University Faculty Benefits
Welcome to the 91桃色 - #Flagship of the Gulf Coast! This guide
provides important information about the
benefits offered to new employees, including a brief description of each benefit.
You may also obtain additional
information from the Human Resources website at /departments/financialaffairs/hr. Benefits and an employee鈥檚 right to them are subject to certain laws, University
regulations and individual plan
documents. Additional information is provided in the individual plan booklets and
brochures. The University reserves
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 鈥渃hange in status鈥 event or during the Open Enrollment period held annually with coverage effective January 1.
Additional benefits information may be obtained from Human Resources at /departments/financialaffairs/hr/contactus.html
The 91桃色 offers three comprehensive plans which include health, dental and pharmacy benefits. Employees may choose to enroll in these plans, as a new employee or during open enrollment, by selecting the one that best fits their needs.
The 91桃色 CHOICE PLAN, 91桃色 SELECT PLAN, and 91桃色 CONSUMER PLAN are administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. The employee receives a summary of the benefit plans to assist in the decision making process.
91桃色 CHOICE PLAN: Benefits are received within a network of Blue Cross Blue Shield providers or within the 91桃色 Health network of hospitals, physicians, outpatient clinics and other providers affiliated with the 91桃色. By using a 91桃色 Health provider, the member receives medical care at a lower cost to both the Plan and the member.
91桃色 SELECT PLAN: This plan is a narrow network design based on 91桃色 Health medical providers and providers from the BCBS PPO network. The 91桃色 Select benefit design has no deductibles and low cost copays when using a 91桃色 Health network provider. Other BCBS PPO providers are covered at 70%. By using a 91桃色 Health provider, this will ensure you are receiving the very best benefit possible.
91桃色 CONSUMER PLAN: This plan, administered by BCBS AL, is a high deductible health plan which offers flexibility and control over healthcare spending. This plan has lower premiums but also has a high deductible and out-of-pocket cost sharing. Once the deductible has been met, 91桃色 Health providers are covered at 80% and BCBS PPO providers are covered at 75%.
Monthly Employee Cost: | Single* | Family* |
---|---|---|
91桃色 Choice Plan | $157 | $518 |
91桃色 Select Plan | $103 | $339 |
91桃色 Consumer Plan | $50 | $250 |
*Includes the non-tobacco wellness incentive of $50 |
Monthly University Cost: | Single | Family |
---|---|---|
91桃色 Choice Plan | $644 | $1,360 |
91桃色 Select Plan | $626 | $1,354 |
91桃色 Consumer Plan | $628 | $1,324 |
Pharmacy Benefits
The 91桃色 Choice, 91桃色 Select, and 91桃色 Consumer Plans provides prescription drug coverage administered by Prime Therapeutics, Inc. Coverage is included for employees and eligible dependents enrolled in the Plans.
91桃色 Wellness Program
The 91桃色 encourages 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 per month wellness incentive (one per family). Employees are required to certify in Employee Navigator 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 91桃色 Choice, 91桃色 Select, and 91桃色 Consumer Plans are committed to helping you achieve your best health. The wellness incentive is available to all employees. If you think you may be unable to meet the standard under this Wellness Program, you may qualify for an opportunity to earn the same reward by different means. Contact the 91桃色 Human Resources department for additional information.
Premium Conversion
Premiums for the 91桃色 Choice, 91桃色 Select, and 91桃色 Consumer 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
91桃色 Choice Plan & 91桃色 Select Plan - Health Equity, Inc.
Website:
Phone: (866) 346-5800
Health Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts
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庐
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 fled
for reimbursement. The University pays all administrative expenses for this benefit.
91桃色 Consumer (HDHP) - Health Equity, Inc. & TIAA
Website:
Phone: (866) 346-5800
Website:
Phone: (800) 842-2776
Health Savings Account
Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Account
Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
The 91桃色 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:
University-Paid Group Term Life Insurance
Company: The Standard
Website:
Phone: (888) 937-4783
The University provides at no cost to benefits-eligible employees a group term life insurance plan from the Standard. Coverage is provided in accordance with the following schedule:
Annual Base Salary | Coverage Amounts * |
---|---|
Up to $40, 000 | $50,000 |
$40,001 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 the Standard 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. Employees that elect a minimum of 1X additional coverage on themselves may apply for additional spouse and/or additional child coverage. Additional coverage for spouse is available for an additional $25,000 of coverage and is subject to underwriting. Additional dependent child(ren) coverage is also available ($10,000 addl) but does not require underwriting.
Teachers鈥 Retirement System鈥擥roup Life Insurance
Organization: Teachers鈥 Retirement System of Alabama
Website:
Phone: (877) 517-0020
Teachers鈥 Retirement System provides $15,000 of free term life insurance coverage to full-time active members. Part-time member鈥檚 insurance is prorated based on FTE. The death benefit payable varies with age, service credit and circumstances of death.
