HEALTH CARE BENEFITS

MEDICAL BENEFITS COMPANIES
MedBen
1975 Tamarack Road
P.O. Box 1099
Newark, OH 43058-1099
1-800-686-8425

Eligibility

Several different plan options offering comprehensive health care benefits are available to full-time employees and their dependents. Employees may elect to cover lawful spouses and unmarried dependent children from birth to age 19 (up to 25 if full-time student). Coverage begins on the first day of employment.

Plan Designs

There are 5 plan designs to choose from when selecting your health insurance option. Managed care plans include the POS Standard, POS High, PPO Standard, and the PPO High. These plans include the CenterCare network when selecting your medical providers. There are in-network benefits and out of network benefits. The other plan is the Indemnity plan which offers freedom of choice in your medical providers and does not utilize a network.

Premiums

The University currently contributes $155 per month toward each employee’s selected plan. Once a health plan is selected, it remains effective for the full plan year. Changes in enrollment are only permitted during a plan year under certain qualifying events such as marriage, divorce, legal separation, birth or adoption of child. Otherwise, changes are made only during the open enrollment period held sometime in November of each year. Refer to your health insurance booklet for more specific deduction costs. Premiums may be tax sheltered under the Pre-Tax Benefit Plan.

Type of Coverage PPO STD PPO HI POS STD POS HI Indem-nity
Single $146.46 $161.11 $153.79 $168.43 $205.05
EE/Spouse $328.85 $361.74 $345.29 $378.18 $460.39
EE/Child $215.40 $236.94 $226.17 $247.71 $301.56
Family $361.28 $397.41 $379.34 $415.47 $505.79

DENTAL INSURANCE

DELTA DENTAL
P.O. Box 242810
Louisville, KY. 40224
1-800-423-2184

Plan Designs

Optional dental insurance is available for full-time employees through Delta Dental of Kentucky. There are two plan types available. The managed care plan is the Preferred Plan that has in-network and out-of-network options. The Indemnity plan is the Premier Plan and has freedom of choice for the dental providers. Coverage is effective 90 days from employment date for new hires.

Premiums

Premiums are based on level of coverage from Single, Employee + Spouse, Employee + Child(ren) and Family Plans.

The monthly cost for the dental premiums are:

Level of Coverage Preferred Plan Premier Plan
Single $14.99 $17.67
Employee + Spouse $29.49 $34.65
Employee + Child(ren) $36.52 $41.10
Family $56.99 $64.45

COBRA COVERAGE

Upon separation of employment, employees and qualified dependents are eligible to continue their health and dental care benefits for a predetermined period of time under the provisions of a federal law known as COBRA. Contact the Benefits Section, Department of Human Resources for more specific information related to your rights upon separation from employment.

DISABILITY INSURANCE

LONG TERM DISABILITY

AETNA US HEALTHCARE
10401 Linn Station Road
Suite 231
Box 24305
Louisville, Ky. 40224
1-502-429-7627

The University provides a Long Term Disability (LTD) policy at no cost to full-time employees. The policy has a 90 day waiting period, and on the 91st day of disability, the policy will pay 60% of the first $1,000 of monthly salary and 40% of the remainder up to a maximum of $2,000 per month benefit. These benefits are payable contingent on approval of the LTD claim submitted to Aetna.

The disability payment is offset by any other payments received (Social Security, Worker’s Compensation, Retirement Disability) and is paid until no longer disabled or up to age 65. Certain limitation rules applies to those disabled after age 60.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

All Western employees are covered by the University’s Workers’ Compensation policy. This policy provides for medical benefits and lost time compensation payments for valid on-the-job injuries. Employees are required to report all on-the-job injuries to their immediate supervisor and the Department of Human Resources.

Workers’ Compensation will begin lost time payments after an injured employee has been off the job a period of eight calendar days. If out at least fifteen days, Workers’ Compensation will pay for the second through seventh day of lost time. Workers’ Compensation payments are calculated at two-thirds of the employee’s normal pay rate based on a seven day work week.

The University will use accrued sick leave and vacation time so that employees remain in a paid status as long as possible. Upon receipt of a lost time payment from Workers’ Compensation, the employee will endorse the payment to the University and an equivalent amount of leave time will be restored.

