Employee Benefits

Benefits 

Your employment at The Research Foundation for the State University of New York entitles you to a range of health benefits products and financial instruments designed to help you manage your life.

Regular & Postdoctoral Employees

•  Health, Dental and Vision Insurance

  The RF Healthcare plan provides hospital, medical and prescription drug benefits for Regular and Postdoctoral employees and their eligible dependents. 

  The dependents listed below are eligible to be included in your RF Health Care coverage if you choose employee and spouse, employee and child(ren) or family coverage.

  • Your spouse, including a legally married, same-sex spouse
  • Your children up to 26 years of age as follows: Biological children, Stepchildren, Children for whom you are the legal guardian and Children legally adopted by or placed for adoption with you or your spouse
  • Your unmarried children of any age incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical disability who become disabled before reaching the limiting age. (Plan requires periodic medical documentation.)
  • Your domestic partner (Please view the RF SUNY Domestic page for eligibility)

  Premium rates for each plan can be found on the Benefits Bulletin.

  For more information, visit the RF SUNY Benefits Page. 

  Forms and additional information:
  Regular Employee Benefits Handbook
  Postdoctoral Benefits Handbook
  Regular Employee Benefits Enrollment form
  Postdoctoral Benefits Enrollment form

  • Healthcare

    The RF Health Care plan provides hospital, medical and prescription drug benefits for regular and postdoctoral employees and their eligible dependents. The plan features two Anthem Blue Cross Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plans as well as a selection of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) that are available based on your location. Postdoctoral classified employees are also eligible to participate in the Graduate Student and Postdoctoral PPO Plan through Anthem Blue Cross.

    Prescription Coverage: If you enroll in either PPO plan through Anthem Blue Cross, your prescription drug benefits will be provided by Express Scripts. You will receive a health insurance card through Anthem as well as a prescription card through Express Scripts. Present your Express Scripts card at the pharmacy for lower prescription rates. Failure to present your Express Scripts card will result in paying a much higher cost for the prescription. You will need to contact Express Scripts directly to receive a reimbursement.

     

    Eligibility:

    • Employees working at least 50% of full time (full time 37.5/40hr per week). For employees hired 6/30/2024 or prior, benefits will begin on day 43 from your date of employment. For employees hired on or after 7/1/2024, benefits will begin on day 29 from your date of employment. You must enroll in benefits by your 60th day of employment.

    Employees enrolled in Anthem BlueCross will receive cards directly from the carrier within 7-10 business days of your plan becoming effective. Employees can download the Sydney health app to access their Anthem BlueCross health insurance information and create an account using their member ID. The member ID can be obtained by contact RF HR if you do not know it. MVP enrollees can visit the MVP website and CDPHP enrollees can visit the CDPHP website to create accounts and access their electronic benefits.

  • Dental

    The RF provides a dental plan through Delta Dental for you and your eligible dependents that covers preventive services (exams, cleanings, X-rays), basic services (fillings, oral surgery, gum treatment), major services (crowns, dentures, bridges) and orthodontics for children (under age 19).

    Eligibility:

    • Employees working at least 50% of full time (full time 37.5/40hr per week). For employees hired 6/30/2024 or prior, benefits will begin 6 months from your date of employment. For employees hired on or after 7/1/2024, benefits will begin on day 29 from your date of employment. You must enroll in benefits by your 60th day of employment.

    
    Employees will receive their Delta Dental card approximately 1 week before their plan becomes effective. To access your electronic cards and health benefits, please create an account on Delta Dentals website.

  • Vision

    The RF provides two vision plan options through Davis Vision for you and your eligible dependents that covers the full cost of an eye examination, lenses and frames from the provided selection once in a 12-month or 24-month period, depending on the plan you choose. Contact lenses are also available with a co-payment. You have the option in enrolling in the Regular Vision Plan or the Vision Plan Plus.