University Paid-Long Term Disability Insurance
Company: The Standard
Website:
Phone: (888) 937-4783
The University provides at no cost to eligible employees long term disability insurance through the Standard. After a 90-day period of disability, 60% of the employee鈥檚 base monthly salary will be paid for permanent or temporary total disability, up to a maximum benefit of $10,000 a month.
The Retirement Systems of Alabama-401(a)
Organization: Teachers鈥 Retirement System (TRS)
Website:
Phone: (877) 517-0020
All Tier II eligible employees are required by state law to contribute 6.2% of their gross annual salary to TRS (certain members will be subject to the Annual Compensation Limit). This defined benefit program provides retired employees with a specific benefit payable monthly for the lifetime of the member. In addition to the employee contribution, the University contributes a percentage which is determined by the Alabama Legislature.
TRS members are eligible for retirement benefits at age 62 with 10 years of participating service. Upon service retirement, employees are also eligible to join the state鈥檚 Public Education Employee Health Insurance Plan (PEEHIP). Rates for this plan vary based on age at retirement and years of TRS service.
Individuals resigning from employment before vesting in the program, or before qualifying to receive benefits, may request a refund of their contributions and applicable interest.
The 91桃色 403(b) Tax Deferred Annuity Plan
- Company: TIAA
- Website:
- Phone: (800) 842-2776
The University offers a 403(b) supplemental retirement plan which allows eligible employees to invest in fixed and variable annuities and mutual funds. There is also a self-directed Brokerage Services Account which gives employees greater flexibility when building and managing their retirement portfolio. Employees may reduce their state and federal taxable income by contributing up to $23,000 ($30,500 if over age 50) annually.
Eligible employees will also have an opportunity to contribute post-tax contributions to the Roth 403(b). Employees may make pre-tax contributions to the 403(b) and post-tax contributions to the Roth 403(b) subject to a combined limit set by Section 402(g) of the IRS Code.
The 91桃色 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan
Organization: Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA-1)
Website:
Phone: (877) 517-0020
Company: TIAA
Website:
Phone: (800) 842-2776
457(b) plans allow eligible employees to defer receipt of a portion of their salary until some later date, usually at retirement or termination of employment. Contributions may be made on a pre-tax basis and accumulate tax-free until withdrawal.
Eligible employees can also contribute post-tax contributions to the Roth 457(b). Employees may make pre-tax contributions to the 457(b) and post-tax contributions to the Roth 457(b) subject to the combined limit set by Section 402(g) of the IRS Code.
Contributions to 457(b) plans may be made instead of, or in addition to, any 403(b) contributions. Eligible employees may participate in both 403(b) and 457(b) plans in the same year, contributing up to $23,000 ($30,500 if over age 50) annually to each plan.
Social Security
Social Security provides protection in the form of retirement benefits, disability income, survivor income and Medicare insurance. Participation is required. In 2024, the employee and the University contribute 6.2% of the employee鈥檚 annual salary up to the maximum taxable earnings base of $168,600. Contributions for Medicare are 1.45% of the employee鈥檚 annual salary. The University contributes a matching amount.
Vacation
Twelve month faculty in the Colleges/Schools of Allied Health, Arts and Sciences, Business, Computing, Continuing Education, Education, Engineering, Medicine, Nursing and the University Libraries accrue vacation at the rate of 1.67 days per month of service for a maximum of 20 days annually.
Prior authorization for vacation leave must be obtained through normal supervisory channels. Vacation may accrue up to a maximum of two times the annual accrual rate. Once two times the annual rate has been accrued, the employee may continue to accrue non-reimbursable vacation which will be converted and transferred to sick leave if not taken by September 20 of the fiscal year in which accrued.
Upon separation of employment, twelve month faculty are not eligible for the payment of unused accrued vacation hours. This includes resignations, terminations and retirements.
Sick Leave
Sick leave is provided to protect a faculty member against loss of income when confined at home or in the hospital due to illness or injury, or when a faculty member must have health related professional services which cannot be obtained outside regular work hours, or when a faculty member must care for a seriously ill member of the immediate family for not more than three days per occurrence.
Sick leave is accrued at the rate of one day per month of service鈥攏ine days per year for nine month appointments, twelve days per year for twelve month appointments鈥攚ith unlimited accumulation.
Holidays
Following are the ten scheduled holidays observed by the University General Division each year: New Year鈥檚 Day, Martin Luther King Day, Lundi Gras Day, Mardi Gras Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Additional special holidays may be designated by the President of the University.
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 鈥 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.
Life Services Toolkit
Company: The Standard
Website:
Phone: (888) 937-4783
This University paid benefit provides the employee and their eligible dependents with medical, travel, and legal services when faced with an emergency while traveling more than 100 miles away from home. A Life Services Toolkit is available for employee needs now and for beneficiary support after a death.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Phone: (251) 461-1346
The EAP offers confidential counseling and referral services at no cost to the employee.
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.
- Use of University facilities
- 91桃色 Bookstore discount (10%)
- 91桃色 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 91桃色 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.