USA Health Staff Employee Benefits
Welcome to the University of South Alabama - #WeAreSouth! This guide provides important information about the benefits offered to new employees of USA Health Care Authority, including a brief description of each benefit. You may also obtain additional information from the Human Resources website at https://www.southalabama.edu/departments/financialaffairs/hr/. Benefits and an employee’s right to them are subject to certain laws, University and USA Health Care Authority regulations, individual plan documents and the appropriate duly recorded notice of employee benefits limitations election form. Additional information is provided in the individual plan booklets and brochures. The University and the USA Health Care Authority reserve the right to either change, modify, or terminate these benefits at any time.
New Employee Enrollment
It is important to review and understand these benefits so that you can enroll in the plans for which you are eligible and that meet your needs. The choices you make will be in effect for the remainder of the calendar year unless you experience a qualifying change in status event.
New employees must enroll in benefit programs within the first 30 days of employment, after a qualifying “change in status” event or during the Open Enrollment period held annually in November with coverage effective January 1.
Additional benefits information may be obtained from Human Resources at https://www.southalabama.edu/departments/financialaffairs/hr/contactus.html
The USA Health Care Authority offers two comprehensive plans which include health, dental and pharmacy benefits. Employees may choose to enroll in either of these two plans, as a new employee or during open enrollment, by selecting the one that best fits their needs. The USA CHOICE PLAN and the USA SELECT PLAN is administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. The employee receives a summary of the benefit plans to assist in the decision making process.
USA CHOICE PLAN: Benefits are received within a network of Blue Cross Blue Shield providers or within the USA Health network of hospitals, physicians, outpatient clinics and other providers affiliated with the University of South Alabama. By using a USA Health provider, the member receives medical care at a lower cost to both the Plan and the member.
USA SELECT PLAN: This plan is a narrow network design based on USA Health medical providers and providers from the BCBS PPO network. The USA Select benefit design has no deductibles and low cost copays when using a USA Health network provider. Other BCBS PPO providers are covered at 70%. By using a USA Health provider, this will ensure you are receiving the very best benefit possible.
| Monthly Employee Cost: | Single* | Family* |
|---|---|---|
| USA Choice Plan | $154 | $509 |
| USA Select Plan | $100 | $330 |
| *Includes the non-tobacco wellness incentive of $50 |
| Monthly University Cost: | Single | Family |
|---|---|---|
| USA Choice Plan | $613 | $1,273 |
| USA Select Plan | $644 | $1,398 |
Pharmacy Benefits
The USA Choice Plan and USA Select Plan provides prescription drug coverage administered by Prime Therapeutics, Inc. Coverage is included for employees and eligible dependents enrolled in the Plan.
USA Wellness Program
The University of South Alabama and the USA Health Care Authority encourage all employees
to adopt healthy lifestyle choices. We have implemented a tobacco cessation program,
intended to help employees stop using tobacco products, which will greatly improve
their health.
Employees and their spouses who declare that they do not use tobacco products (and
have not for at least six months) will be eligible to receive a $50 wellness incentive
(one per family). Employees are required to certify on the enrollment application
that they do not use
tobacco products.
Employees and their covered spouses who use tobacco products are not eligible for the $50 wellness incentive. However, employees and their covered spouses can qualify for the $50 wellness incentive after they stop using tobacco products for at least six months.
The USA Choice and USA Select Plans are committed to helping you achieve your best health. The wellness incentive is available to all employees. If you think you might be unable to meet Sun Life under this Wellness Program, you may qualify for an opportunity to earn the same reward by different means. Contact the USA Human Resources department for additional information.
Premium Conversion
Premiums for the USA Choice and USA Select Plans are automatically deducted before any federal, state or Social Security taxes are withheld. The result is a reduction of taxable income equal to the amount paid for health and dental insurance during the calendar year.
VSP Vision Insurance
Website: southalabama.vspforme.com
Phone: 1-800-877-7195
Eligible employees can voluntarily elect to enroll in vision insurance with VSP. VSP
vision insurance provides coverage and savings on the cost of an annual eye exam,
prescription eyewear and lenses, contact lenses, and other eye-related services. The
vision plan is built around the VSP provider network, who have higher benefits at
a lower cost to the member. The employee pays the full premium for this benefit.