    Eligibility:

    • Employees working at least 50% of full time (full time 37.5/40hr per week). For employees hired 6/30/2024 or prior, benefits will begin 6 months from your date of employment. For employees hired on or after 7/1/2024, benefits will begin on day 29 from your date of employment. You must enroll in benefits by your 60th day of employment.

    Employees will receive their Davis Vision card approximately 1 week before their plan becomes effective. To access your electronic cards and health benefits, please create an account on Davis Visions website.

  • Qualifying Events

    A qualifying event is a change in an employee's or dependent's status that permits a change to be made in the pretax health insurance elections outside of the annual enrollment period.  The change in status must result in a gain or loss of coverage or coverage options.  The change in health insurance election must be consistent with the change in status. For details refer to the Health Care section of the Benefits Handbook or Postdoctoral Benefits Handbook. These rules are governed by the federal tax code.

    To change your benefit elections corresponding with a qualifying event, please submit a Regular Employee Benefits Enrollment form or Postdoctoral Benefits Enrollment form with proof of the qualifying event to rfbenefits@binghamton.edu within 60 days of the event.

  • Enroll a Domestic Partner

    A domestic partner is a person who is the employee’s sole spousal equivalent and is responsible with the employee for each other’s welfare.

    Eligibility:

    To add a domestic partner to your RF benefit plans, the domestic partner must be:

    • age 18 or older, and 
    • unmarried and not related to you by marriage or blood in any way that would bar marriage, and residing with you, and
    • financially interdependent with you, and
    • involved in the domestic partnership for a period of not less than 1 year

    To enroll a domestic partner and his/her children in your Health Plan, Dental Plan, or Vision Plan, complete the following forms and submit them to your campus benefits office with two documents that substantiate financial interdependence and proof of one-year residency.  All documentation must be up to date at the time of submission.

    Benefit Plan Affidavit of Domestic Partnership

    Affidavit of Financial Interdependency

    Benefits Enrollment Form

    Proof of One Year Residency

    Visit the RF SUNY Domestic Partnership page for more information.

• Flexible Spending Accounts

  Flexible spending accounts (FSA) help you to save money by allowing you to pay for eligible dependent care or health care expenses with pretax dollars. Your contribution to an FSA will reduce your taxable income.

  You must re-enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts during Open Enrollment each year to continue the plans.

  * Note: Any money you elect into your Flexible Spending Accounts, must be used by the end of each year or you will lose the money.

  For more information, visit the RF SUNY Flexible Spending page.
  
  Forms and additional information:
  Flexible Spending Enrollment form

  • Health Care

    As an RF employee, you may set aside up to $3,300 each year on a pre-tax basis to pay for health, dental, and vision care expenses that are not covered by insurance. Eligible expenses include deductibles, copays and over-the-counter medications (when prescribed by your doctor).

    You must re-enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts during Open Enrollment each year to continue the plans.

    Eligibility:

    • Salaried employees working at least 50% of full time (full time 37.5/40hr per week). For employees hired 6/30/2024 or prior, benefits will begin 6 months from your date of employment. For employees hired on or after 7/1/2024, benefits will begin on day 29 from your date of employment. You must enroll in benefits by your 60th day of employment.

  • Dependent Care

    As an RF employee, you may set aside up to $2,500 or $5,000 each year (depending on your tax filing status) on a pretax basis to pay for dependent care expenses. Eligible expenses include child day care, adult day care (if you’re caring for an elderly parent), pre-school, and summer day camps.

    You must re-enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts during Open Enrollment each year to continue the plans.

    Eligibility:

    • Salaried employees working at least 50% of full time (full time 37.5/40hr per week). For employees hired 6/30/2024 or prior, benefits will begin 6 months from your date of employment. For employees hired on or after 7/1/2024, benefits will begin on day 29 from your date of employment. You must enroll in benefits by your 60th day of employment.

