IT'S YOUR BENEFIT
April 5, 2007
Vol 4, Ed 1


Mark Your Calendar

  • Flex Spending Account (FSA) Claims Submission Deadline for 2006 is April 30, 2007.

  • Dependent Child Tuition Renewal Deadline is May 5, 2007.
    Send forms and documentation to Campus Box 1190.

  • Group Variable Universal Life (GVUL) Annual Enrollment is April 9 to April 30, 2007.

  • Investment Education Seminars
    Danforth Campus- Simon Hall, Room 109 - April 17 - 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
    West Campus- Library Conference Center, Room A/B - April 18 - 9:00 am - 10:30 am
    Medical Campus- McDonnell Science Building, Erlanger Auditorium, April 19 - 10:00 am - 11:30 am

  • MetDesk Brown Bag Sessions
    Danforth Campus- Simon Hall, Room 108 - April 25 @ Noon
    Medical Campus- McDonnell Science Building, Cori Auditorium - April 26 @ Noon
    West Campus- Library Conference Center, Room A/B - April 27 @Noon

  • One-on-One Retirement Investment Counseling with TIAA-CREF
    Danforth Campus- April 26, May 31, June 5, 26
    Medical Campus- April 11, 24, May 29, 30, June 27, 28, July 25, 26, August 29, 30, September 26, 27
    West Campus- April 27, June 29, July 24, 27, August 28, 31, September 25, 28
    For reservations call 1-800-842-2005, ext. 5613 or online at www.tiaa-cref.org
  • One-on-One Retirement Investment Counseling with Vanguard
    Danforth Campus- September 11
    Medical Campus- May 8, 9, June 7, 8, July 11, 12, August 7, 8, September 13
    West Campus- May 10, June 6, July 10, August 9, September 12
    For reservations call 1-800-662-0106, ext. 14500 or online at www.meetvanguard.com
    Did You Know?

  • Dependent Child Tuition Documentation Required
    Documentation is required to provide proof of eligibility for dependent child tuition benefits. Visit our website for details.

  • New Employee Benefits Eligibililty
    All new benefits eligible faculty and staff have 31 days from their date of hire to enroll in health/dental, flex, life and long term care insurance. Attending new hire orientation is the best way to receive the information you need to make informed decisions about which benefits are eligible for you and your family.

  • Family Status Benefit Changes must be submitted to the Benefits department within 31 days (62 days for the birth or adoption of a child) of the event date in order to change your health benefits and/or flex spending election amount. Examples include marriage, divorce, change in employee or spouse's employment (from full-time to part-time or vice versa) and spouse/domestic partner's open enrollment.

  • Retiree Benefits Eligibility
    All full-time and part-time faculty and staff age 55 and older who have completed at least ten years of continuous service are eligible.

  • New Flexible Spending Administrator
    Effective January 1, 2007 the new Flexible Spending Account administrator is Wage Works. The former administrator was the Epoch Group.
  • Benefit Statements for years 2004 to 2006 will be available online through HRMS Self Service in May, 2007.

  • Roth Feature in Retirement Plan
    Faculty and staff have the option to make either pre-tax deferral or after-tax Roth contributions to the Retirement Saving Plan. Currently, only Vanguard is able to accept employee Roth contributions. TIAA-CREF Roth should be available in the Spring of 2008.

  • Couples Health Premiums for family coverage are lower for those employees whose spouse/domestic partner also works at Washington University and meets the eligibility requirements.

  • Break In Service Rules
    After a 30-day break in service, a returning employee must re-enroll in medical/dental, flexible spending, life insurance, long term disability, long term care and retirement savings. New plan rules for retirement savings and tuition assistance will apply.
    After a 90-day break in service, a returning employee's previous service will not count toward the service requirements of the employee, spouse and child tuition assistance plans.

  • Correct Email Address
    Most benefits communications are sent via email. Please verify that your email address is correct in HRMS Self Service:https://wuissrv20.wustl.edu/psp/HRMS/?cmd=login

  • HRMS Self Service offers faculty and staff the ability to access their personal, benefits, and paycheck information. Through this online service you may view your benefits and paycheck advice and update your personal data such as home address, phone numbers, email addresses, emergency contacts, and education information. Unsure of your password? Contact the Systems and Procedures Help Desk at 935-5707.

  • New Term Life insurance Premiums
    Premiums will change July 1, 2007 based on new base annual salary. Check your paycheck advice on Self Service for accuracy.

  • LITE and Other on your paycheck advice means
    LITE(Life Insurance Taxable Earnings)-
    Faculty and staff with a group life insurance value over $50,000 may be taxed on the excess based on an IRS age-graded chart. The taxable income is reflected on your paycheck advice under "Employer Paid Benefits" as LITE.
    Other -
    Faculty and staff covering a domestic partner on their health and/or dental plan through the university are taxed on the amount the university pays toward the cost of the domestic partner. The taxable income is reflected on your paycheck advice under "Employer Paid Benefits" as Other.
    .
  • Periodic Plan Audits
    The Benefits department reserves the right to periodically audit all benefit plans to verify eligibility and ensure the accuracy of information we receive.
    Just the Facts
    130
    1,961
    2,241
    632
    461
    1,582
    130
    488
    		-Health Savings Account (HSA)
    -Retirement Medical Savings Account (RMSA)
    -Healthcare Flex Spending Account (FSA)
    -Childcare Flex Spending Account
    -Universal Life Insurance
    -Long Term Care (LTC)
    -Missouri Savings for Tuition Plan (MO$T)
    -Travelers Auto/Home Insurance
    1,067
    671
    360
    250


    		-Fall Health Open Enrollment Meetings
    -TIAA-CREF One-on-One Retirement Investment Counseling
    -Vanguard One-on-One Retirement Investment Counseling
    -Spring '07 Retirement Planning Seminars