Category Archives: Benefits

Benefits Open Enrollment Now Available in MySJSU

 

Thank you for your patience as we worked with the Chancellor’s Office to resolve the Benefits Open Enrollment technical issues. They have been resolved and Open Enrollment is now available. Log into MySJSU (my.sjsu.edu) to review your existing coverage and make changes, if applicable.

Open Enrollment will still close on October 11 so please complete your enrollments, updates, etc. by that date.

If you experience any trouble whatsoever please contact Human Resources (email:hrsg@sjsu.edu or phone: 408.924.2250) and we will provide immediate assistance.

 –Shawn Bibb, CFO & Vice President for Administration and Finance

Benefits Update, Recent U.S. Supreme Court Decisions on Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)

 

As a result of the recent U.S. Supreme Court issued decisions in U.S. v. Windsor (Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)), and Hollingsworth v. Perry relating to same-sex marriage, CalPERS is offering a one-time exception to allow impacted employees to enroll a same-sex spouse and eligible dependent children on a CalPERS health plan.

The CalPERS enrollment period is effective now through December 31, 2013.

Employees who currently have a domestic partner enrolled in their health plans may make this one time change to designating their partner as spouse if they meet the criteria for enrollment exception listed below:

*Employees who married during the period in 2008 when same-sex marriage was initially allowed in California; or

*Employees who married prior to June 26, 2013, in another state where same-sex marriage was legal.

Additionally, newly married same-sex couples can enroll their spouse in benefits within 60 days of the marriage date.

Please note: The IRS has not issued regulations on this topic. It is unclear if the IRS will regard same-sex marriages that occurred prior to June 26, 2013 as a “change of relationship status” (i.e., change in legal marital status). In the event the forthcoming IRS regulations require, adding a same-sex spouse or domestic partner to your benefits could result in taxable income to the employee for Federal tax purposes only.

*It is recommended that impacted employees consult with a tax advisor prior to making a change. Employees can decide whether to enroll now or wait until IRS regulations are issued.

*Once the IRS regulations are issued, the campus will provide an update.

At this time, all changes to enrollment must be done manually by our office. We hope to have an update to MySJSU shortly. Please contact your benefits representative for assistance. We are happy to help and answer any questions you may have. Representatives are listed by department on our website: 

Benefits Open Enrollment & Employee Services Fair

 

 

Your CSU benefits are designed to help you live and work healthier. The approaching annual open enrollment period (September 16, 2013 through October 11, 2013) is an opportune time to think about your benefits and what makes the most sense for you and your family.

During open enrollment you can enroll in, change, or cancel the following benefits:

CalPERS Health
Dental
Vision
Voluntary Benefits Plans
Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (DCRA)*
Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA)*
Flexcash

*Flexible Spending (Reimbursement) Account enrollees must re-enroll in order to continue contributions for the 2014 calendar year. If you do not re-enroll your deduction will stop in your November 2013 paycheck.

The CSU is committed to offering benefits plans that provide you with options to choose the right level of coverage to help manage your needs and your family’s health needs. This year, CalPERS is adding four new HMO Providers: Anthem Blue Cross, Health Net, Sharp, and United Health Care.

Even if you wish to keep your current medical plan, we strongly encourage you to visit the CalPERS web site at www.calpers.ca.gov to obtain detailed information on plan design changes (e.g. what benefits are not covered in 2014, expanded service areas, co-payment, and prescription changes).

Tips to prepare for Open Enrollment:

  1. Verify your mailing address: Prior to the start of Open Enrollment, CalPERS will be mailing you an Open Enrollment package directly to the mailing address indicated in our payroll systems. We encourage employees to update their mailing address through the quick and easy online process available via MySJSU (my.sjsu.edu).
  2. Know your benefits: Review your current benefit elections as well as dependents enrolled in each benefit plan through MySJSU (my.sjsu.edu).

Employee Services Fair Coming September 24!

To learn more about the new plans and to explore your options, please stop by the Employee Services Fair on Tuesday, September 24, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Barrett Ballroom inside the Student Union. Health Care vendors will be available from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m..

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact your benefits representative in Human Resources at 408.924.2250. We’re here to help!

CSU Military Leave Policy Update

 

The Chancellor is extending through June 30, 2013, the provisions of the Difference in Pay CSU Salary Supplement Program for eligible employees called to active military duty to serve during the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. This policy memorandum supersedes HR 2011-06. For additional information on this salary supplement program, please refer to HR 2004-21. This HR memorandum is also available on the Human Resources Management.

 

 

The Public Employee Pension Reform Act (PEPRA)

 

The Public Employee Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) of 2012 will become law on January 1, 2013.  The Chancellor’s Office (CO) is working closely with CalPERS on the interpretation and impact as it pertains to CSU employees. Additionally, in response to questions received, the CO created a Pension Reform FAQ. Please note: answers are based on a preliminary review and represent a current understanding of PEPRA. Therefore, the information may be subject to change. SJSU Human Resources will continue to communicate new as well as updated information regarding pension reform as it becomes available. Any additional questions not addressed in the FAQ, please send an e-mail to Benefits.

For more details about pension reform and the impact to CSU employees, visit the Pension Reform Update.