  • Research Foundation Subsidy

    The Research Foundation provides an annual subsidy to help pay for your dependent care expenses under the Dependent Care flexible spending account. The amount is based on your annual Research Foundation income as follows:

    If your salary is…	The Research Foundation Contribution is…
    Over $70,000	$300
    $60,001 - $70,000	$400
    $50,001 - $60,000	$500
    $40,001 - $50,000	$600
    $30,001 - $40,000	$700
    Up to $30,000	$800

    If you work less than full time, the contribution will be based on your full-time equivalent, annualized salary. For example if you work half time and earn $30,000, your full-time equivalent salary is $60,000.

    You must re-enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts during Open Enrollment each year to continue the plans.

• Retirement 

  Retirement 
  The RF retirement plans are designed to provide you with income during your retirement.

  Your beneficiary will be your estate unless you name another beneficiary. You may change your address or beneficiary on your accounts on your TIAA website account or by contacting TIAA.

  For more information, visit the RF SUNY Benefits Retirement page or the RF SUNY Life Events- Retirement page.

  Forms and additional information:
  Optional Retirement Plan Enrollment Form

  • Basic 403(B)

    In the Basic Retirement Plan, the RF contributes an amount equal to a percentage of your annual earnings. You do not contribute to this plan.

    If you were hired	Your tier is	And the RF contributes the following percentage of your annual calendar year earnings.
    Before January 1, 1981	Tier 1	12% of the first $16,500 and 15% of the excess
    On or after January 1, 1981 But before July 1, 1992	Tier 2	12% of all amounts
    On or after July 1, 1992, But before July 1, 1994	Tier 3	9% of the first $16,500 and 12% of the excess
    On or after July 1, 1994, But before January 1, 2018	Tier 4	8% for the first 7 years of eligible* service, and 10% thereafter of all amounts
    On or after January 1, 2018	Tier 5	7% of all amounts

    Eligibility:

    • All non-student RF employees who complete a waiting period of one year of qualified service (975 hours of service for a 37.5-hour work week or 1,000 hours for a 40-hour week)
      
      

  • Optional Retirement

    The Optional Retirement plan allows you to supplement your retirement savings with pretax or post-tax, biweekly contributions to a retirement annuity account or mutual fund accounts. All contributions to the plan are immediately vested. You can redirect the investment of contributions at any time and may divide your contributions among the funds offered in any whole percentage.

    Eligibility:

    • All non-student RF employees, regardless of hours worked. Contributions may begin on your first day worked.

    Please contact TIAA to learn how to request a conversion of your pre-tax to Roth accounts.

    • 403(B) – Pre-tax

      Federal tax law requires that retirement income begin by April 1 of the calendar year following the later of:

      • the calendar year in which you reach age 73, or
      • the calendar year in which you terminate employment.

      If you are planning to receive periodic distributions to satisfy the minimum distribution requirement, you may wish to consider beginning required distributions by the December 31 of the year you attain age 73 to avoid receiving two taxable distributions in the calendar year following attainment of age 73.

      The required IRS minimum income can be collected using the Minimum Distribution Option as described in the Benefits Handbook. If the required minimum amount is not distributed, the IRS applies a tax penalty equal to 50 percent of the difference between the amount that should have been distributed and the amount actually distributed.

      TIAA can assist you in determining your minimum required distribution amount.

      You may also elect to make periodic withdrawals, to withdraw all funds at one time, or to take a rollover distribution.

    • 403(B) Roth – After-tax

      With the Roth option, your after-tax Roth contributions also accumulate tax deferred, but may be taken tax free in a qualified distribution.

      A qualified distribution is one that occurs at least five years after the year of your first Roth contribution and is made either on or after attainment of age 59½, on account of disability, or on or after death. 

      Required minimum distributions are not required for Roth accounts during your lifetime, but will be required after your death in a manner similar to pre-tax deferral accounts.

      In addition, you can elect to convert your pre-tax contribution accounts to a Roth account. You will be taxed on the converted amount but future earnings may be distributed free to you in a qualified distributions.

