CANDIDATE BENEFITS SUMMARY
For Faculty (IFO)
 
The benefits listed are subject to change pending state and federal legislation and MnSCU Board Regulations.  For further information about employee benefits, please contact Monica Schumacher in the Human Resources Office at 320.308.3321 or email mmschumacher1@stcloudstate.edu or visit the Minnesota Management and Budget website at https://mn.gov/mmb/segip/.
 
INSURANCE ELIGIBILITY
 
Eligible for Full Employer Contribution Toward Insurance:  Faculty who are employed 75 percent time or more for the nine month academic year are eligible for the full employer contribution toward health, dental, and basic term life insurance.
 
Eligible for Partial Employer Contribution Toward Insurance:  Faculty employed at least 50 percent time but less than 75 percent time for the nine month academic year are eligible for a partial employer contribution equal to 75 percent of the full employer contribution toward insurance.
 
INSURANCE EFFECTIVE DATE 
 
Insurance coverage does not take effect until after 35 calendar days of employment.  Enrollment information is sent to the new faculty during this period and elections must be made online via the SEGIP (State Employee Group Insurance Program) website prior to the eligibility date.  New faculty should find other health insurance to protect themselves and family members until coverage takes effect at SCSU.  It may be possible to continue coverage (COBRA) through the faculty member's previous employer; information should be available through the previous employer's Human Resources Office.  Another option may be to purchase a private policy.  Many insurance agencies offer low-cost, major medical, or short-term health insurance policies.  These policies may require the applicant(s) to provide evidence of good health.
 
BASIC LIFE
 
The employer provides and pays for term life insurance coverage for the faculty member.  The amount of coverage is determined by the faculty member's annual base salary with a maximum basic life value of $95,000.
 
HEALTH INSURANCE
 
The Minnesota Advantage Health Plan offers comprehensive health coverage, four cost level options, and three insurance carriers:  Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, HealthPartners, and PreferredOne.  Clinics have been placed in one of the four costs levels within these carriers' networks.  The faculty member enrolls with one of the insurance carriers and selects a Primary Care Clinic within that carrier's network.  Family members may select different Primary Care Clinics anytime but must be enrolled with the same insurance carrier.
 
A summary of the health coverage and cost levels, "Minnesota Advantage Health Plan 2018 Benefits Schedule," is attached.  Benefit coverage is uniform across all carriers.  There are no out-of-pocket costs for preventive care such as immunizations, well-child care, and routine annual check-ups.  A deductible, co-pay, and/or coinsurance apply to other services.  The cost level of the member's Primary Care Clinic determines the amount of these out-of-pocket costs.
 
Most care is coordinated through the member's Primary Care Clinic; however, members may self-refer to certain specialists including obstetricians/gynecologist, chiropractors, and mental health/chemical dependency practitioners.
 
Following are the 2018 monthly premiums for faculty who are eligible for the full employer contribution toward insurance:
 
 
HEALTH PLANSingle CoverageFamily Coverage
Employee PaysSCSU PaysEmployee Pays (mo.)SCSU Pays
Advantage Blue Cross Blue Shield$31.54$599.26$215.16$1,639.80
Advantage HealthPartners$31.54$599.26$215.16$1,639.80
Advantage PreferredOne$31.54$599.26$215.16$1,639.80
 
DENTAL INSURANCE
 
The dental plans offer comprehensive coverage that includes both preventive and corrective services.  Preventive care such as periodic examinations, cleanings, and x-rays are covered at 100%.  A deductible and/or coinsurance apply to corrective services such as fillings, restorative crowns, root canals, oral surgery, orthodontics, etc.  Attached is the summary of coverage, "Dental Plans for 2018."
 
Following are the 2018 monthly premiums for faculty who are eligible for the full employer contribution toward insurance:
 
 
DENTAL PLANSingle CoverageFamily Coverage
Employee PaysSCSU PaysEmployee Pays (mo.)SCSU Pays
State Dental Plan (Delta)$5.00$29.36$38.66$63.02
HealthPartners Dental$5.00$29.36$38.66$63.02
     
 
 
OPTIONAL INSURANCE AND PRE-TAX BENEFITS
 
Faculty may purchase optional insurance and participate in pre-tax benefit plans through the State Employee Group Insurance Program.
 
Optional insurance plans include:  additional employee, spouse, and child life insurance; employee and spouse accidental death and dismemberment insurance; short-term disability, long-term disability and long-term care insurance.  New faculty may purchase certain amounts of insurance coverage without evidence of insurability.
 
Health and dental insurance premiums are covered with pre-tax salary dollars.  Other pre-tax spending accounts in which faculty may enroll includes the Medical/Dental Expense account, Dependent Care Expense Account, and Transit Expense Account.  Campus parking costs through the campus Public Safety Department are also deducted pre-tax.
           
Faculty who are eligible for insurance on a designated date will have an employer-paid annual contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) which may be used for out-of-pocket medical and dental expenses.
 
 
RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLANS
 
Eligible faculty immediately participates in the Individual Retirement Account Plan (IRAP).  New faculty has 12 months to elect to either remain in the IRAP or change to Minnesota Teachers Retirement Association (TRA).  Employee and employer contributions to IRAP and TRA are a percentage of gross salary.  Full-time faculty also participates in the Supplemental Retirement Plan (SRP) after two full time years of employment.
 
PLAN NAME                                                                            CONTRIBUTION RATES
                                                                                                            SCSU       Employee
 
Individual Retirement Account Plan (IRAP)                                         6.00%         4.5%
The IRAP is a 401(a) defined contribution plan.
Participants are immediately and fully vested.
Participants choose from a broad range of
investment funds.
 
Teachers Retirement Association (TRA)                                                          7.5%            7.5%
TRA is a defined benefit plan with all investments
handled by the State Board of Investment.  TRA
requires a minimum of three years participation for
vesting and provides a guaranteed lifetime annuity.
 
Supplement Retirement Program (SRP)                                                            5%              5%
SRP begins after two fiscal years of full-time employment.
The employee contributes 5% of salary up to a negotiated
maximum deduction.  A broad range of investment funds are
available within the plan.
 
Faculty also has the option to contribute to two voluntary retirement savings programs:  1) Tax Sheltered Annuity Plan or 403(b) and 2) Minnesota State Deferred Compensation Plan or 457.
 
TUITION WAIVER
 
Faculty are eligible for up to 30 semester credit hours of course work per year with the waiver of tuition at any Minnesota state university.  The tuition waiver may be shared with the spouse or financially dependent children.  Tuition waived for graduate level courses for a spouse or child is reported as taxable income for the employee.
 
PAID LEAVES OF ABSENCE
 
Faculty members accrue paid sick leave days during their appointment periods.  New faculty members are credited with a sick leave advance at the start of employment.  Up to three personal days may also be granted each year.
 
For additional information:
 
Your Employee Benefits Booklet: https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/documents/segip/doc/YEB.pdf
Summary of Benefits Booklet: https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/documents/segip/medical/SoB_current_AHP.pdf
Retirement Info: http://www.minnstate.edu/system/hr/employees/retirement/index.html