' compensation, etc.).
· You must meet the disability definition and a benefit waiting period of 180 days before becoming eligible for benefits.
· Total disability, as defined under this program, is "...as a result of Sickness, Injury or Pregnancy, you are unable to perform with reasonable continuity the material duties of your own occupation."
· The determination as to whether or not you are disabled is made by the insurance company, not by the college or your personal physician.
· Under the college's current policy, after you have used all of your sick leave and vacation time, you will be paid your full salary during the 180-day waiting period. All benefits will continue during this waiting period.
· While you are disabled, you continue to be eligible to participate in the college's health insurance program. However, you are required to enroll in Medicare when you are eligible.
· The insurance company will continue to contribute to your retirement plan at the rate of 10% of your monthly pre-disability earnings.
· You have the option to convert your group long-term disability insurance contract to an individual contract when you leave the college.
In addition to your regular life insurance, you are eligible for travel/accident insurance. Coverage begins on your first day of work. If you travel on college business, you are covered from the actual start of your trip until you return home.
· The college currently pays the entire premium for your travel/accident insurance.
· The coverage provides $100,000 in death benefit.
You may purchase personal accident insurance for yourself and/or your family members through the college.
· The personal accident insurance plan offers 24-hour coverage anywhere in the world.
· Your monthly premiums are based on the amount of coverage you select.
· If you are not scheduled to work during specific months of the year, and you are not receiving a paycheck during that time, you can request that insurance premiums be deducted from your last paycheck before your time-off period begins.
· If you and your family members are flying as passengers on a commercial airline, air travel is included. Coverage for air travel is subject to some exclusions.
· You have the option to convert your group personal accident insurance contract to an individual contract when you leave the college or retire.
The college currently maintains an agreement with the Poweshiek County Mental Health Center.
· You are eligible for this benefit the first day of work.
· You and your family members can receive up to five free diagnostic sessions per year per family.
· Group therapy sessions count as one-half session.
· You will be responsible for paying for sessions beyond the five covered by the college. Charges are based on ability to pay. Additional sessions may be covered by your medical insurance.
· Names or other confidential information will not be released to the college by the Poweshiek County Mental Health Center unless you sign a release of information form. The center telephone number is 641-236-6137.
You are covered by workers' compensation insurance as mandated by state law. Workers' compensation provides benefits if you are injured or suffer an illness as a result of your employment.
· The college pays the entire premium.
· You are required to report job-related injuries or illnesses to the Office of the Treasurer within 72 hours of occurrence.
· In Iowa, "injury" includes any health impairment other than normal building up and tearing down of body tissue.
· Disease and hearing loss are also considered injuries if they result from your employment activities.
· Your coverage includes the payment of all reasonable and necessary medical care to treat your injury or illness. By college policy you are required to see a college physician for work-related injuries. Contact the Office of the Treasurer for a list of approved college physicians.
· Your coverage may include disability payments.
· If you are injured while you are at work and are unable to return to work, you will be paid for the entire day.
· Vocational rehabilitation benefits may be available.
· In addition to your regular life insurance, if your work-related injury results in death, a benefit is paid to your dependant children.
You are covered by unemployment compensation insurance as mandated by state law. State administrative laws, not the college, determine eligibility rules and benefit amounts. For information on the eligibility rules and benefit amounts, contact the Iowa Workforce Center at 641-236-4732.