  • Retirement Credit for Prior SUNY Service

    You may be able to receive credit for prior SUNY service in meeting service requirements for participation and vesting in the RF retirement plan. In order to ensure that any eligible service is counted, please make sure to complete the Request for Requirement Service Credit Form within 30 days from your employment start date. If the form is not completed timely in a timely manner, contributions will only be given on future summer appointments, if any.

• Life Insurance

  For more information, visit the RF SUNY Life Insurance page or view the Basic and Optional Term Life Insurance and AD&D Plan Handbook.

  • Basic / AD&D Life Insurance

    The RF provides Basic Life Insurance coverage eligible employees as well as a matching Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) benefit through Securian Life Insurance Company. The Basic Life coverage amount for all eligible employees is $50,000. The RF pays the full cost of coverage.

    Eligibility:

    • Employees working at least 50% of full time (full time 37.5/40hr per week). For employees hired 6/30/2024 or prior, coverage begins 6 months from your date of employment. For employees hired on or after 7/1/2024, coverage begins on day 29 from your date of employment. Once you are eligible, enrollment in Basic Life is automatic.

  • Optional Life Insurance

    Eligible RF employees can purchase additional can purchase additional life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance equal to one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, or eight times their annual salary, rounded to the next higher $1,000, up to $500,000. The combined maximum coverage limit for both Basic and Optional Life Insurance is therefore $550,000.

    Cost:

    • You pay the full cost. The cost of Optional Life insurance depends on the option chosen and the salary and age of the insured. Rates can be found in the Securian Financial brochure.

    Eligibility:

    • Employees working at least 50% of full time (full time 37.5/40hr per week). For employees hired 6/30/2024 or prior, coverage begins 6 months from your date of employment. For employees hired on or after 7/1/2024, coverage begins on day 29 from your date of employment.

    Note: If you delay enrollment beyond 60 days of your eligibility date, you will be required to complete an Evidence of Insurability Online and have it approved by the insurance company.

    Instructions to submit an Evidence of Insurability Online

  • Dependent Life Insurance

    The RF provides the option to elect Dependent Life Insurance as well as a matching Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit through Securian Financial.

    Cost:

    • You pay the full cost. The cost of dependent life insurance depends on the coverage amount chosen. Rates can be found in the Securian Financial brochure.

    Spouse/partner coverage amounts are $10,000, $20,000, $40,000, $60,000, $80,000, and $100,000

    • Spouse/partner coverage cannot exceed the coverage amount you have for yourself:

    Children coverage amounts are $2,000, $4,000, $6,000, $8,000 or $10,000.

    Eligibility:

    • Employees working at least 50% of full time (full time 37.5/40hr per week) and you are enrolled/covered under the basic life insurance plan). For employees hired 6/30/2024 or prior, coverage begins 6 months from your date of employment. For employees hired on or after 7/1/2024, coverage begins on day 29 from your date of employment.

• Additional Available Benefits
  • Gym Membership Reimbursement

    Employees enrolled in the Anthem BlueCross Traditional or Deductible plans are eligible for up to $400 reimbursement towards gym memberships. Exercise 35 times during each six-month period in your benefit plan year and keep a record of your workouts. Log in to empireblue.com and click “My Health Dashboard” and “Programs” from the menu options to begin the reimbursement process.

  • Virgin Pulse

    Virgin Pulse is open to all benefits-eligible RF regular employees, regardless of health coverage. Employees who participate can earn up to $100 each calendar quarter, for a maximum of $400 a year! To begin signing up, please visit the Virgin Pulse Website.

  • Pet Insurance

    Liberty Mutual offers Pet Insurance to Research Foundation employees. Pet Insurance can help your pet get the best veterinary care available when they need it by reducing the financial burden of unexpected medical costs due to illness or injuries. Plus, preventative wellness options could help you stay ahead of any potential issues altogether. They offer multiple policy options to choose from spanning accidents, illnesses, and wellness coverage. Plus, you can select the right reimbursement payout, deductible, and annual maximum for your needs and budget.

