Making Your Benefits Selection
Contents
Introduction Premium Sharing Weekly Benefits Sessions Maverick 101 Insurance Programs Information Retirement Programs Information Retirement Manager Work/Life Balance Resources Contact Us
UT Arlington faculty and staff enjoy a comprehensive choice of insurance plans including medical, dental, vision, life, accident, short term disability, long term disability, long term care insurance and a flexible spending plan. Retirement savings choices include Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS), the Optional Retirement Program (ORP)*, and the Voluntary UT Saver TSA 403(b) and DCP 457 (b) programs.
* The Optional Retirement Program (ORP) is available to certain faculty and university administrators only.
UT Arlington's benefits program offers comprehensive, flexible benefits at a competitive cost. You may select the choices that provide maximum protection for you and your eligible family members, including alternatives, which will help, save you money on taxes. If you are a full-time employee (100% appointment), the University will provide 100% of your premiums for your health insurance and up to 50% of the premiums for your dependents' health insurance. If you are a part-time employee (99% to 50% appointment), the University will provide 50% of your premiums for your health insurance and up to 25% of your premium for your dependents' health insurance. The cost of voluntary coverage is paid in full by you. Eligibility for benefit programs is based on your appointment.
You have 31 days from your hire date (initial period of eligibility) to complete enrollment in the group insurance program. Employees moving from a non-benefits eligible status to a benefits eligible status also have 31 days from the date of new status. If elections are not made within the 31-day initial period of eligibility, you will be required to wait until Annual Enrollment or a qualified Change of Status event to make changes, including adding or dropping coverage. To enroll in certain coverage may require Evidence of Insurability (EOI) in which case the effective date of that coverage will be the first of the month following the approval of your EOI application. For voluntary life coverage, your effective date will be the date your EOI was approved.
If you are a new benefits eligible (appointment 50% or greater) employee, you will attend a new employee records/benefits session. These sessions are held weekly on Mondays and Thursdays. At this session you will receive information on our insurance and retirement programs, learn about your benefits options and make your selections. Please note that benefits elections must be made within 31 days of employment or benefits eligibility.
Note: When electing dependent coverages, documentation must be provided to verify dependents’ eligibility for insurance. Acceptable documentation includes marriage certificate, birth certificate or page one (with financial information removed) of a recent Form 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
Employee Benefits Services presents a comprehensive Benefits Overview during Maverick 101. Maverick 101 is held on the first Wednesday of each month in Room 200 of the Wetsel Service Center.
Insurance Programs Information
The Group Benefits Handbook for Employees provides an overview of our programs, eligibility criteria, and the cost for each coverage. The UT Select Benefits Summary Chart provides an outline of the medical program coverage. During the plan year, you may check your benefits elections online at My UT Benefits using your UT EID. You will also use My UT Benefits to make your benefits selection or changes during Annual Enrollment in July.
Retirement Programs Information
Benefits eligible employees are required to participate in the Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS). University employees participating in TRS contribute 6.4% of your earnings to TRS, while the university contributes 6.644%. If you are eligible and elect to participate in the Optional Retirement Program (ORP), you will contribute 6.65% of your earnings and the university will contribute 8.5%*.
To assist you in additional opportunities to save for retirement, you may chose to participate in one or both of the voluntary retirement programs, the UT Saver TSA and UT Saver DCP.
UT Retirement Manager enables you to enroll and makes changes to your retirement accounts and provides excellent financial tools. UT Retirement Manager is a secure Web site that enables you to review your retirement savings and helps you project how you need to save for retirement. UT Retirement Manager is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
UT Arlington encourages healthy lifestyles, supports a positive work environment, provides resources for employee assistance and promotes balance between personal and work responsibilities. The Office of Human Resources offers resources and programs to support employees seeking to find a healthy balance between their professional and personal lives.
Contact us at benefits@uta.edu or to speak with your Benefits Representative contact the Employee Benefits Information Line at (817) 272-5558.