O
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
HUMAN RESOURCES

New Hires

January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008
Unclassified and Classified Employees

As an employee of the University of Oregon (UO), you have benefits available through the Public Employees' Benefit Board (PEBB). PEBB is responsible for contracting with carriers and administering a benefits program for all employees.

You can find information about UO benefits on the Human Resources (HR) web site at:
http://hr.uoregon.edu/benefits

Please read your benefit information carefully. The PEBB telephone number and numbers for each insurance carrier are included in the 2008 Benefit Booklets. Contact the insurance companies for specific coverage-related questions.

How the PEBB Program Works

Individuals who work half-time (.50 FTE for unclassified and 80 hours for classified employees) or more in at least one position for at least one term or 90 days are eligible to enroll in the PEBB benefit program. All employees must elect the following:

  1. Medical Coverage (automatically includes vision when you elect a full-time medical plan)
  2. Dental Coverage
  3. $5,000 Basic Life Insurance Coverage

Medical and dental coverage is also available for all eligible family members. The medical (includes vision), dental and $5,000 basic life insurance coverage is fully paid for .50 FTE or more unclassified and full-time classified employees and their eligible family members.

The contribution and subsidy amount the UO pays for you will show up on your earnings statement each month. Refer to pages 25 and 27 of the 2008 Benefit Booklet, to determine the monthly cost the UO is paying for you. The state contribution and subsidy will be prorated for part-time classified employees. If you are part-time classified, use the Medical and Dental Monthly Premium Rates and Pro-Ration Table for Part-time Classified Employees.

You will be given an opportunity to elect not to buy medical coverage if you show proof of coverage under another group health plan. This is called "opt-out" and is described in your 2008 Benefit Booklet on page 2. You will receive a portion of your state contribution as cash in your paycheck if you opt-out of the medical plan. You cannot opt-out of the dental or life insurance coverage. The opt-out dollars vary depending on your dental plan election and classification. To determine your opt-out dollars, use the calculation worksheet on page 26 of the 2008 Benefit Booklet. If you are part-time classified, refer to the Medical/Dental Monthly Premium Rates and Pro-Ration Table for Part-Time Classified Employees.

The only medical plan available in Lane County is the Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon (BCBSO) PPO Plan. Additional plans are available in other counties. For a summary of plan coverage, refer to the 2008 Benefit Booklet.

You decide whether you want to purchase the additional optional benefits listed in the 2008 Benefit Booklet. Premiums for medical, dental, and up to $50,000 of employee life insurance can be paid on a before-tax (pre-tax) basis. Premiums for other optional benefits must be paid on an after-tax (post-tax) basis.

It is very important that you understand your choices and the cost impact of those choices. Please review your packet carefully and enroll online using the PEBB.benefits system or complete the PEBB Enrollment forms.

How and When to Enroll

If you are benefit eligible (i.e., your appointment is .50 FTE or more in one position for at least 90 days or one term), you can be enrolled in the PEBB insurance program the first day of the calendar month after you begin work. To receive this first of the month coverage, you must enroll no later than the last day of the calendar month in which you start work, either online in the PEBB.benefits system (http://hr.uoregon.edu/benefits/) or by turning in completed enrollment forms to Human Resources (HR). You have 60 days to enroll, but the effective date of your insurance coverage will be delayed if you wait because coverage begins the first of the month after you enroll online or HR receives your forms.

Please refer to page16 of the 2008 Benefit Booklet for information about enrolling online.To enroll online, you will not need any special password or PAC number. Use your UO ID number (950 or 951number), date of birth and name to set up your own user name and password. After you enroll online, please print two copies of the final step in the process, the Benefits Summary, one for your records and one to return to HR so we will know that you have enrolled.

If you decide to enroll with paper forms, all enrollment forms must be submitted together. The following forms are required:

  1. Medical and Dental Enrollment Form
  2. Life/Disability Enrollment Form

Even if you want only the Basic Life, you must complete this form to designate a beneficiary.

Note: If you request more than $20,000 in employee life insurance or spouse life insurance, you must also complete the Medical History Statement. Separate forms are required if applying for both.

If you enroll with paper forms, return them to the benefits section of Human Resources in Room 463, Oregon Hall. Please call (541) 346-2956 or e-mail the Benefits Department to make an appointment and hand deliver the forms if possible. They will make sure your forms are completed correctly.

Once you have enrolled online or enrollment forms have been received by Human Resources, you have made your initial election. After your initial election, you will be restricted to the following times to make changes:

  1. during an annual open enrollment period; or
  2. during the 60 day period following a qualified family status change consistent with your requested change.

Your first paycheck Earnings Statement is your confirmation statement. Please verify that your benefit choices are correct on your Earnings Statement. You must contact the Payroll Office within 31 days of the date you receive your Earnings Statement to correct any input errors.

Coverage for 9-month Faculty

Nine-month faculty members and "academic year" classified employees will have coverage available during the summer months. In the month of May, employees receive three times the normal state contribution and insurance premiums are triple deducted to provide summer insurance coverage. All premiums are triple deducted except:

Here is how the triple deduction works. The deductions taken from the May paycheck provide coverage for June, August and September. The deductions taken out of the June paycheck provide coverage for July. Therefore, employees who return the next fall will have continuous insurance coverage through September 30. This does not apply to faculty who terminate June15. If you terminate June 15, benefits end July 31.

Nine-month faculty members who elect to have their pay redistributed over twelve months will not have a triple deduction in May. All premium deductions will continue to be taken from the summer pay redistributions monies except the fixed-dollar Tax-Deferred Investment or Oregon Savings Growth Plan salary reductions.