    Visit the Liberty Mutual website to learn more or call 1-844-250- 9199 and use promo code SunyRF to apply your discount.

  • Auto/Home Insurance

    Research Foundation employees enjoy a discount of up to 10% over standard rates for personal auto and homeowners insurance (including renter’s insurance) with Liberty Mutual’s Group Savings Plus program.

    Convenience fees for making payments in installments are waived when you sign up for scheduled electronic payments.

    You pay for the entire cost of coverage and are eligible for this benefit if you work at least 50 percent of full time. There is no waiting period to participate.
    
    Call Liberty Mutual directly at 844-799-2077 and identify yourself as an RF employee (or provide them with the RF client number 111756).

    You can also enroll on-line at the Liberty Mutual RF Web site, or in person at your local Liberty Mutual office.

  • College Savings Program

    Any RF employee enrolled in payroll direct deposit can open a tuition savings account for a specified beneficiary such as their child, grandchild, other relative or friend - or even yourself.

    Contributions to the account are invested according to the investment options selected by you, the employee (account owner). The account owner can withdraw money without penalty to pay for the qualified higher education expenses of the beneficiary.

    The first $5,000 which is invested each year for a future college student will be deductible from New York State gross income when the employee files his or her state income tax return.

    A married couple filing a joint return may deduct up to $10,000 per year. Investment earnings will not be taxed by the state government as long as the money withdrawn is used for qualified higher education expenses.

    Withdrawals used by the beneficiary for qualified higher education expenses are not subject to federal or New York State income taxes.

    Enroll:

    • Visit the New York College Savings Program website or view the Enrollment Kit.

    Your payroll deductions for the College Savings Program will begin the second payroll period after the RF payroll office receives your forms.

  • Student Loan Forgiveness

    Another significant advantage in employment with the RF is that we are a qualifying employer in the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

    What this means to you is that you may qualify to have the remainder of your student loan balance forgiven in its entirety if you meet ALL of the following conditions:

    • Your loan qualifies for the PSLF program (check with your loan provider)
    • You enroll for the program as a full time RF employee
    • After your enrollment, you make 120 payments while employed full time with a qualifying employer (like the RF)
    • The 120 payments do not have to be consecutive
    • Only the balance after 120 payments have been made will be forgiven

    This could save you thousands of dollars!

    Additional information can be found on the program website.

Students

• Graduate Students 

  The RF’s Graduate Student Employee Health Plan (Anthem BlueCross) provides hospital, medical and prescription drug benefits to eligible graduate student employees. When you enroll in the Anthem BlueCross plan, you are automatically enrolled in the dental coverage through Delta Dental and coverage through Davis Vision.

  Eligibility:
  A graduate student in active Research Foundation employment status and who:

  • is receiving an annual salary or stipend of at least $4,293 ($165.12 bi-weekly) for the Plan Year and paid bi-weekly through the Research Foundation payroll system
  • AND is appointed to a position for which it is anticipated that funds will be available for an appointment period of at least one semester
  • AND employed in active pay status.

  Premium rates for each plan can be found on the Graduate Student Benefits Bulletin.

  For more information, visit the RF SUNY Benefits Page.

  Forms and additional information:
  Graduate Benefits Handbook
  Graduate Student Health Enrollment form

  • How to enroll

    After your appointment form has been received and processed by the RF HR office, you will receive an email with detailed information on how to enroll.

    Enrollment is not automatic and you must enroll within 45 days after the start date of your assignment. Failure to enroll by this date is subject to after-tax deductions and an additional 30 day waiting period from the date our office receives your enrollment form.You must reapply for health insurance each semester that you are employed by the RF.

    *For international students, you must complete your health insurance enrollment through the RF prior to submitting a waiver to ISSS.

  • Summer Insurance Continuation

    If you were employed by the RF in the Spring semester and enrolled in health insurance, and your PI/Supervisor reappoints you for the Summer, your insurance premiums will continue to deduct from your Summer paychecks.