Monthly premium: $7.18 Employee only coverage
$19.82 Family coverage
Flexible Spending Accounts (SouthFlex)
USA Health & Dental Plan - Health Equity, Inc.
Website: healthequity.com
Phone: (866) 346-5800
Eligible employees can take advantage of flexible spending accounts by setting aside
pre-tax money through payroll deductions to pay for qualified health care expenses,
including deductibles and copays, out-of-pocket dental expenses and qualified dependent
child care expenses. Money set aside in these accounts will reduce taxable income,
providing participants with more value for the dollar. Each plan provides a VISA®
reimbursement account card for use when you incur a qualified medical expense. Participants
may also submit expenses through the online participant portal for
reimbursement. As other eligible expenses are incurred such as dependent care expenses,
claims may be filed for reimbursement. The University pays all administrative expenses
for this benefit.
The University of South Alabama offers a variety of supplemental plans through Aflac for you and your family, so you can have extra financial protection to cover unexpected costs.
Accident Insurance
Hospital Indemnity Insurance
Critical Illness Insurance
Group Life Term to 120
For additional information please visit: https://www.aflacenrollment.com/UniversityofSouthAlabama/17873612505513
University-Paid Group Term Life Insurance
Company: Sun Life
Website: www.sunlife.com
Phone: (800) 247-6875
The University provides at no cost to benefits-eligible employees a group term life insurance plan from Sun Life. Coverage is provided in accordance with the following schedule:
| Annual Base Salary | Coverage Amounts * |
|---|---|
| $12,500 or less | $25,000 |
| $12,501 - $15,000 | $26,500 |
| $15,501 - $17,500 | $28,000 |
| $17,501 - $20,000 | $32,000 |
| $20,001 - $22,500 | $36,000 |
| $22,501 - $25,000 | $38,000 |
| $25,001 - $30,000 | $42,000 |
| $30,001 - $35,000 | $45,000 |
| $35,001 - $38,500 | $48,000 |
| $38,501 and over | 125% of salary |
| ($100,000 maximum benefit) | |
| *Includes a $5,000 benefit for spouse and eligible children |
University-Paid Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
The University provides at no cost to eligible employees an Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) policy from Sun Life in the amount equal to the Basic Term Life Insurance if death was caused by an accident. AD&D also pays a benefit if a serious injury results in dismemberment.
Additional Group Term Life Insurance
Additional term life insurance equal to one, two, or three times the basic coverage is available to the employee at group rates. Employees applying for additional coverage must be medically underwritten. Additional coverage for spouse and dependent children is available and is also subject to underwriting.
University Paid-Short Term Disability Insurance
Company: Sun Life
Website: sunlife.com Phone: 800-247-6875
The University provides at no cost to eligible employees short term disability insurance through Sun Life. After a 7-day period, benefits are paid at 60% of the employee’s total weekly earnings, up to $1,000 per week for a covered disability. Benefits are payable up to 12 weeks, as long as the employee remains unable to work due to a covered disability.
University Paid—Long Term Disability Insurance
Company: Sun Life
Website: www.sunlife.com
Phone: (800) 247-6875
The University provides at no cost to eligible employees long term disability insurance through Sun Life. After a 90-day period of disability, 60% of the employee’s base monthly salary will be paid for permanent or temporary total disability, up to a maximum benefit of $10,000 a month.
USA Health Care Authority
457(b) Deferred Compensation-Matching Retirement Plan/401(a) Combination Plan
- Company: TIAA
- Website: tiaa.org
- Phone: (800) 842-2776
The USA Health Care Authority provides a deferred compensation plan which enables employees to use pre-tax income to contribute to their retirement. Participation is voluntary. The plan currently matches employee contributions dollar for dollar up to 5% of salary. These plans allow eligible employees to invest in fixed and variable annuities and mutual funds in tax-deferred accounts. The employer matched funds are invested in the 401(a) Combination Plan.
Eligible employees will be fully vested in the employer matching contributions at the completion of three (3) years of employment.
Employees may reduce their state and federal taxable income by contributing up to $23,000 ($30,500 if over age 50) annually.
With this deferred compensation plan, employees make their own investment decisions. Depending on their personal investment goals, employees can choose one or more of the plan’s investment options, each of which offers a different combination of risk and return. The transfer and withdrawal restrictions of the funds and accounts also differ and should be taken into consideration. Employees may choose a fund based on their closest estimated retirement year or may build their own portfolio from the funds available.
