Benefits Summary
2009–10 ACADEMIC YEAR
BRIEF SUMMARY OF BENEFITS FOR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES
Health Insurance, Rx, and Vision
We offer two choices for medical insurance. Both plans include a prescription drug benefit and a vision discount program.
Highmark Blue Shield EPO Blue
The EPO option requires you to use physicians and healthcare facilities within the Highmark Blue Shield network. Out of network coverage is not available with this plan except for emergency situations. The office visit co-pay is $15; ER co-pay is $50 (this co-pay will be waived if the patient is admitted). Please see the summary of benefits for additional plan information.
Highmark Blue Shield PPO Blue
The PPO option allows participants to select any physician for care. If the member chooses to stay in network, the office visit co-pay is $15; ER co-pay is $50 (this co-pay will be waived if the patient is admitted). If the member chooses to go outside the network for care there is still coverage available at 80 percent of the provider’s reasonable charge after satisfying the deductible ($200 for individual/$400 for family aggregate). Please see the summary of benefits for additional plan information.
Medco Prescription Drug Program
Prescription drugs are offered through Medco for both health plans; the premium is incorporated into the health plan rates. The co-pay for the pharmacy option, 30-day supply is: $10 for generic, $20 for brand formulary and $35 for brand non-formulary. The co-pay for the mail order, 90-day supply is: $25 for generic, $50 for brand formulary and $85 for brand non-formulary.
Please remember if you are on a maintenance drug, you should utilize the mail order option vs. purchasing it at the drug store. Purchasing a 90-day supply through mail order will cost $25-$85, while the same drug at the pharmacy will cost $30-$105. This is especially important if you are taking more than one maintenance drug.
Vision Discount Program
The vision discount program is through Davis Vision and is included as part of your health insurance. Summary information is available in the Human Resources office. Online directory of network providers can be found by logging on to Highmark’s Web site and click on "Find A Network Vision Provider."
To determine the monthly contributions employees make for health, prescription, and vision coverage, effective Oct. 1, 2009:
- Determine the premium amount that applies to the plan and category selected.
- Multiply that premium amount by the percentage corresponding to the appropriate salary level.
Medical premiums may be deducted on a pre-tax basis. The percentage is higher for the PPO, since it is a more expensive plan.
Monthly premiums for the 2009–10 plan year are as follows:
| Category | Highmark EPO Blue (includes Rx Drug) | Highmark PPO Blue (includes Rx Drug) |
| Employee-Only | $446.88 | $559.48 |
| Two-Party (Employee plus one eligible dependent including: spouse, same sex domestic partner, or child) | $973.71 | $1,256.67 |
| Family (Employee plus two or more eligible dependents including: spouse, same sex domestic partner, or child) | $1,200.88 | $1,486.40 |
Percentage of premium employee pays based on salary:
|
|
Highmark EPO Blue | Highmark PPO Blue |
| If an annual base salary is: | An employee will pay this % of the monthly premium: | An employee will pay this % of the monthly premium: |
| <= $20,000 | 5% | 10% |
| <= $30,000 | 10% | 15% |
| <= $40,000 |
15% |
20% |
| <= $50,000 | 20% | 25% |
| <= $60,000 | 25% | 30% |
| <= $70,000 | 30% | 35% |
| <= $80,000 | 35% | 40% |
| <= $90,000 | 40% | 45% |
| <= $100,000 | 45% | 50% |
| > $100,000 | 50% | 55% |
United Concordia Dental
This is a voluntary benefit; the employee pays 100 percent of the premium. Participating providers are obligated to accept United Concordia’s maximum allowances as payment less deductible or coinsurance. The plan covers 100 percent of diagnostic and preventative services. Basic and major services are covered at 50 percent after the deductible is met. The maximum annual coverage is $1,000/person. Please see the summary of benefits for additional plan information. Dental premiums may be deducted on a pre-tax basis.