Although injured employees may seek services from any medical provider, it is recommended that providers who accept the employee’s group health insurance be utilized in case the Workers’ Compensation claim is denied. If a claim is denied , the employee, not the University, is responsible for the cost of the medical treatment.

FLEXIBLE BENEFITS
SECTION 125

FEBCO
Flexible Employee Benefits Co.
P.O. Box 1310
Frankfort, KY 40602
1-800-489-1539

DEPENDENT CARE ACCOUNTS
MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT ACCOUNTS

Flexible Benefits Plan (Section 125) -The University offers a Flexible Benefits Plan under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Service Code. This plan allows full-time employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for certain premiums, dependent care and unreimbursed medical expenses.

Since the plan reduces reportable taxable income, the enrolled employee may incur a slightly reduced Social Security benefit at the time of retirement.

Funds set aside in reimbursement accounts can only be used to reimburse expenses incurred during the plan year (January 1 - December 31). Claims must be filed within 90 days after December 31 of each plan year. Any funds not used during the plan year will not be refunded to the employee.

Premiums - Employees may use “pre-tax dollars” to pay for health, dental, and term life insurance (employee). There is a $4.50 per month administrative fee if participating in one or both accounts.

Dependent Care Accounts - Full time employees may use “pre-tax dollars” for dependent care reimbursement accounts. Up to $5,000 per year may be set aside in this account. Funds are available only for legitimate dependent care cost reimbursements and only as deducted.

Medical Reimbursement Accounts - Full time employees may use “pre-tax dollars” for medical reimbursement accounts. Up to $3,000 per year may be set aside in this account. Employees are eligible for reimbursement for the entire annual amount at any time during the plan year. Funds may be used for unreimbursed (not covered by health insurance) medical expenses.

FAMILY AND MEDICAL
LEAVE ACT (FMLA)

Family and Medical Leave is available to any University employee who has worked at least 1250 hours in the twelve-month period prior to the leave request. Eligible employees may take up to twelve work week of leave for the birth of a child, care of a child after birth, placement of a child for adoption or foster care, or to care for the serious health condition of the employee, employee’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent.

Employees are required to give the University at least 30 days notice of request involving known or planned leaves. The employee is required to use all available sick and vacation days. The total amount of paid or unpaid leave will not exceed twelve weeks in any twelve month period. The University uses the “rolling twelve months” method to determine FMLA eligibility. The University requires certification from a health care provider that a serious medical condition exists before granting leave.

Employees will retain accrued benefits while on leave, but will not accumulate additional benefits during the leave period. Employees who are in an unpaid status while on leave will be responsible for self-paying insurance premiums.

Employees returning from Family/Medical Leave will be returned to either their prior position or to an equivalent position. Employees not returning from Family/Medical Leave must certify their inability to do so. Those employees who do not provide such certification will be required to reimburse the University for all costs related to health insurance paid during the unpaid portion of the Family/Medical Leave.

HOLIDAYS

Paid Holidays

The University recognizes the following paid holidays: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday following Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, six additional days during Christmas Break, and Presidential Election Day (every four years). The annual holiday schedule is issued prior to the beginning of each fiscal year and indicates the specific dates the University will close for each holiday period. All full-time employees will be excused from work with pay on observed holidays unless their services are required by their department during these periods.

LEAVES

Sick and Vacation Leaves

Sick Leave

Full time employees accrue sick leave days (7.5 hours) per month. There is no limit to the accumulation of sick leave. Upon retirement, sick leave days may be credited for additional service for employees who participate in the Kentucky Employees’ Retirement System.

Vacation Leave

Twelve month, full-time employees hired after July 1, 1994 accrue vacation leave according to the schedule shown below:

Years of Service 0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20+
Days/Year 12.00 15.00 18.00 21.00 24.00
Hours/Month 7.5 9.375 11.25 13.125 15.00

Vacation leave may not be taken during your first six months of employment. Employees may accrue up to 24 days of vacation leave as of June 30 of any fiscal year.

LIFE INSURANCE

METLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
National Service Center
177 South Commons Drive
Aurora, IL 60504
Group 100705-G
1-800-708-5519

Group Term Life Insurance

The University provides a $10,000 term life insurance policy for all full-time employees. Employees may choose to purchase additional amounts of insurance up to a maximum amount of $300,000 in multiples of $10,000 increments. Employees are guaranteed up to $100,000 of coverage without a statement of health. Also included is an Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit in conjunction with the term life policy.

Employees may also purchase Spousal Life Insurance up to $50,000 in multiples of $10,000 or an amount equal to one half of the employee coverage amount. Spousal life insurance is guaranteed for $10,000 without a statement of health. Employees may select a $5,000 policy on dependent children. Also included is an Accident Death and Dismemberment benefit in conjunction with the term life policy.

Cost of Optional Life Insurance-Employee or Spouse
AGE RATE $1,000 PER MONTH
Under 30 .076
30-34 .095
35.39 .112
40.44 .125
45-49 .210
50-54 .315
55-59 .498
60-64 .813
65-69 1.367
70-74 2.179
Cost of dependent child(ren) .55

Premiums for employee optional life insurance can be tax sheltered under the pre-tax benefit plan. Premiums for spouse and dependent children cannot be tax-sheltered. Group Term Life insurance provides no cash value or loan value. Employees may convert this policy to an individual whole life policy upon terminating employment with the University.

RETIREMENT PLANS

University employees are covered by either the Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System (KTRS for faculty and professional non-faculty employees) or the Kentucky Employees Retirement System (KERS for support employees and KERS-H, for police officers). Employees are vested after five years of service. Vesting also entitles employees to membership in one of the retirement systems’ group medical insurance plans.

The state retirement plans are not completely portable. Any premature withdrawal of retirement contributions will result in substantial penalties (unless transferred to a qualified program). Several different payout options are available upon retirement. New employees eligible for membership in the KTRS plan may make an irrevocable election to participate in the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) offered by AETNA, TIAA-CREF, or VALIC. The ORP is a defined contribution plan.

KENTUCKY TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM

KENTUCKY TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM
479 VERSAILLES ROAD
FRANKFORT, KY. 40601
1-502-573-3266

KTRS - The Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System (KTRS) is the retirement system for faculty and professional non-faculty employees. Selection must be made within the first 30 days of employment. Employees contribute 6.16% and the University contributes 13.84% of the covered employee’s salary each month. The normal retirement age is 60 or after 27 years of service regardless of age. For most employees, retirement income is determined by the following formula: Years of Service X 2.0% X the average salary of the highest five salary years.

OPTIONAL RETIREMENT PLAN (ORP)

ORP - Faculty and professional non-faculty employees hired after July 1, 1996, have the option of participating in the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP). The ORP is a defined contribution plan offering immediate vesting and portability.

Employees contribute 6.16% of their monthly salary. The University contributes 10.71% to the ORP provider chosen by the employee. This selection must be made within the first 30 days of employment. If no election is made, the employee is automatically enrolled in the KTRS.

The ORP does not have the disability retirement option or retiree group medical coverage available through the state retirement plan. The vendors for the ORP are:

TIAA-CREF
FIVE CONCOURSE PARKWAY
SUITE 2700
ATLANTA, GA. 30328-6104
1-800-82-2003

VALIC
2919 ALLEN PARKWAY
HOUSTON, TX 77019
1-800-448-2542

AETNA
151 FARMINGTON AVENUE
HARTFORD, CONN 06156-8022
1-800-525-4225

KENTUCKY EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM (KERS)

KENTUCKY EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM
Perimeter Parkway West
1260 Louisville Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
1-502-564-4646

KERS - The Kentucky Employees Retirement System (KERS) is the retirement system for support (positions not requiring a baccalaureate degree) staff. Employees contribute 5.0% and the University contributes 8.03% of the covered employee’s monthly salary. The normal retirement age is 65 or after 27 years of service regardless of age. Retirement income is determined by the following formula: Years of service X 1.97% X the average salary of the highest five salary years.

KERS-H - The Kentucky Employees Retirement System (hazardous- KERS-H) is the retirement system for Police Officers. Employees contribute 7.0% and the University contributes 18.66% of the employee’s monthly salary. The normal retirement age is 55 or after 20 years of service regardless of age. For most employees, retirement income is determined by the following formula: Years of service X 2.49% X the average salary of the highest five salary years.

SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PROGRAMS

Tax Deferred Annuities

TDA’s - Employees may make voluntary, tax-deferred contributions to a supplemental retirement program as defined by Section 403(B) of the Internal Revenue Code. The supple- mental program is an individual contract between the employee and the servicing company. The University provides payroll deductions and transmittal of payments to the contracted company. No investment advice or other account servicing is provided by the University.
Western Kentucky University
403(B) Provider Listing

Aetna Variable Annuity Life Insurance Co.
7887 Washington Village Dr.
Dayton, OH 45459
1-800-451-4702

American Funds Service Co.
Hilliard Lyons
446 Main Street
Bowling Green, KY 42101
270-781-1691

Tiaa-Cref
5 Concourse Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30328-6104
1-800-842-2003

Valic
Box 60588
Terminal Annex
Los Angeles, CA 90060-2542
1-800-448-2542

Public Employee Deferred Compensation Plan
67 Fountain Place
Frankfort, KY 40601
1-800-542-2667

American Funds Service Co.
Edward Jones
433 Park Row
Bowling Green, KY 42101
270-843-4299

Fidelity Management Trust Co.
Retirement Service Dept.
PO Box 1823 Mail Zone ZS3
Boston, MA 02105
1-800-343-0860

Merrill Lynch
917 College Street
Bowling Green, KY 42101
270-782-7051

EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS
SPOUSE SCHOLARSHIPS
DEPENDENT CHILD GRANTS

Employee Scholarships - Employees are eligible to have tuition and mandatory fees remitted for up to six (6) hours per semester or summer term at WKU or any other Kentucky post-secondary educational institution. Employees must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 grade scale on their WKU grade point average.

Spousal Scholarships- The University pays a 50% discount for six (6) hours per semester or summer term for each full-time employee’s spouse. Spouse’s must maintain a grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 grade scale.

Dependent Child Grants - The University will provide a grant for up to 50% of in-state tuition and fees for the dependent children of full-time employees. The applicants must be full-time, undergraduate, degree-seeking students of Western Kentucky University and must maintain a “C” average while enrolled. Students must be dependents as defined by the Internal Revenue Service.

This program does not apply to non-credit courses, continuing education courses or community education courses.

Employees must be or remain employed during the entire term of the class/course in order to have tuition waived. A new form is required each semester during which a course is taken and should be sent to Department of Human Resources.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Social Security Administration
1310 Campbell Lane
Bowling Green, KY 42101
1-502-842-5691
1-800-772-1213

All employees are covered by the Federal Social Security Act and must contribute to the program. Employees and the University each contribute 7.65% of salary up to the IRS benefit plan level. Two deductions appear on your pay stub for Social Security - “FICA” (pension) and “MQFE” (Medicare Health Insurance). Contact the Payroll Office at 745-5352 for details concerning payroll withholding amounts.

GENERAL INFORMATION
OTHER OPTIONS

Bookstore Discount -

Employees are entitled to a 10% discount at the College Heights Bookstore.

Direct Deposit -

Employees may have paychecks deposited directly to any financial institution that participates in the Automated Clearing House (ACH) direct deposit system. Employees may have two direct deposit accounts but the total of both accounts must equal 100% or net pay.

Downing University Center-

University employees and their families may use the facilities of the Downing University Center for a fee. The Center has a movie theater, a food court and cafeteria, the College Heights Bookstore, and a recreation center.

ID Cards -

Employees are issued ID cards that can be used for library, check cashing and other privileges.

Service One Credit Union -

University employees may join the Service Credit One Union, a full-service credit union with offices on campus (745-2412) and also located at 1609 Campbell Lane in Bowling Green (796-8500) and 116 Ensminger Drive in Glasgow (651-6611).

Staff Parking Decals -

Staff parking decals are available from the WKU Police Department at 745-2548. The annual cost is $60.00.

Athletic Tickets -

Employees are entitled to two season tickets to football, baseball, and basketball at a 50% discount. Contact the Ticket Office for details (745-5222).

Preston Center-

Membership is available in the Raymond B. Preston Health and Activities Center (745-5216). Fees may be payroll deducted and the monthly fees are calculated below:

Annual Salary Monthly Dues
Less than $17,499 $6.75
$17,500-$44,999 $10.75
$45,000+ $13.50

Dependent children may join at $6.75 per month cost and spouse may join at the employee’s cost.

Wellness Center - The Health & Fitness Laboratory

The Health and Fitness Laboratory is a fully equipped state of the art fitness assessment facility which offers exercise programming, health education and consultation services. Personal trainers, body composition, health risk appraisal services are also available for various fees. For more information, call 745-6531.