USA Health Care Authority
457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan - Supplemental Retirement
- Company: TIAA
- Website: tiaa.org
- Phone: (800) 842-2776
Social Security
Social Security provides protection in the form of retirement benefits, disability income, survivor income and Medicare insurance. Participation is required. In 2023, the employee and the USA Health Care Authority contribute 6.2% of the employee’s annual salary up to the maximum taxable earnings base of $160,200 Contributions for Medicare are 1.45% of the employee’s annual salary. The USA Health Care Authority contributes a matching amount.
The Paid Time Off (PTO) benefit program provides employees with paid time away from work that they can use for vacation, sick leave, personal leave, and holiday observances.
Full-time benefits-eligible employees accrue PTO hours as follows:
| Years of Continuous | Days Accrued Per Year | Monthly Accrual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-5 yrs (0-60 months) | 25 | 2.08 days per month |
| 5-10 yrs (61-120 months) | 29 | 2.42 days per month |
| 10 or more years (121+ months) | 33 | 2.75 days per month |
Benefits eligible part-time employees accrue PTO on a prorated basis. For new hires, accruals begin on the initial date of employment.
Employees who do not use all of the PTO hours they accrue within the fiscal year (10/1—9/30) may roll over unused PTO hours from one fiscal year to the next. These hours may not exceed 480 (60 days) on October 1.
Employees may elect to cash out up to 80 PTO hours (prorated based on FTE) each year during open enrollment. Employees are required to have an 80-hour (10 days) balance at the time the payment is issued. PTO is paid at 100% of the employee’s salary rate.
Upon separation of employment, employees are not eligible for payment of unused accrued PTO hours. This includes resignations, terminations, and retirements.
Educational Benefit Plan
Employee –Upon completion of 6 months of employment prior to the first day of classes per the University Academic Calendar, regular (.90 FTE or greater) employees may qualify for a tuition credit for up to five credit semester hours, plus the University registration fee. The tuition credit rate is based on the prevailing College of Arts and Sciences undergraduate tuition rate for all course levels. Employees must maintain at least a 2.0 institutional grade-point average for undergraduate course work and a 3.0 institutional grade-point average for graduate course work for continued eligibility.
Spouse/Dependents – Tuition credit is also available to the spouse and unmarried dependent children (under age 25 on the first day of classes) of employees who are eligible for the educational benefit. The tuition credit is 50% of tuition only (no fees) with no hour maximum. The tuition credit rate is based on the prevailing College of Arts and Sciences undergraduate tuition rate for all course levels. The spouse/dependent children must maintain at least a 2.0 institutional grade-point average for undergraduate course work and a 3.0 institutional grade-point average for graduate course work for continued eligibility.
In accordance with current Internal Revenue Service regulations, educational benefits received by an individual who is a dependent of the employee, are treated as taxable income to the employee.
Assist America Emergency Travel Assistance and Identify Theft Protection
Company: Sun Life
Website: www.sunlife.com
Phone: (800) 247-6875
This University-paid benefit provides the employee and their eligible dependents with medical, travel, legal and financial assistance services when faced with an emergency while traveling more than 100 miles away from home.
JagFIT@South
Live. Learn. Feel. Engage. Join the Movement!
JagFIT@South Health and Wellness Initiative is available to all University employees.
With a focus on health, exercise, nutrition, emotional wellness and sustainability,
the University is prioritizing a culture change at South Alabama. Visit the JagFIT@South
website for information on fun and exciting exercise and wellness challenges along
with quality giveaways to employees who join the health and wellness movement and
reach specific milestones. Learn more at www.southalabama.edu/JagFIT.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Phone: (251) 461-1346
The EAP offers confidential counseling and referral services at no cost to the employee.
• Use of University facilities
• USA Bookstore discount (10%)
• USA Federal Credit Union
• Free admission to athletic events (excludes tournaments and football)
• A discount, up to 20%, on season tickets for all ticketed sports, up to a maximum
of 6 tickets per employee.
• Savi - Public Service student loan forgiveness program.
• Employee discounts at restaurants, hotels, travel services, event/theater tickets,
etc.
• Discount on many non-credit Continuing Education courses and certificate programs.
Call the Center for Continuing Education at 251-460-7200 for additional information.
The University of South Alabama is an EO/AA employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status or any other applicable legally protected basis.