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Benefits affected by : Employment Changes.
Q. I have gone from being 40% appointed to 75% appointed, am I eligible for benefits?
A. Yes, once you are at least 50% appointed in a non-student position you become benefits eligible.
Q. How long do I have to sign up for Benefits after I am hired?
A. You have 31 days from your Benefits Eligible Appointment Date to sign up for benefits.
Q. Am I required to attend orientation?
A. Yes, you are required as a condition of employment to attend New Employee Orientation. To sign up for Orientation contact Human Resources at 479-575-5351.
Q. Do I need to notify anyone in Benefits if I plan to go from a 9 month position to a 12 month position or vice versa and if so, why?
A. Yes, it would be helpful to you and your Benefits office. This notification would insure that all of your benefits through the University are amended properly and in time for your next pay period.
Benefits affected by : Family Status Changes.
Q. How long are my kids eligible for health coverage?
A. Eligible dependents are your lawful spouse, unmarried dependent children from birth until they attain age 19, and from 19 until they attain age 25 if they are full-time students in an accredited university, college, or trade school.
Q. We just had a new baby, do we wait until we get the social security card to add the baby?
A. No, do not wait till you receive the Social Security Card. Notify the Benefits Office as soon as your child is born. You only have 31 days from the baby's birth to add her or him to your Health coverage through the University Benefits Office. Contact the Benefits Office as soon as you receive the Social Security Card and we will update all Health plan records.
Q. My son will turn 25 next month, when do I take him off my insurance?
A. You must remove your son from the plan within 31 days of his 25th birthday. You may complete the required paperwork prior to the event. This change must be made in the benefits office. For more information please contact the Benefits office at 479-575-2167.
If you are paying your health coverage premiums with pre-tax dollars, have no other eligible dependent children on your health plan and do not remove your son, you will be unable to change your premiums until January of the following year.
Q. I have recently gotten married. What do I have to do to change benefits?
To add a spouse to the health plan you must complete QualChoice
enrollment/change form within 31 days of marriage. You must bring a
copy of your marriage certificate. Coverage will be effective the first of the following month from the date the forms are turned in to Benefits.
To change beneficiaries on life insurance and the retirement plan, complete a Group Benefits Change form in the Benefits office or here online. To change your beneficiary on your retirement plan, you may contact your Benefits office at 479-575-2167 or hr.benefits@uark.edu to request the appropriate form.
Q. What effect does having my premiums taken out before or after taxes have on my choice to drop coverage?
A. If you have your health insurance premiums taken out of your paycheck before taxes, you may ONLY make changes to your coverage when you have a Qualifying Life Event. If you elect to pay your health insurance premiums on an after tax basis you may terminate a dependent or your full coverage at any time during the calendar year. You may NOT add dependents without a Qualifying Life Event regardless of your pre-tax/after-tax premium coverage level.
Q. I am in the process of adopting a child; do I have to wait until the adoption is completed? If so how long do I wait and what documentation do I bring with me?
A. No, you do not have to wait until the adoption is complete. Children pending adoption may be added when a petition for adoption has been filed - or - when the final court order has been issued. In order to add an adopted child to your health coverage, you must bring a copy of the documents placing the child in your home for adoption and complete a QualChoice enrollment form within 31 days of the child being placed in your home for adoption.
Benefits concerning : Medical Questions.
Q. How do I get new Medical and Pharmacy Cards?
A. You may order new cards from the Member's tab on the QualChoice Website,
http://www.qcark.com/ , or you may contact QualChoice directly at 1-800-235-7111.
Q. Where do I find a list of physicians?
A. You will find a list of the Participating UA Fayetteville Classic Plan and Point of Service Doctors on the QualChoice's Web page (http://www.qcark.com/) Click on the Members tab and then enter your User Name and Password. If you do not have your User Name and Password, click on the Visitors tab to access the QualChoice Provider directory.
You may also find a copy at the UA Benefits Office located in the Administration Building room 222.
Q. What happens to my insurance when I leave U of A employment? Can it be continued?
A. If you leave the UA and have health insurance, you may be eligible to continue your coverage under COBRA.
Q. What do I do when QualChoice claims are denied?
A. The first thing to do is contact QualChoice and find out why. QualChoice will be able to instruct you on the surest way to rectify the problem or discuss ways to appeal the decision. Contact benefits if you are unable to get your claims problem resolved after contacting QualChoice.
Q. When does my new PCP become effective?
A. PCP changes become effective the 1st of the following month as long as the completed PCP Change form has been received in the Benefits Office by the 25th of the month.
Q. Do I have to choose an option on the Point of Service plan?
A. No, you do not have to choose an option under the Point of Service Plan. Your coverage/option level is determined at the time the health care is accessed. See Point of Service Plan descriptions
Q. Is there a change in my premiums if I am still actively employed and turn 65?
A. No, there is no change to your premiums while you are an active employee of the UA.
Q. What happens to my health coverage, as a retiree, when I or my spouse turns 65?
A. When a retiree and/or their spouse turns 65 the UA health coverage automatically becomes secondary to Medicare. Premiums will also change accordingly. Enrollment in Medicare Parts A and B is mandatory for all retirees at this time.
Benefits concerning : Retirement Questions.
Q. Where do I change my allocations?
A. You must contact your Retirement company directly to make any changes to where your contributions are allocated.
Fidelity Investments
TIAA/CREF
Q. How often can I change the amount I contribute to my retirement plan?
A. You may change your contributions to your retirement plan at any time* by filling out a Salary Reduction/Deduction Agreement and submitting it to the Benefits Office at 222 Admin Bldg. All contributions changes to your retirement plan are effective the first of the following month from which they are received.
Q. Who do I contact for loans? How do I go about requesting the necessary paper work?
A. To request a loan from your UA retirement account, you must first contact your chosen retirement company and request a loan application.
Once you have requested the loan, you or your retirement company must forward the request to the UA Benefits Office for an Authorization signature. If you have questions on the status of your loan you may contact the Benefits office at 479-575-6215 or hr.benefits@uark.edu
Q. How do I pick which vendor is best for me?Who do I talk to about helping me choose the right investments for me?
A. Research, research ,research. Both TIAA/CREF and Fidelity have a variety of information resources available to you. You may contact both retirement companies by phone, on line and also schedule individual counseling sessions.
Q. How much does the U of A contribute for me?
A. The University will contribute an amount equal to 5% of your regular salary whether or not you contribute. If you do elect to contribute to the Plan, the University of Arkansas will make additional contributions of regular salary, equal to your contributions, not exceeding 10%
Benefits concerning : General Insurance Questions.
Q. How can I sign up for Optional Life insurance?
A. Once you have passed your 31 day enrollment period for new hires, you must complete an Evidence of Insurability and Group Benefits Change form available in the Benefits department at 575-2167
This information is then sent to UA Life insurance vendor- Teachers Insurance Annuity Association for review. Once it is reviewed TIAA will send you a letter stating their decision. If it is approved your coverage and premiums will be noted on the following months pay advice.
Q. How do I drop my optional insurances?
A. To drop your optional life insurance you must complete an Group Benefits Change form available in the Benefits department at 575-2167 or here online.
Q. Where do I go to change my beneficiaries?
A. For a Group Benefits Change form click here or contact the Benefits department at 479-575-2167
For a TIAA/CREF or Fidelity Beneficiary change form contact the Benefits department at 479-575-2167.
These beneficiary changes are effective the date we receive the completed and signed form in the Benefits Office.
Q. What do I do if I missed signing up for benefits as a new hire?
A. You must contact the Benefits Office immediately to complete required forms.
It is to your benefit to complete the Benefits enrollment within the 31 day enrollment period requirement. If you miss your 31 day enrollment period you may not be able to enroll in health coverage without a Qualifying Life Event.
Q. What happens when I go on maternity leave, but don't have enough leave to pay for the benefits deducted from my paycheck?
A. While on FMLA you are only responsible for your portion of your benefits. You may make personal payments to the University. Contact the Benefits office at 575-6215 or hr.benefits@uark.edu.
For further Questions answered contact your Benefits Office Personnel.
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