Health Benefits

Health care benefits are overseen by PEBTF (Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund).

Employees are eligible to enroll in health care coverage from their first day of employment. There is a 90 day waiting period to enroll in supplemental benefits (dental/vision/hearing) and/or to enroll dependents into eligible plans.

Medical Benefits

During the first 90 days of employment, employees can enroll in any of the following plans for single coverage only. Eligible dependents can be added to any plan on the 91st day of employment.

  • PPO (Preferred Provider Organization)
    • Choice PPO – Aetna
    • Basic PPO – Highmark
  • HMO (Health Maintenance Organization)
    • Custom HMO – Aetna or Geisinger

Flu Shot Information

  • ESU provides assistance with Flu Shot Opportunities

Prescription Benefits

  • Prescription Coverage
  • During first 90 days, employee can opt to enroll, at an additional bi-weekly buy-up cost:
    • Single: $77.66
    • Dependents: $192.66

Supplemental Benefits

Employees are eligible to enroll after 90 days of employment.


Annual Spouse Attestation

Each year, employees must verify their spouse/domestic partner eligibility to stay covered under their insurance plan. If their spouse/domestic partner has obtained employment, and can obtain their own insurance, spouse/domestic partner will be removed from employee’s coverage.

Complete the relevant Spouse/Domestic Partner Health Care Enrollment Attestation form:

For these forms on how to enroll or re-enroll your spouse/domestic partner please email HR at askhr@esu.edu for the documents.


Life Events

A major life event allows employee to make a change in health insurance, without having to wait for Open Enrollment. Major life events include marriage, divorce, birth, adoption, death.

The employee will need to provide proof of verification to Human Resources within 60 days of the major life event, in order to make a change.

Get Healthy

In an effort to encourage employees to “Get Healthy”, PEBTF offers confidential wellness screenings which provide information about their health.  These screenings, referred to as Know Your Numbers, will allow employees to save money on their health insurance premiums.  New hires will have 45 days to complete the screening.

  • To participate in the Get Healthy Program for the plan year July 1 – June 30, employees must complete screening by December 31 of the prior year.
  • Employees that do not participate in the Get Healthy Wellness screening, will pay an additional 2.5% of biweekly salary.

Schedule a Wellness Screening or view results from a screening.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

There are two types of Flexible Spending Accounts: Healthcare FSA and Dependent Care FSA.

This benefit is a convenient way to set aside money on a pre-tax basis for eligible medical, dental, vision and dependent care expenses. Employees can sign up within 30 days of hire, or during open enrollment period. Once enrolled, the employee will be covered for one calendar year.

Detailed information, including lists of eligible and ineligible expenses can be found in the Flexible Spending Account Handbook. For the handbook please email us at askhr@esu.edu.

Life, Accidental Insurance & Long-Term Disability

ESU offers paid basic group life through MetLife for all permanent, full-time employees. Coverage amounts vary by employee group.

Voluntary Insurance programs are overseen by CIGNA. These benefits financially help families in case of an employee’s death, or if employee suffers a serious injury due to a covered accident. The following voluntary insurances offered are:

MetLife

At no cost to employee:

Cigna

Employee pays bi-weekly premiums:

Beneficiary Changes

To update/change beneficiaries for VGLIP and/or AD&D, complete and return the Beneficiary Designation Form to your Human Resource Business partner. To access the form contact HR at askhr@esu.edu or call (570) 422-3422.

Retirement

Retirement Plans are offered to ensure an employee begins to save and invest money for retirement. When an employee is first hired, it is required that they select a retirement plan. Once a decision has been made, the employee cannot change their plan.

The retirement plans offered to employees are

  • SERS (State Employees’ Retirement System)
    • A5 Hybrid
    • A6 Hybrid
    • Straight Investment
  • ARP (Alternative Retirement Plan)
    • TIAA
    • Fidelity

If employee does not choose within 30 days of hire, they will automatically be enrolled in the SERS (A5 Hybrid) retirement plan.

Voluntary Retirement Plans

Employees are offered additional options to save and invest money with Voluntary Retirement Plans.

  • Deferred Compensation – 457 (b) Plan
  • Tax Sheltered Annuity (TSA) – 403(b) Plan
    • TIAA
    • Fidelity

Prospective Retirees

In order to be eligible for retirement, employee must qualify under one of the following criteria:

  • If hire date is prior to July 1, 1997:
    • Age 60, with 10 years of credited service
    • Any age, with 25 years of credited service
    • Any age (with approved disability retirement), with 5 years of credited service
  • If hire date is between July 1, 1997 – June 30, 2005:
    • Age 60, with 15 years of Commonwealth/State System Service
    • Any age, with 25 years of Commonwealth/State System Service
    • Any age (with approved disability retirement), with 5 years of Commonwealth/State System Service
  • If hire date is On/After July 1, 2005:
    • Age 60, with 20 years of Commonwealth/State System Service
    • Any age, with 25 years of Commonwealth/State System Service
    • Any age (with approved disability retirement), with 5 years of Commonwealth/State System Service

Employees that are considering retirement, should make an appointment with their Human Resource Business Partner to discuss all retirement options.

Refer to the Retirement Guide for a quick look at retirement options. For the retirement checklist & guide email HR at askhr@esu.edu.

Sick Time & Leave

SCUPA employees are eligible for Annual Leave, Sick Leave, and Sick Family Leave. Leave time is accrued as follows.

Annual Leave

  • Up to 1 year of service – 4% of regular hours paid, 10.4 days per year
  • 1-15 years of service – 6% of regular hours paid, 15.6 days per yea
  • 15-25 years of service – 8% of regular hours paid, 20.8 days per yea
  • Over 25 years of service – 10% of regular hours paid, 26 days per year

Sick Leave

  • 6% of regular hours paid, 15.6 days per year

Bereavement and Sick Family Leave

  • Death of relative – 3-5 days, depending on relationship
  • Sickness of immediate family – 5 days per calendar year

Leave used is deducted from sick leave balance.

Personal Leave

  • Permanent full-time employees on 12 month schedule – 5 days per year
  • Permanent full-time employees on 9 month schedule – 4 days per year
  • Permanent part-time – Pro-rated basis

State Employee Assistance Program (SEAP)

The SEAP program is free and confidential, offering personal support and guidance in a variety of issues, problems, and concerns that one deals with on a daily basis.  The program can be beneficial to employees or their immediate families, providing services such as legal advice, drug and alcohol counseling, assistance with financial planning, stress management, depression, and many more.

Other Benefits

Contact Us

Campus Address

Reibman Administration Building
(570) 422-3422
(570) 422-3450 (Fax)

Human Resources Office

askhr@esu.edu
(570) 422-3422