    Graduate student employees may be eligible for coverage during the summer period even if not in active pay status. The RF HR staff reach out to each PI/Supervisor that has students employed in the spring semester notify the HR office that they intend to reappoint you in the fall semester. If your PI intends to reappoint you in the fall semester, the RF HR will reach out to each employee to notify them that they are eligible for Summer Coverage Continuation and provide the option of pre-paying your summer coverage via check/money order or from the remaining paychecks you will receive in the Spring semester.

  • Qualifying Events

    A qualifying event is a change in an employe's or dependent's status that permits a change to be made in the pretax health insurance elections outside of the annual enrollment period. The change in status must result in a gain or loss of coverage or coverage options. The change in health insurance election must be consistent with the change in status. For details refer to the Health Care section of the Grad Benefits Handbook. These rules are governed by the federal tax code.

    To change your benefit elections corresponding with a qualifying event, please submit a Grad Benefits Enrollment form with proof of the qualifying event to rfbenefits@binghamton.edu within 60 days of the event.

  • Enroll a Domestic Partner

    A domestic partner is a person who is the employee’s sole spousal equivalent and is responsible with the
    employee for each other’s welfare.

    Eligibility:
    To add a domestic partner to your RF benefit plans, the domestic partner must be:

    • age 18 or older, and
    • unmarried and not related to you by marriage or blood in any way that would bar marriage, and
      residing with you, and
    • financially interdependent with you, and
    • involved in the domestic partnership for a period of not less than 1 year

    To enroll a domestic partner and his/her children in your Health Plan, Dental Plan, or Vision Plan, complete the following forms and submit them to your campus benefits office with two documents that substantiate financial interdependence and proof of one-year residency. All documentation must be up to date at the time of submission.

    Benefit Plan Affidavit of Domestic Partnership
    Affidavit of Financial Interdependency
    Benefits Enrollment Form
    Proof of One Year Residency

    Visit the RF SUNY Domestic Partnership page for more information.

• Undergraduate Students 

  Undergraduate students are not eligible for health, dental and vision insurance.

Summer Employees (Non-student)

• Retirement

  The RF retirement plans are designed to provide you with income during your retirement.

  For more information, visit the RF SUNY Benefits Retirement page or the RF SUNY Life Events- Retirement page.

  Forms and additional information:
  Optional Retirement Plan Enrollment Form

  • Optional Retirement

    The Optional Retirement plan allows you to supplement your retirement savings with pretax or post-tax, biweekly contributions to a retirement annuity account or mutual fund accounts. All contributions to the plan are immediately vested. You can redirect the investment of contributions at any time and may divide your contributions among the funds offered in any whole percentage.

    
    Eligibility:

    • All non-student RF employees, regardless of hours worked. Contributions may begin on your first day worked.

    Please contact TIAA to learn how to request a conversion of your pre-tax to Roth accounts.

    • 403(B) – Pre-tax

      Federal tax law requires that retirement income begin by April 1 of the calendar year following the
      later of:

      •  the calendar year in which you reach age 73, or
      • the calendar year in which you terminate employment.

      If you are planning to receive periodic distributions to satisfy the minimum distribution requirement, you may wish to consider beginning required distributions by the December 31 of the year you attain age 73 to avoid receiving two taxable distributions in the calendar year following attainment of age 73.

      The required IRS minimum income can be collected using the Minimum Distribution Option as described in the Benefits Handbook. If the required minimum amount is not distributed, the IRS applies a tax penalty equal to 50 percent of the difference between the amount that should have been distributed and the amount actually distributed.

      
      TIAA can assist you in determining your minimum required distribution amount.

    • 403(B) Roth – After-tax

      With the Roth option, your after-tax Roth contributions also accumulate tax deferred, but may be taken tax free in a qualified distribution.

      A qualified distribution is one that occurs at least five years after the year of your first Roth contribution and is made either on or after attainment of age 59½, on account of disability, or on or after death.

