Welcome to Northern Illinois University. According to information provided to this office, you are eligible for insurance benefits effective your first day of employment. To make a decision regarding which benefit plan is right for you, contact the Insurance and Employee Benefits Office to complete benefit enrollment forms within ten (10) days from the beginning date of your appointment. For Faculty and Supportive Professional Staff (SPS) hired as of August 16, 2007, State policies require that your deadline for enrollment is August 26, 2007. If the start date of your appointment is a different date, your benefits enrollment deadline is ten (10) calendar days after the start date of your contract.

Faculty and SPS. During the session, you will learn about the many options available to you concerning health, life, dental, retirement, other NIU sponsored benefits, payroll procedures, deductions, and other services. The orientation sessions last approximately four hours. New Faculty and SPS members are strongly advised to attend one of these important sessions to receive information on benefit programs and to complete all necessary enrollment forms on time as necessary to assure proper entry of your benefit choices by the deadline for the first payroll of the academic year. If you enroll after August 16, all applicable deductions will be reconciled in subsequent payrolls.

New employees are required to present specific documentation at the time of enrollment for both the employee and dependents including social security cards, birth certificates, marriage license, etc. Please review the attached list of required documents and have these items available in order to complete benefit enrollment.

Please note the following important deadlines:

• State of Illinois policies mandate that all new employees who meet eligibility requirements have only ten (10) calendar days from the beginning date of their contract in which to elect optional insurance coverage, opt out of insurance benefits, enroll dependents, or to select a health plan.
  
  
• Full-time employees who fail to make their benefit choices or opt out of the coverage within the required ten (10) calendar day period will be automatically enrolled in the Quality Care Health and Dental Plan with basic life insurance. Dependent coverage can only then be added during the annual Benefits Choice Period of May 1 - 31 of the following year to be effective on July 1, unless there is a “qualifying event.”
  
  
• Part-time employees (greater than 50 percent and less than 100 percent) who are eligible for insurance benefits have the opportunity to either participate in the insurance program (with an applicable employee premium) or waive coverage within the required 10 calendar day period. However, failure to make benefit choices or waive coverage will result in automatic enrollment in the Quality Care Health and Dental Plan with basic life insurance. If enrolled, the employee must pay a portion of the State’s cost in relation to the percentage of employment. Dependent coverage can only then be added during the annual Benefits Choice Period of May 1 - 31 of the following year to be effective on July 1, unless there is a “qualifying event.” If you already have other health insurance coverage, you may be able to opt out. However, to do so you must contact the Insurance Office prior to August 26 or ten (10) calendar days after your start date.
  
  
• Benefit coverage becomes effective on the first date of the appointment. Late enrollment contingencies or questions should be discussed with Insurance and Employee Benefits staff at (815) 753-6000.
  
  
• Under the State Universities Retirement System (SURS), new employees have six months from the date of their appointment to choose among three retirement program options. An overview of these options will be presented at the orientation sessions and a detailed information booklet will be mailed to your home address from the SURS after you begin at NIU. Note: The election of a State of Illinois retirement program option is irrevocable for life. Early information is critical to your ability to select the plan that is best suited to your needs.

Scheduled orientation sessions to learn about your benefits at Northern Illinois University are noted below for your convenience. Human Resource Services’ orientation sessions are held in Training Room 178 in the HRS Center for Diversity Resources. The HRS building is located at 1515 West Lincoln Highway (Route 38) just west of the water tower. Parking is available and you may obtain a temporary parking permit from our staff prior to the start of the session, if you do not already have one.

2007 Orientation Session Schedule (For the August 26 Benefits Enrollment Deadline):

We look forward to meeting you and assisting with your important benefit decisions. If you are unable to attend the scheduled Faculty/SPS orientations, additional sessions are held every Monday from 8:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. These sessions focus primarily on your benefits, and you should make arrangements to attend. Additional orientation and workshop sessions are also being planned to assist with other aspects of your employment at NIU. Please note that most university offices will be closed on Fridays beginning June 22 through August 17.

Feel free to visit our Web site at www.hr.niu.edu to review our current benefit program information and follow the links to view information on our various benefit carriers. You may visit the State of Illinois Central Management Services Web site and review benefit options under the category of “State Employees” at www.benefitschoice.il.gov for information on benefit plans, dependent coverage, and to refer to the Benefit Choice Options booklet on-line. The HR Web site will provide all updated information and rates as we receive them. If you have any questions, please contact the Insurance and Employee Benefits Office at 753-6000.

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