Benefits Benefits Eligibility
Health Insurance
UHD offers a variety of benefit programs to benefits-eligible employees as part of its employment and compensation package. Employees have the ability to select benefits that may be individualized to meet their needs and those of their dependents.
A variety of insurance programs are available to University employees through the Employee’s Retirement System of Texas (ERS). •
Full-time employees: the state pays 100% of the employee’s medical premium and 50% of their dependent(s)’ premium(s). Employees working thirty (30) hours or more per week are considered full-time for insurance purposes.
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Part-time employees: the state pays 50% of the employee’s medical premium and 25% of their dependent(s)’ premium(s). Employees working less than thirty (30) hours per week are considered part-time for insurance purposes.
To be eligible, employees must be: • Employed for twenty (20) hours or more per week for a period of at least four and one-half months, and • Hired in a position that does not require student status as a condition of employment New employees have a 60-day waiting period for medical insurance. The 60-day waiting period is waived for employees transferring directly from another state agency or state university. Benefits-eligible full-time employees are automatically enrolled in basic plan medical coverage for themselves on the first day of the month following the waiting period. The state pays the full premium for the employee’s basic plan coverage. Please see UHD policy PS 02.A.12, Employee Fringe Benefits Policy, for additional information. Insurance Programs Coverage must be selected by new employees within the first 31 days of employment and becomes effective the first day of the following month, excluding the medical insurance which becomes effective the first day of the month following a 60-day waiting period. Optional coverages and flexible spending accounts do not require the 60-day waiting period as required for medical insurance. However, enrollment forms must be submitted within the first 30 days after hire date. Current employees can add or make changes to their insurance plans during summer enrollment, which is usually during July and/or August of each year.
Opt-out credit is available to employees who choose not to enroll in medical insurance, whereby employees are eligible to receive a portion of the state funding toward the purchase of dental and Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage. Please visit Health Insurance on HR’s website or see UHD policy PS 02.A.12, Employee Fringe Benefits Policy, for additional information. Gap Insurance The Gap Insurance Program is UHD’s short-term medical program that will reimburse up to $500 per month of the cost to purchase individual health coverage to cover the 60-day waiting period of the ERS group health insurance. It is the responsibility of the employee to purchase medical insurance through an individual plan or a COBRA plan from the previous employer and submit proof of coverage and payment amount directly to HR. A written receipt of statement from the insurance company is required. Please visit Gap Insurance on HR’s website for additional information. Dental Insurance Eligible employees have a choice of two dental plans:
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