      Required minimum distributions are not required for Roth accounts during your lifetime, but will be required after your death in a manner similar to pre-tax deferral accounts.

      In addition, you can elect to convert your pre-tax contribution accounts to a Roth account. You will be taxed on the converted amount but future earnings may be distributed free to you in a qualified distributions.

  • Retirement Credit for Prior SUNY Service
    You may be able to receive credit for prior SUNY service in meeting service requirements for participation and vesting in the RF retirement plan. In order to ensure that any eligible service is counted, please make sure to complete the Request for Retirement Service Credit Form within 30 days from your employment start date. If the form is not completed in a timely manner, contributions will only be given on future summer appointments, if any.

Additional Information For All Employees

• COBRA (Health coverage after employment)

  Your health benefits will end 28 days after your last day of employment with the RF. This includes termination of coverage for all dependents included on your plan.

  You are eligible to continue your health benefit through COBRA. COBRA is a federal law that requires employers to offer its employees and their covered dependents the right to continue health, dental and vision care coverage.

  The right to choose continuation of coverage is available after an employee terminates employment, either voluntarily or involuntarily, or when the employee or dependent is no longer eligible for coverage because of certain qualifying events (e.g., reduction in hours of employment or a child reaching the limiting age).

  As an alternative to continuing RF coverage, you can enroll for coverage through http://www.healthcare.gov. Those without coverage may qualify for federal subsidies to help them purchase coverage.

  The employee and his or her covered dependents may continue coverage for a maximum of 18 months under Federal law. New York State law extends the COBRA period from 18 months to 36 months for medical coverage only.

  Employees will be provided the following information from our COBRA Administrator after the qualifying event is entered by Campus administrator:
  Benefits Termination Notice

  • Coverage for Dependents: Qualifying Events

    Dependents of employees covered by the RF group insurance plans may choose to continue COBRA coverage for a maximum of 36 months, provided the coverage ended because of one of the following
    circumstances:

    • The employee becomes divorced or legally separated.
    • The employee is entitled to Medicare benefits after employment ends and has covered
      dependents.
    • The employee dies.
    • The employee has a dependent child who no longer qualifies under the terms of the health
      insurance plans.
    • The RF has commenced a bankruptcy reorganization and the employee's spouse is retired.

  • Young Adult or Age 29 Law

    Under New York state law, an adult child (or children) may be able to continue or elect RF coverage until the adult child's 30th birthday if you or the adult child pays the full premium, provided the adult child to be covered is:

    • Unmarried;
    • 29 years of age or under;
    • Not insured by or eligible for comprehensive (i.e. medical and hospital) health insurance through his or her own employer;
    • Living, working or residing in New York state or the health insurance company’s service area; and
    • Not covered under Medicare

    The young adult does not have to live with a parent, be financially dependent on a parent or be a student.

• FAQ's
  • When will I receive my insurance cards in the mail?

    Employees and students enrolled in Anthem BlueCross will receive cards directly from the carrier within 7-10 business days of your plan becoming effective. Employees can download the Sydney Health app to access their Anthem BlueCross health insurance information and create an account using their member ID. The member ID can be obtained by contact RF HR if you do not know it. MVP enrollees can visit the MVP website and CDPHP enrollees can visit the CDPHP website to create accounts and access their electronic benefits.

    Davis Vision and Delta Dental will send regular employees their dental and vision cards approximately 1 week before their insurance becomes active (6 months of service). Student employees will not receive dental and vision cards in the mail.

    To access your dental and vision cards, you can create accounts on the Davis Vision and Delta Dental website using your social security number. If you do not currently have a social security number, please contact RF HR.

  • I did not receive my insurance card in the mail. Where can I access it?

    Employees can download the Sydney Health app to access their Anthem BlueCross health insurance information
    and create an account using their member ID. The member ID can be obtained by contact RF HR if you do not know it. MVP enrollees can visit the MVP website and CDPHP enrollees can visit the CDPHP website to create accounts and access their electronic benefits.

