Pre-Tax Benefits

Health, life, supplemental insurance plans, as well as contributions to Flexible Spending Accounts are offered on a pre-tax basis for active state employees. Premiums are paid through payroll deduction. Because the benefits premiums are deducted on a pre-tax basis, the employee will pay less federal and social security tax and receive more take home pay.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is available to all budgeted (Administrative, Faculty and Support Staff) employees at the University of North Florida. Coverage is not available to Other Personnel Service (OPS) employees. UNF and employees share the cost of premiums. Employees have 60 days from their date of hire to enroll. Plan changes are only allowed during the annual open enrollment period or as a result of an approved qualifying status change.


While the health insurance benefits are similar, there are differences. You will pay the same premium for each plan, but out-of-pocket expenses are different.

HMO:

The self-administered, pre-paid health plan is available to employees who live or work within the HMO's service area. Coverage is not available for services outside of the service area except for life or limb threatening emergency. The HMO’s offer members open access, thus allowing visits to network doctors without first choosing a primary care physician and freedom to visit specialists in the network without referrals.

Prescription coverage is offered by each HMO.



PPO:

The PPO plan is a self-insured health plan administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. This plan provides you with the freedom to go to any provider, although in-network providers meet a lower deductible and lower co-payment for services than non-network providers.



HIHP (HMO and PPO):

The Health Investor Health Plans are high deductible health plans that do not cover medical expenses, except for preventative care, until the high deductible is met. The HIHP offers a reduced premium and all covered benefits must apply to the plan deductible, including prescriptions. In addition to the higher deductibles, employees will pay co-insurance vs. set dollar co-payments and will have higher out-of-pocket maximums.

A health savings account is to be used in conjunction with the Health Investor Health Plans.

How to Enroll:

Group Life Insurance:

Basic coverage is one and a half times the employee's annual base salary, of which the employee pays 20% of the premium while the state pays the remaining 80%. Executive Service (non-faculty) employees receive two times their base annual salary, of which the state pays the full premium. Coverage amounts will be reduced by 50% at age 70 for all active employees.

Group term life insurance, including an Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) provision, is available to all budgeted (Administrative, Faculty and Support Staff) employees at the University of North Florida. Coverage is not available to Other Personnel Service (OPS) employees. Employees have 60 days from their date of hire to enroll. Plan changes are only allowed during the annual enrollment or as a result of an approved qualifying status change. Employees who enroll in the basic term life insurance plan also have the opportunity to purchase additional term life insurance on a post-tax basis.

As an additional service of the State's group life insurance program with Minnesota Life, employees may take advantage of will preparation services through Ceridian LifeWorks. The program gives employees telephone access to a national network of 22,000 attorneys for consultation on simple wills and testamentary trusts. There is no cost to the employee for the initial 30-minute consultation. For more information, call (877) 849-6034 or visit the web site at www.lifeworks.com. The username is will and password is preparation.

How to Enroll:

Contact:

Flexible Spending Accounts:

Flexible spending accounts allow employees to pay for eligible out-of-pocket medical and/or dependant care expenses with tax-free dollars. At the time of hire or during each open enrollment period, you must elect an annual amount to contribute into an FSA account. The amount selected will be deducted from your paychecks on a pre-tax basis throughout the year. When an eligible expense is incurred, a claim form and receipt documentation is submitted to the People First Service Center for reimbursement from the FSA account.

Medical Flexible Spending Account:
Annual Pledge Amounts:
Minimum: $60.00
Maximum: $5,000.00

Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account:
Annual Pledge Amounts:
Minimum: $60.00
Maximum: $5,000.00 ($2,500.00 if married filing separately)

Consult the Flexible Spending Accounts Reference Guide for further information.

How to Enroll:

Contact:

Health Savings Accounts:

A health savings account lets employees pay for eligible medical expenses on a pre-tax basis. Employees must enroll in an HIHP health plan and may elect to put money into the HSA account. Employees can change their contribution amount anytime during the plan year. The annual maximum amount allowed is $2,500.00 for single and $5,950.00 for family.

