Faculty/Staff BenefitInformation
Contact
The Office of Human Resources
451 Pulteney Street
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
(315) 781-3312
HR@hws.edu
FACULTY/STAFF BENEFIT INFORMATION
New for 2023
Protection Benefits from MetLife
How MetLife Works:
MetLife helps fill the financial gap if you or your spouse are unable to work. MetLife plans are guaranteed renewable at the payroll rate. MetLife’s plans are portable. Coverage options and rates available on the benefits portal.
Plans Available:
- Critical Illness - Provides coverage for a variety of critical illnesses including cancer, Alzheimer’s, coronary artery disease, heart attack, kidney failure, major organ transplants and stroke. Employees can choose coverage amounts for themselves, spouses and dependent children to age 26
- Accident Insurance - Provides coverage for accidents occurring on or off the job. Benefits paid include hospitalization, lacerations, fractures, dislocations, burns, x-rays, and follow-up treatments. Elect coverage for yourself, spouse and dependent children to age 26
- Hospital Indemnity - Provides coverage hospital admission and confinement. Elect coverage for yourself, spouse and dependent children to age 26
Accident and Critical Illness Insurance Bundle
Medical Coverage
Excellus BlueCross Blue Shield rates will increase by 4% for 2023. Faculty and staff will continue to receive comprehensive medical coverage through the Excellus PPO health plan. The summary of the Excellus health plan is at the link below.
Guardian Dental and Vision Coverage
There are no changes to the Guardian dental and vision plans for 2023. At the link below are provider directories for each program within 50 miles of HWS, or to find a vision provider in your area please visit www.guardiananytime.com.
Summaries of the dental and vision coverage through Guardian can be found at the link below. Log on to Guardian's provider search directory at www.guardiananytime.com to select a participating dentist or vision provider. Or you can call the Members Services number at 800-541-7846.
Guardian Dental Provider Directory
2023 Rates
For medical, dental and vision 2023 rates please click below.
2023 Faculty/Administrative Rates
2023 Administrative Hourly Rates
OptumRx Prescription Coverage
OptumRx will remain as the pharmacy vendor for enrolled participants in the Colleges Excellus medical plan. The current copay structure of $10/$30/$50 for retail and $20/$60/$100 for mail order will remain for 2023.
More information regarding mail order services can be found online.
Information regarding OptumRx formularies can be found here. OptumRx Specialty Pharmacy, formerly Briova Rx, will continue to provide specialty medication to participants. OptumRx Specialty Pharmacy will contact employees who prescribe to specialty medications to inform them of their specific formulary changes and to make them aware of manufacturer programs available to them.
The Colleges' member services number for OptumRx is 855-577-6311.
2023 Premium Formulary Exclusion List
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
An FSA allows you to set aside tax-free dollars from your paycheck to pay for eligible expenses, including medical plan deductibles, office visit co-pays, prescription drug co-pays, unreimbursed vision care expenses, unreimbursed dental expenses, and the cost of daycare for dependent children. The money reserved for these expenses is exempt from federal, state, and social security taxes. The use of the Benny debit card, where accepted, eliminates the need to wait for reimbursement. If you are a current participant and plan to re-enroll for 2023, please keep your existing debit card which will be funded with your new election. To see your flexible spending account balance or to submit claims, log onto Aleraedge.com.
The maximum annual medical Flexible Spending Account (FSA) election will be limited to $3,050 per employee. The limit for dependent care FSA is $5,000 depending on your filing status.
As a reminder, if you have a remaining balance in your 2021 flexible spending account (FSA) - you have until December 31, 2022 to incur claims and until January 31, 2023 to submit claims for reimbursement. If you have a remaining balance in your 2022 flexible spending account (FSA) - you have until March 15, 2023 to incur claims and June 15, 2023 to submit claims for reimbursement The new health care FSA limit will be $3,050 for 2023, while the dependent care FSA limit remains at $5,000.
Please note: Benny cards should only be used at a pharmacy or medical offices. If used at a dental or vision office substantiation of purchase will be required and Benny Card may temporarily be shut off until substantiation is provided.
FSA AleraPay Website Login Instructions
Medical Opt Out Stipend
If you have coverage under another medical plan (for example, through your spouse's or partner's employer), you may elect to waive coverage through Hobart and William Smith Colleges. If you choose to waive medical coverage, you will have no medical coverage through HWS. If you are currently enrolled in the Colleges' medical plan and you wish to opt out of the medical plan for 2022 then you will need to actively waive medical benefits via the benefit web portal.
If you are not currently enrolled in the Colleges' medical plan and you wish continue with the lack of medical coverage then your medical coverage will default to Waive Coverage and you do not need to do anything.
HWS provides a Medical Opt-Out stipend for those who waive medical coverage. The 2023 medical opt out stipend is $1,000 and will be paid out on January 21, 2023. The stipend will be paid out during the normal pay cycle and will be subject to regular tax withholdings.
Remember, if you voluntarily waive medical coverage, you also waive your rights to elect medical coverage under COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) if you terminate your employment.
Telemedicine
Telemedicine is a convenient way to treat non-urgent medical conditions 24 hours/day. This convenient service allows patients to connect to a doctor in real time using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. A valuable option when you are away on travel, caring for a sick child in the middle of the night or simply unable to visit the doctor's office due to work/school schedules. HWS is committed to supporting faculty and staff to ensure they receive preventative healthcare so telemedicine services are offered with a $0 co-pay which is significantly lower than an in-person visit.
For more information regarding 24/7 Telemedicine please visit this link.
ENI - HWS Employee Assistance Program Vendor
The Colleges EAP provider not only provides counseling services but also child/elder care resources, personal assistance, legal and financial consultations and features a personalized web portal. The BalanceWorks program is a work/life benefit provided to you at no cost and is completely confidential.
You and your family members are able to utilize the BalanceWorks services for confidential assistance with everyday work and family issues as well as more challenging personal concerns.
The information at the link below provides a list of services and contact information:
HWS Employee Assistance Program
Supplemental Life Insurance Programs
Life insurance gives a person a peace of mind, knowing that there is financial protection for one's family after his or her death. The Colleges provides benefits-eligible employees with the following group term life insurance programs. Term life insurance is basically death benefit coverage only for a specified period with no cash value, loan value, or other permanent benefit under the policy.
The Colleges provides employees basic term life insurance in an amount equal to the employee's annual salary up to a maximum coverage of $200,000. The cost of this coverage is paid for by the Colleges.
The Colleges also provide a contributory supplemental life insurance plan. Participation in this plan is voluntary. Under this plan, employees may purchase additional life insurance equal to one, two, three or four times their annual salary. The overall maximum sum of the basic life policy provided by the Colleges and the supplemental life policy is $650,000. Completion of evidence of insurability form may apply.
Supplemental Life Premiums information
Spousal and Dependent Life Insurance
Employees may purchase from a selection of life insurance coverage levels for his or her spouse and/or dependents. Spousal life insurance is available at $10,000, $25,000 or 50% of the employee's total basic and supplemental life coverage (may be required to provide evidence of insurability) up to $100,000. Premiums are age-rated and based on the employee's age. Dependent life insurance is available at a level of $4,000 for dependents age six months to 19 years of age; $100 coverage for children ages two weeks to six months. Premium is a family rated monthly premium regardless of the number of eligible dependents covered. Completion of evidence of insurability form may apply.