Eligibility and Enrollment
Eligibility
Staff
To qualify for health benefits you must initially have an appointment that exceeds six continuous months and one day, at a time base of at least one-half (20 hours or more per work week), however, to continue benefits you only need to maintain an appointment of at least one-half.
Faculty
To qualify for health benefits you must initially have an Academic Year appointment at a time base of .50 weighted teaching units (7.5).
Lecturers covered under AB211
Lecturers and Coaches appointed for a minimum of one semester or two consecutive quarters at .4 timebase or greater are eligible for benefits. Coaches and Lectures (Non-academic calendar year ) are eligible for benefits if appointed half-time or more for a period of more than six (6) months. Exclusions: Faculty appointed solely to teach summer session, extension or intersession are not eligible for benefits. View the faculty benefits eligibility details
Employees appointed on an hourly, intermittent basis do not qualify for benefits.
***If at anytime your appointment with the University no longer meets the above requirements, your benefits will automatically be cancelled and you will be given the opportunity to continue your benefits by enrolling into the COBRA program.
Enrollment
The deadline for enrolling in health and dental plans is 60 calendar days from date of hire or eligibility. Employees must complete a Health Benefits Enrollment Worksheet and sign a final HBD-12 CalPERS Health Benefit Plan and Enrollment Form for the enrollment to be complete. Enrollment in vision and life insurance is automatic for all eligible employees. Currently, there is no exclusion for pre-existing conditions. An open enrollment period for health and dental plans is usually scheduled in October of each year.
See Dependent Benefits Enrollment and Deletions for information on enrolling dependents.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Effective January 1, 1998, the requirements of HIPAA change enrollment policies to allow for "special enrollment" and "late enrollment" periods.
Special Enrollment
Allows the employee to enroll upon request, if a Declaration of Health Coverage form (HB-12A) is not already on file. Employees have 60 calendar days from the date of the event to enroll.
- Loss of other coverage.
- Non-enrolled employees acquiring a dependent or enrolled employee's non-enrolled spouse can enroll for self and all eligible dependents.
- Court-ordered coverage.
Late Enrollment
Upon request, the employee and eligible dependents can enroll after a 90-day waiting period. The 90-day waiting period commences, upon receipt of the employee's completed and signed enrollment form.
Continuation of Benefit Plans
If you or your dependents can no longer participate in a benefit plan due to a loss in eligibility, you may continue your health, dental and/or vision plan coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).