Active employees will receive a monthly employer contribution into the HSA of $41.66 for single coverage or $83.33 for family coverage, up to an annual contribution of $500.00 or $1,000 respectively in 2009.

How to enroll:

Direct deposit is available for FSA and HSA reimbursements. If you have previously elected to have your claims direct deposited and have had six months of reimbursement inactivity, you must complete another direct deposit application. Please click here for the direct deposit form.

Dental Insurance:

UNF offers nine dental plans including HMO's, a PPO and Indemnity plans.

Dental insurance is available to all budgeted (Administrative, Faculty, Support Staff) employees at the University of North Florida. Coverage is not available to Other Personnel Service (OPS) employees. Employees pay the full premium amount on a pre-tax basis. Employees have 60 days from their date of hire to enroll. Plan changes are only available during the annual open enrollment or as a result of an approved qualifying status changes.

How to Enroll:

Contacts:

Vision Insurance:

The vision plan offers an extensive network of optometrists and ophthalmologists for employees and their eligible dependents. The benefits include routine eye care exams, glasses, (lenses and frame) or contact lenses. A materials only option is available.

Vision insurance is available to all budgeted (Administrative, Faculty and Support Staff) employees at the University of North Florida. Coverage is not available to Other Personnel Service (OPS) employees. Employees pay the full premium amount on a pre-tax basis. Employees have 60 days from their date of hire to enroll. Plan changes are only available during the annual open enrollment or as a result of an approved qualifying status changes.

How to Enroll:

Contacts:
  • Humana
    Phone: (800) 939-5369

Hospital Insurance:

Hospital insurance is additional insurance to cover hospital expenses not covered by basic health insurance. These expenses may include hospital deductibles, room and board charges, co-payments and any special fees.

Supplemental hospital income insurance is available to all budgeted (Administrative, Faculty and Support Staff) employees at the University of North Florida. Coverage is not available to Other Personnel Service (OPS) employees. Employees pay the full premium amount on a pre-tax basis and have 60 days from their date of hire to enroll. Plan changes are only allowed during the annual open enrollment or as a result of an approved qualifying status change.

How to Enroll:
Contacts

Cancer/Intensive Care Insurance:

Cancer insurance covers the costs for cancer treatment that basic health insurance does not cover. Each option pays a set amount for surgery and other related treatments. In addition, each plan offers a first occurrence benefit, which is a lump-sum payment made directly to the insured at the time the cancer is diagnosed. The plan also provides assistance towards the cost of family transportation and lodging. The insured must be cancer-free at the time of enrollment.

Intensive care insurance provides a daily benefit for each day the insured is confined to the hospital intensive care unit for medical reasons.

Cancer and intensive care insurance is available to all salaried (A&P, Faculty and USPS) employees at the University of North Florida. Coverage is not available to Other Personnel Service (OPS) employees. Employees pay the full premium amount on a pre-tax basis. Employees have 60 days from their date of hire to enroll. Plan changes are only allowed during the annual open enrollment or as a result of an approved qualifying status change.

How to Enroll:
Contacts:

Accident/Disability Insurance:

Accident insurance provides cash benefits in the event of a covered accident on or off the job. Benefits are based on the type of injury sustained. Disability insurance provides benefits ranging from $400 to $3,000/month, based on employee’s current salary, in the event of a disability.

Colonial Accident/Disability Insurance provides accident and short-term disability insurance to all budgeted (Administrative, Faculty and Support Staff) employees at the University of North Florida. Coverage is not available to Other Personnel Services (OPS) employees. Employees pay the full premium amount on a pre-tax basis and have 60 days from their date of hire to enroll. Plan changes are only allowed during annual open enrollment or as a result of an approved qualifying status change.

How to Enroll:
  • Contact Colonial benefits representative
    Robin Thomason: (904) 241-9791

Contacts: