POLICY: Spoon River College provides eligible employees group health insurance benefits as described in the individual policy summary plan description.
SCOPE:
This policy applies to all full-time employees (as defined below).
NOTE: Health insurance premium rates vary based upon job classification and employment status.
DEFINITIONS:
Full-time: For the purpose of this policy, a full-time employee is an employee working an average of thirty (30) or more hours per week in a specific measurement period.
Hours of service: For the purpose of compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka Affordable Care Act or “ACA”), hours of service means each hour for which an employee is paid or entitled to payment for the performance of duties for the employer and for a period of time during which no duties are performed due to vacation, holiday, illness, incapacity, jury duty, or other forms of paid leave.
DETAILS:
Premium rates are available in the Human Resources Office.
Full-time employees have the option to participate in or be excluded from coverage in the College’s group health plan. Enrollment in the health care plan must occur within the first seven days of employment, during open enrollment, or following a life event.
All enrolled full-time employees have the option to enroll their eligible dependents. Dependents include an employee’s legal spouse and dependent children. Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, coverage is extended to adult dependent children through age twenty-six.
Under Section 125 of the IRS code, eligible employees may have health insurance premiums deducted prior to income tax deductions.
Coverage of the College’s group health plan can be terminated during open enrollment, due to a life event, or at the end of employment. If an employee or the employer terminates employment coverage extends through their last actual workday.
Participants in the College’s health insurance plan(s) are eligible for continuation of benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). Refer to the applicable health insurance Summary Plan Description for additional information regarding COBRA.
The College will use the following methods to comply with the ACA:
Part-time and temporary employees generally work a maximum number of hours per week as assigned at hire or placement in a job. Part-time and temporary employees are prohibited from working in excess of 28 hours in a single work week (please refer to Employment Types/Relationship Policy (#3.5.5) for additional information);
The College will track part-time staff work hours via the electronic timecard;
The College will track part-time faculty work hours via an Part-Time Faculty Professional Appointment agreement where one (1) credit hour equals three (3) clock hours (please refer to Employment Types/Relationship Policy (#3.5.5) for additional information);
Measurement period for ACA compliance is October 15 – October 14;
Administrative period for ACA compliance is October 15 – December 31;
Stability period for ongoing part-time employees is January 1 – December 31;
Effective date of enrollment in health insurance is consistent with the health insurance plan year (January 1).
Notes: Measurement period may not include time in which the employee is not required to work.
Please contact the Human Resources Office for the measurement period for new part-time hires.