Monthly premiums for the 2009–10 plan year are as follows:
| Employee | $24.60 |
| 2-party | $57.78 |
| Family | $68.93 |
SU Couples
Couples that are both employed with benefits-eligible status at Susquehanna University will have the choice of 1) "employee-only" coverage in which case the individual’s salary will be considered to determine the percentage paid toward premium; or 2) "two-party or family" coverage in which case the salaries will be averaged to determine the percentage paid toward the premium.
Flexible Spending Account Program
Allows employee and family out-of-pocket expenses for dependent day care, dental care, vision care, medical expenses, co-pays and deductibles to be set-aside on a pre-tax basis. Tax savings are applicable to Federal withholding and Social Security taxes. Tax savings on all expenses other than dependent day care are subject to State income taxes. Enrollment in the health plan is not required to participate.
TIAA–CREF Retirement Program
A voluntary program to which the employee contributes 5 percent or more of salary and the university contributes 10 percent of salary; the employee contribution can be tax-sheltered. Employees who choose not to contribute to TIAA–CREF will have an amount equal to 2 percent of their salary contributed by the university on their behalf. New employees may begin participation in this program by either transferring existing TIAA–CREF contracts to Susquehanna University or by completing one continuous year of full-time service. Continuous services at any teaching institution will count toward the waiting period.
Educational Privileges
A full-time employee and spouse or domestic partner may take Susquehanna University credit classes at no charge and take graduate level classes at Bucknell University on a tuition exchange basis. Eligible dependents may take credit classes at Susquehanna University tuition free or apply for a tuition exchange scholarship with colleges and universities that participate in the college exchange program. Service requirements must be met for all educational benefits. Please consult with Financial Aid Office for details.
Life Insurance
Provides a death benefit to the named beneficiary. Employees will be covered in an amount equal to one and one-half times their gross pay (rounded up to the next thousand) with a minimum coverage of $30,000. Accidental death and dismemberment coverage provides a benefit to the employee if living, otherwise to the named beneficiary. The values are the same. No cost for employees.
Long-Term Disability
Provides an income benefit in the event of total or partial disability after a 90-day waiting period. The value is 60 percent of income; 15 percent of the pre-disability income is contributed to an existing retirement program; a death benefit equal to a six-month payout is available to the designated beneficiary. No cost for employees.
Employee Assistance Program
Eligible employees and family members residing in the same household may receive unlimited telephone counseling and up to three personal counseling sessions per year. No cost for employees.
Health Advocate
Employees and their families can contact Health Advocate for help in finding doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers; scheduling specialized treatments, tests and appointments with providers including specialists; sorting out claims questions, billing and payment arrangements; navigating within an insurance company to help obtain approval for needed services and verifying coverage for providers. They will assist with eldercare issues; answer questions about test results, treatment recommendations and medications; assist in transferring medical records, x-rays and lab result; locate and research all current treatments for a medical condition; answer questions and provide information and resources about medical terms, tests, medication and treatments; and help locate and make arrangements for members with special needs (i.e., rehabilitation, private duty nursing, home-care equipment etc.).
Simply call Health Advocate toll free at 1-866-695-8622.
Service 1st Federal Credit Union
As an employee of Susquehanna University, you and your immediate family members are eligible for membership with Service 1st Federal Credit Union. Credit Union membership provides you access to a lifetime of convenient and affordable financial services. Service 1st quarterly newsletter provides information on special offers, current Credit Union news and educational articles that help you manage common financial concerns.
Additional Voluntary Benefits
Include additional life insurance with dependent coverage available; accidental death and dismemberment; cancer insurance; long-term care insurance; and auto and homeowners insurance.
Holidays-Vacation-Sick Leave
Holidays - The university observes ten paid holidays throughout the year. They include Labor Day, which is a floating holiday and may be used between July 1 and December 31.
Vacation - Salaried and hourly employees accrue paid vacation on a per pay basis. Hourly accruals are based on years of service.
Sick Leave - Salaried and hourly employees accrue ten sick days per year. The sick days are accrued on a per pay basis.
Other Benefits
Other benefits include free attendance to athletic and cultural events, free parking, discounts on bookstore purchases, free use of university facilities such as the gymnasium, pool, and library, and inexpensive meals at the dining hall.
This is only a summary and not intended to fully describe each benefit.
