IT'S YOUR BENEFIT
April 8, 2008
Vol 5, Ed 1


Mark Your Calendar

  • Flex Spending Account (FSA) Claims Submission Deadline for 2007 is April 30, 2008. These expenses must be processed through the pay me back option.

  • New Blue Cross Identification Cards are being mailed to all participants the first week of April 2008.

  • Dependent Child Tuition Renewal Deadline is May 9, 2008.
    Send forms and documentation to Tuition Renewal, Campus Box 1190.

  • Financial Education Seminars
    Medical Campus- Connor Auditorium , April 15 - 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
    Danforth Campus- Simon Hall, Room 107 - April 16 - 10:00 am - 11:30 am
    West Campus- Library Conference Center, Room A/B - April 17 - 10:00 am - 11:30 am
    Representatives will be available to assist with new enrollments

  • MetDesk Workshop Sessions
    Danforth Campus- North Brookings, Room 222 - April 23 @ Noon - 1:15 pm
    Medical Campus- Farrell Learning Center, Room 222 - April 22 @ Noon - 1:15 pm
    West Campus- Library Conference Center, Room A/B - April 24 @Noon - 1:15 pm

  • One-on-One Retirement Investment Counseling with TIAA-CREF
    Danforth Campus- May 6, June 27, July 9, 15.
    Medical Campus- April 10, 11, 23, 24, May 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, June 12, 13, 25, 26, July 11
    West Campus- April 22, 25, May 14, 23 June 17, 20
    For reservations call 1-800-732-8353 or online at www.tiaa-cref.org
  • One-on-One Retirement Investment Counseling with Vanguard
    Danforth Campus- August 7
    Medical Campus- June 11, 13, July 8, 10,
    West Campus- April 17, June 12, July 9
    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. http://hr.wustl.edu

  • Tuition Deadlines
    The deadline to submit a request for employee and spouse/domestic partner tuition assistance each semester is the day prior to the first day of class at WU.

  • 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 the benefits you are eligible to participate in 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.

  • 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.

  • Retiree Benefits Eligibility
    All full-time and part-time faculty and staff who have achieved the Rule of 65 or more (combination of age and completed years of continuous benefit eligible service) with two minimums (age 55 and 5 years of service) are eligible for retiree benefits.

  • Flexible Spending Claims
    2008 Expenses maybe processed through all three payment options.
    • Debit card
    • Pay me back
    • Pay my provider
    Visit https://www.wageworks.com for details.


  • Wageworks Debit Cards for the flexible spending plan are valid for 3 years from the date of issue. Check your card for the expiration date.

  • All Full-time employees earning less than $30,000 annually have a lower healthcare premium.

  • Additional Covered Dental Expenses
    Effective 4/1/2008 we added one oral cancer screening every twenty-four consecutive month period for employees and eligible dependents age 18 or older under our dental plan's preventive services.
    We have also added one occlusal guard for treatment of Bruxism and splint therapy every five consecutive year period for employees and eligible dependents under the dental plan's basic services.

  • All University Faculty & Staff have benefits information at their fingertips. For links to all vendors, staff contacts, provider directories, forms, FAQ's, and much more visit http://hr.wustl.edu

  • Benefits Staff Members
    There are 11 benefit staff members with an average of 18 years of benefits experience.

  • 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 July of 2009.

  • Benefit Statements for years 2004 to 2007 are available online through HRMS Self Service effective April, 2008

  • Correct Email Address
    Most benefits communications are sent via email. Please verify that your email address is correct in HRMS Self Service.

  • 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, 2008 based on new annual base 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