Benefits

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Find us at the University of Delaware STAR Health Sciences Complex: 550 S. College Ave., Suite 201, Newark, DE 19713

The University's overall benefit plan has long been recognized and valued because of its comprehensiveness and competitiveness in the market.  

The University provides eligible employees with an array of benefit plans that promote health and help you build financial resources for retirement. 

When you enroll in Flexible Benefits (health, life, disability insurance or flexible spending accounts), your elections will stay in effect until you experience a qualified change in family status or until annual (open) enrollment. For details about life events, such as birth of a child, adoption, or marriage, check the "Enrollment & Life Events" section of this site. You may review each benefit plan as well as details of your personal enrollment information in Web Views.

A number of benefits are administered on a pre-tax basis. Therefore, the University and participants must adhere to applicable IRS regulations in regard to enrollment, and in the case of retirement plans, annual contribution limits. We have included a brief snapshot of University benefits. However, please see the menu to the left for more detail about the individual options.

Contributions

UDollars are provided by the University to assist in paying for the benefits you select. If the total cost of your options exceeds the UDollars paid by the University, employees pay the difference in pre-tax dollars. If the total cost benefits you select is less than the UDollars provided, employees receive the difference as taxable cash.

For full-time faculty and staff, the University’s health plan coverage contribution ranges from 86.75% to 96% of the total premium, depending on the plan and coverage tier. The University also pays the cost of "employee-only" vision, full cost of dental coverage, standard long-term disability, and life insurance equal to two times base annual salary.

Disclaimer

The information contained on the website is not intended to replace the plan documents.  If there are any discrepancies between the information on the website and the plan documents, the plan documents govern. 

Eligibility

The following employee categories are eligible for coverage under the University’s health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance as well as tuition benefits and pension/retirement plans.

  • Full-Time Faculty: academic position classified as full-time under the terms and conditions of the AAUP Collective Bargaining Agreement.
  • Full-Time Staff: non-faculty position with a work schedule of 37.5 to 40.0 hours per week for at least nine (9) months during a period of twelve (12) consecutive months.
  • Defined-Term Full-Time Staff: non-faculty position with a work schedule of 37.5 to 40.0 hours per week for a duration greater than twelve (12) consecutive months, but less than thirty-six (36) consecutive months.
  • Temporary Full-Time Staff: non-faculty position with a work schedule of 37.5 to 40.0 hours per week for a duration not longer than twelve (12) consecutive months.
  • Visiting faculty and visiting exempt staff:  Benefits eligibility is limited to health, dental, vision insurances, course fee waiver and ID card privileges.
  • Part-time faculty and staff: in benefits-eligible positions prior to 2016 are eligible for the full compliments of University benefits, but at a reduced contribution level and half of the full-time equivalent tuition benefits..

Who Can Use UD Benefits

Dependents (your spouse and your children up to age 26) may be covered under the health, dental, vision and dependent life insurance plans or apply for UD educational benefits.

Contributions

For full-time faculty and staff employees, the University’s health plan coverage contribution ranges from 86.75% to 96% of the total premium, depending on the plan and coverage tier. The University also pays the cost of “employee-only” vision, full cost of dental coverage, standard long-term disability, and life insurance equal to two times base annual salary.

Medical/Prescription

The University offers several medical plans to meet the needs of you and your family.  Plans offered include Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), and Consumer Directed Health (CDH) through our health vendors, Highmark Delaware and Aetna.  The University contributes an average of 91% of the cost of health premiums for full-time faculty and staff employees.  If you elect any of the University’s health plans, you are automatically enrolled in prescription drug coverage.

Dental

The University provides dental insurance to full-time employees and their families.  Dental insurances is administered through MetLife Insurance Company. The University pays the entire cost of the premium for full-time benefited and their enrolled dependents.

Vision

The University provides a comprehensive vision plan to full-time employees and their families that can include eye examinations, frames/lenses or contact lenses and other vision related expenses.  The University pays the full premium towards employee-only coverage, and dependents can be added at an additional group-rate coat.

Basic Life Insurance / Accidental Death and Dismemberment

The University offers group term life insurance to full-time employees administered by MetLife Insurance Company.  Full-time faculty and staff employees may choose one of three University-paid Basic Life options: $10,000; $50,000; or 2 times base annual salary up to a maximum of $1,000,000.

Voluntary Life

Full-time faculty and staff employees are also eligible to purchase additional Optional Life insurance in addition to the Basic coverage offered.  Employees may elect up to five times their base salary with a maximum of $1,000,000.

Dependent Life

The University also provides Optional Life Insurance coverage to spouses and dependent children up to age 26. For spouses, elected coverage can be $10,000 to $150,000 in $10,000 increments.  For dependent children, coverage can be elected at $5,000 or $10,000.

Long Term Disability

Full-time benefited employees are automatically enrolled for long term disability coverage.  The University pays the full premium for the standard option of long term disability. Long-term disability pays a benefit of up to 60% of earnings with a maximum monthly benefit of $10,000.  Employees may elect to purchase the high plan. The high plan pays a benefit of up to 66 2/3 of earnings with a maximum monthly benefit of $15,000.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

The University offers full-time faculty and staff employees the option to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for certain health or dependent care expenses through a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) administered through ASIFlex.  Employees may elect a health care savings account and/or a dependent care account.

Retirement Plans

University 403(b) Retirement Plan for faculty and exempt staff:  The University offers a 403(b) retirement plan available through TIAA.  The University offers a generous matching contribution.

State Pension Plan for non-exempt staff: Non-exempt staff participate in the State of Delaware.

Tuition Benefits

The University offers a variety of employee education assistance programs to full-time University employees, spouses, and eligible dependent children.

Other Voluntary Benefits

The University offers a variety of optional benefit plans to meet the needs of employees and their families.  Other voluntary benefits include: Accident and Critical Illness Insurance, Commuter Benefit Plan, Home Purchase Assistance Program, Neighborhood Mortgage Assistance Program, Automobile and Homeowner Insurance, Banking Services, Long-Term Care Insurance, 529 College Savings Plan.

Paid Time Off Benefits

The University offers generous paid time off benefits to full time, 12-month employees including vacation, sick, and holidays.  Individuals with jobs under a bargaining unit should check with their respective Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Vacation: Employees accrue vacation days at a rate of 1.83 days per month (22 days per year) based on a 37.5 hour workweek.

Sick:  Employees accrue sick days at a rate of 1.5 days per month (18 days per year) based on a 37.5 hour workweek.

Holidays:  The University observes the following holidays:

  • New Year’s Day
  • Martin Luther King Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • General Election Day (even numbered years)
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Friday following Thanksgiving Day
  • December Holiday Break (determined annually)

 

Our Services

  • Support faculty & staff in the reporting of employee benefit enrollment and elections
  • Provide employee self-service enrollment and views
  • Communicate benefits coverage and/or premium changes

Email your questions to hrhelp@udel.edu or call Human Resources at 302‑831‑2171.