    To access your dental and vision cards, you can create accounts on the Davis Vision and Delta Dental website using your social security number. If you do not currently have a social security number, please contact RF HR.

  • How do I make changes to my health, dental and vision elections?

    You can make changes to your insurance during Open Enrollment (in November each year, for changes effective January 1 the following year), or if you have a qualified event.

    A qualifying event is a change in an employee's or dependent's status that permits a change to be made in the pretax health insurance elections outside of the annual enrollment period. The change in status must result in a gain or loss of coverage or coverage options. To make changes, you must complete and submit a new RF Benefits Enrollment Form to your campus benefits office and submit proof of the qualified event (ie. birth certificate, marriage certificate, letter stating loss of coverage) within 60 days of the event (for regular/post-doc employees) and 31 days of the event (student employees). Changes will be effective retroactively to the date of the event.

    Please see the corresponding Benefits Handbook to review other qualified events:

    Graduate Benefits Handbook
    Regular Employee Benefits Handbook
    Postdoctoral Benefits Handbook

    Note that by the end of October, your assignment must be active in our business system through January 3rd of the new year to be able to complete Open Enrollment activities through RF Employee Self Service. If your assignment is extended in our business system after the close of October, you may only be able to complete Open Enrollment via paper or PDF forms - please contact our office for more information regarding this process. Additionally, please be aware that if your assignment is not active in our system through a particular future date, this is not indicative that your employment with the RF is ending.

  • What will happen if my dependent is aging off of my insurance (turning 26)?

    A dependent can remain on your insurance through the last day of the month in which they turn 26. You will receive a COBRA notice in the mail as an option to purchase coverage through Inspira Financial. If this change causes a change in tiers of your insurance (ie. Employee + Family plan to an Employee + Spouse plan), you will notice your insurance premium rate decrease in the first paycheck of the month following their birthday.

    The dependent may continue coverage for a maximum of 18 months under Federal law. New York State law extends the COBRA period from 18 months to 36 months for medical coverage only.

    Employees will be provided the following information from our COBRA Administrator after the qualifying event is entered by Campus administrator:

    Benefits Termination Notice

    As an alternative to continuing RF coverage, you can enroll for coverage through http://www.healthcare.gov. Those without coverage may qualify for federal subsidies to help them purchase coverage.

  • How can I find out if a provider is in network with my insurance plan?

    You can visit your health insurance companies webpage and click “Find a Provider.” We recommend doing this at the beginning of each year to ensure the providers you see are still in network.

  • Why was my insurance deduction higher than expected in the first 1-2 premium deductions?

    When you originally enroll in health insurance, you will notice 2 additional insurance premiums deducted (as well as any missed deductions from your insurance start date.) This is the 28 day run off.

    The 28 day run off (2 additional insurance premiums) is a mandatory up front charge that will cover you for an additional 28 days if you were to resign/be terminated. After the 28 day run off concludes, you can purchase COBRA coverage.

  • When can I begin using my Vision and Dental Benefits?

    For regular employees hired 6/30/2024 or prior, coverage begins 6 months from your date of employment. For regular employees hired on or after 7/1/2024, coverage begins on day 29 from your date of employment. You will receive cards in the mail within the week your insurance becomes effective.

    For student employees, dental and vision benefits are effective on your first day of employment. You will not receive cards in the mail, however you can create accounts on the Davis Vision and Delta Dental website using your social security number.

  • Why was I asked to pay a very high cost for my prescription?

    If you enroll in either PPO plan through Anthem Blue Cross, your prescription drug benefits will be provided by Express Scripts. You will receive a health insurance card through Anthem as well as a prescription card through Express Scripts. Present your Express Scripts card at the pharmacy for lower prescription rates. Failure to present your Express Scripts card will result in paying a much higher cost for the prescription. You will need to contact Express Scripts directly to receive a reimbursement.