HR Update; April 24, 2009
Subscribe to HR Update with RSS
In this Edition
- New COBRA Premium Assistance Program
- HR Launches a New “Serving You” Series
- UC Retirement Readiness Education Programs
New COBRA Premium Assistance Program
Certain employees who were or may be involuntarily terminated from the University of California from September 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009 may be eligible for COBRA premium assistance to continue their health benefits (medical, dental, and vision).
As a result of the Stimulus Package and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) signed by President Obama in February, 2009, employers must subsidize 65 percent of the usual COBRA premiums paid by eligible employees and their family members for up to 9 months. The employee and eligible family members will pay 35 percent of the COBRA premium.
To qualify for premium assistance, the employee:
- must be involuntarily terminated
- must be eligible for COBRA continuation coverage during the period September 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009
- must elect COBRA coverage
- must not be eligible for Medicare and/or any coverage under any other group health plan
Updated COBRA and ARRA Application Packets for events that occurred between September 1, 2008 and February 28, 2009 have been re-issued by UC Office of the President. Campus locations have reissued packets for qualifying events starting March 1, 2009. Beginning May 1, 2009, Conexis, the new UC COBRA administrator, will issue the packets. Information on the assistance program, qualification criteria, and the application process are part of the updated COBRA packets.
The premium subsidy begins March 1, 2009. However, no health plan will be able to actually change the billing rate until the qualified beneficiary is identified as eligible via the application process. Realistically, the first adjustment to COBRA premiums will likely take place in May. Health plans are allowed by the law to credit excess amounts paid to future months as long as the total credit can be used within 180 days, otherwise they must issue a reimbursement.
If an employee has additional questions about this program that are not addressed in their COBRA packet, they should contact their Department Benefit Representative/Personnel Analyst or contact UCSF HR/Benefits at or 415-476-1400.
HR Launches a New “Serving You” Series
We are launching a weekly “serving you” series to remind you and your staff about the comprehensive selection of services the Human Resources department provides to the University community. We want to keep you informed about the services we provide, as well as reacquaint you with the people who administer them. We encourage collaboration with your department and our office, and welcome the opportunity to meet with you and your staff at any time.
Featured this week:
Serving You: Benefits & Financial Planning
In line with UCSF’s mission, the goal of the Benefits and Financial Planning unit is to assist UC employees understand and obtain the full value of their UC sponsored Health & Welfare benefits, the UC Retirement Plan (UCRP), and the UC Retirement Savings Programs, all of which are a significant component of total compensation. We do this by providing education and information about these programs. We also provide retirement counseling services, resolve eligibility/enrollment problems, and, through the Health Care Facilitator program, provide confidential one-on-one assistance in resolving escalated health plan problems. In providing these services, we interpret and apply UC policies and practices and maintain compliance with the UC Group Insurance Regulations, UC Retirement Plan Documents, and Federal and California state laws.
Read more about Benefits & Financial Planning services and the people who provide them.
UC Retirement Readiness Education Programs
Please pass this on to your colleagues, circulate invitations, post the actual scheduled workshops happening near your location, or otherwise re-broadcast these weekly reminders about our valuable (FREE) education programs for faculty and staff. Bring your lunch; your questions; your spouse/partner.
- UC Retirement Plan (UCRP)-UC’s Defined Benefit Plan
- “The Features of UCRP”
- Coming again soon
- Refer to these schedules for details and future workshops
- The Future of UCRP
- UC Retirement Savings Plans - the 403(b), 457(b) and DC Plans
- SPECIAL EVENT: “Remaining Confident in a Volatile Market’
- April 27, Parnassus, HSW – 303, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m
- May 5, Mount Zion, Hellman Conf, C – 126, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Obtain a better understanding of current market activity,
- Gain historical perspective on the markets, and
- Learn about some basic investment concepts and strategies.
- “Enrolling in Your UC Retirement Savings Program”
- April 27, Parnassus, HSW – 303, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- May 5, Mount Zion, Hellman Conf, C – 126, 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.
- “Determining Your Right Investment Strategy”
- May 5, Mount Zion, Hellman Conf, C – 126, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
- “Achieving a Sound Retirement”
- Coming again soon
- “Understand the How-tos of Fidelity’s NetBenefits Website”
- Coming again soon
- Refer to these schedules for details and future workshops
- What? Can’t wait for the next scheduled workshop?
- Arrange to have these workshops at a meeting in your department
- Click here for more details
- Focus on Your Future!
Usually there can be at least one (or more) workshop(s) per week scheduled at various UCSF locations around town. For more details and listings for upcoming scheduled presentations, please refer to our Workshops and Presentations Schedules menus found at our local UCSF HR/Benefits website.
############################################
HR Update is distributed weekly to individuals on the following listservs: Campus Administrators, Managers and Supervisors, HR Policy, Payroll Administrators and Benefits Representatives.
You can also sign up for the HR Update Mailing List
For more information, including on how to be removed from this list, please read more about UCSF Distribution Lists