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Who
is eligible for insurance coverage?
In
order to be eligible for insurance coverage the following criteria must be
met: eligible to participate in the
university retirement system, paid salary through local university payroll
or the state comptroller, hired to work at least half-time or 50% (18.75
hours per week).
Can
an employee waive insurance coverage?
For
full-time employees participation is required under the State Employees Group
Insurance Program as defined by the State Employees Group Insurance Act of
1971. For employees who are working part-time (anything less than
37.5 hours per week) participation is optional. If covered, employee
must pay a portion of the State's cost in relation to the percentage of
hours worked. Must be employed at least half-time or 50% to be
eligible for insurance coverage.
However,
PA 92-0600 has amended the Group Insurance Act and for the first time, any
member who is eligible for and/or enrolled in the State Group Insurance Program
may, with proof of other comprehensive health coverage, elect not to
participate in the Program. Members who opt-out will no longer be
enrolled in health, dental or vision coverage through the Department of
Central Management Services. The election to opt-out is entirely
voluntary and there is no financial incentives or considerations available
to those who opt-out. For more information regarding the opt-out
programs click here.
What
if I am already covered under my spouse's state insurance program, can I
continue as a dependent and waive coverage as an employee?
Only
part-time employees may waive coverage. You can not be covered as am
employee and a dependent on the state insurance program. Your spouse
would need to contact their agency to terminate your coverage and should
inform the employing agency that you will be covered as an employee on the
state program and give your date of hire.
If I accept a position, how soon does
insurance coverage begin?
New
employees are covered effective the first day of employment.
How
long do I have to decide which insurance plan I want?
New
employees have 10 calendar days from the initial employment date to make
health, dental and life insurance coverage choices. If an employee
fails to make the benefit elections within the 10 day period, coverage
with automatically be enrolled in the Quality Care Health Plan and Quality
Care Dental Plan and provided with basic life insurance coverage.
New employees may enroll eligible dependents within the 10 calendar days
of employment effective date. If dependent coverage is not elected
during the first 10 days, the employee must wait until the next eligibility
period to request dependent coverage. Annually there is a Benefit
Choice Period during which time employees may make changes to their health
insurance coverage.
Is
there a pre-existing condition clause on the health plans?
New
employees and new dependents (excluding newborns and adopted children) are
subject to possible health benefit limitations based on pre-existing conditions,
in some of the health plans offered. During the fist six months of a
new employee or new dependent's coverage some health plans would provide
no benefits or only limited benefit coverage on any pre-existing
condition. The pre-existing condition time period may be reduced or completely
eliminated by providing documentation, "Certificate of Creditable
Coverage" from another insurance plan, provided there was not a break
in coverage of mare than 63 days. Federal law (HIPAA) requires all
health insurance plans to provide "Certificates of Creditable
Coverage" upon termination from a plan. HIPAA Also provides
that coverage for newborn children and adopted children is not subject to
pre-existing condition limitations. Pregnancy is not subject to
pre-existing condition exclusions.
What retirement plan options are available?
Employees do not contribute to Social Security but rather are
automatically enrolled in the State
Universities Retirement System, if they are employed
in a position that requires work for a continuous academic term or four
months, whichever is less. Three different SURS
retirement plans are available to employees: the Traditional, Portable or
Self-Managed plan. New employees have six months to make the choice
as to which option will best suit their needs; the choice is irrevocable.
How much do employees contribute and when will
contribution begin?
Employee contribute 8% of gross earning, including earning for overtime
and vacation pay. Employee contributions begin with the first
payroll upon hire into a qualifying position.
When is an employee considered to be
"vested" in the retirement plan?
Employees are vested upon completion of five (5) years in the
retirement program.
Where do I park at SIU?
New employees may receive a free five-day
parking pass from SIU Security while considering their parking options. Employees may either choose to purchase a parking pass
for SIU lots at the cost of $70.00 per year or may choose to find on-street
parking. Employees that work in either a St. John's Hospital or
Memorial Medical Center building may have additional parking
options. Physicians with
hospital staff privileges receive free parking stickers which allow them
to park at no charge in the lots provided by the hospital.
I have previous service time with the State of
Illinois, can I get credit for this?
Yes, prior qualifying State of Illinois employment may be verified and
would then be used to determine the level at which an employee earns or is
granted vacation benefits based on appointment type.
I have previous service time with SIU School of
Medicine or the State University Civil Service System, how will this
affect the terms of my employment?
Yes, prior qualifying employment may be verified and would then be used
to determine the level at which an employee earns or is granted vacation
benefits based on appointment type.
Do
SIU employees receive the same holidays that State of Illinois employees
receive? No. SIU-SM employees receive thirteen paid
holidays each calendar year. There are five designated holidays recognized by the University: Independence Day,
Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, New Year's Day, and Memorial Day; and
seven designated holidays or administrative closures to be determined by the President of the University.
Fiscal
Year 2007 Holiday Schedule. |
