Employee benefits
Benefits package
University of Idaho offers a comprehensive benefits package to all Board of Regents-appointed employees. This includes most employees who work at least half-time in faculty, exempt, classified and postdoctoral positions.
Our benefits include:
- Medical coverage through Blue Cross of Idaho.
- Dental coverage through Delta Dental or Willamette Dental.
- Vision coverage through VSP.
- Life, AD&D and disability insurance.
- Retirement plans through PERSI (for hourly employees) or Fidelity (for faculty and exempt employees).
- Leave benefits, including sick, annual and parenting leave, as well as family and medical leave.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health and personal support.
- Wellness programs for mental and physical health.
- Voluntary benefits and programs.
- Professional training opportunities through Employee Development and Learning
- Tuition assistance for you and your dependents.
Please see our benefits summary and benefits guide for details, including current contribution rates.
Questions? Contact Benefit Services at benefits@uidaho.edu.
Our employees matter, and their health does, too. We offer great benefits to keep you health and well as you help prepare the next generation of Vandals.
Employee separation benefits
Health care coverage
Employee and dependent health care benefits end at midnight on the last day worked in a benefit-eligible position. This applies when:
- You leave the university.
- Your hours or appointment status change and you become ineligible for benefits.
Download a PDF tip sheet on separation benefits.
COBRA continuation coverage
Employees and covered dependents may be eligible to purchase medical, dental, vision and EAP coverage through COBRA. Coverage starts the day after your benefits end. COBRA lets you stay on the same plans you had through the university without a break in coverage.
- A COBRA enrollment packet will be mailed to your home address approximately two weeks after your coverage ends. Keep your address up to date by emailing hr@uidaho.edu.
- You will pay 100% of the cost of coverage, plus a 2% administrative fee. Current monthly costs will be included in your COBRA enrollment packet.
- COBRA elections must be completed within 60 days of the loss of coverage.
- You may remain on COBRA from 18 to 36 months, depending on your situation.
Other benefits
Leave Balances
Annual leave and comp time balances are paid to employees in their final paycheck. You may also choose to donate unused annual leave to the shared leave pool. See leave policies for more information.
Sick leave balances are not paid out and have no cash value but will be reinstated if you return to employment with the university or another state agency within three years.
HSA and FSA
Health Savings Accounts remain active after separation from the university and are yours to take with you. You can leave the balance with Health Equity or transfer it to another HSA account elsewhere. Note that the university stops paying account fees after you leave.
Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts are not transferable upon separation. You have 90 days from your last day of work to submit claims. Remaining balances are forfeited after that.
Contact Health Equity for help with claims or transfers.
Life insurance options
If you are enrolled in life insurance through The Standard or through NCPERS, you may be eligible to retain your coverage while paying premiums directly to the company. Your application must be submitted within 30 days (NCPERS) or 31 days (The Standard) of separation from employment.
The Standard
800-378-4668
standard.com
Plan #645326
NCPERS (PERSI Life Insurance plan)
800-525-8056
ncpers.org
Plan #11011-250-3000
Retirement plans
PERSI
If you are a classified employee, you contribute to PERSI. You can leave your funds with PERSI until retirement, roll them over to another account or withdraw them. Early withdrawals may be subject to taxes and penalties. Be sure to understand whether you are already vested in PERSI as this may affect your options. Members are vested after 60 months of participation. For more information, visit the PERSI website or review the brochure on separation.
To roll over or withdraw your funds, submit a RS108 form to PERSI.
ORP
If you are a faculty or exempt employee, you contribute to the ORP through Fidelity and are vested from your date of hire. Upon separation, you can leave your funds with Fidelity, roll them into another retirement account or withdraw them according to contract guidelines. Early withdrawals may be subject to taxes and penalties. For more information, visit Fidelity.
Voluntary benefits
To keep your voluntary benefits (AFLAC, MASA, home and auto insurance, pet insurance, etc.) after leaving, contact Corestream at 855-952-1600 to arrange other payment options.