As an NIU employee, you have access to insurance plans through the State Employees' Group Insurance Program (SEGIP). SEGIP is offered by the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS).
You can learn more about Benefit Choice the plans and manage your benefits at MyBenefits or download the FY23 Benefit Choice booklet.
There are three kinds of health plan: the Quality Care Health Plan, HMO plans and open access plans.
The Quality Care Health Plan, administered by Aetna, allows you to choose any doctor or hospital for medical services.
With HMO plans, you need to select a primary care physician who will make needed referrals.
With open access plans, you have three tiers of providers from which to choose.
Prescription drug coverage is included in all health plans.
A dental plan is offered by CMS for an additional cost. It is administered by Delta Dental of Illinois.
A vision plan is included in all health insurance plans at no additional cost. It is administered by EyeMed.
Life insurance is offered by CMS and administered by MetLife. Basic coverage in the amount of your annual base salary will be provided to you free of charge, if you're eligible.
You can choose to add:
The State Universities Retirement System (SURS) disability benefit is an automatic part of your participation in SURS. You can also enroll in optional long-term disability coverage through Prudential.
In general, you're eligible for insurance if both of the following apply to you:
If you hold a certain visa and haven't established residency status for tax purposes, you may not be eligible for insurance. F1 and J1 visa holders generally fall in this category. Please contact us for assistance determining eligibility.
Your eligible dependents can get the same health, dental and vision insurance as you. View documentation requirements for adding dependents (PDF).
You can opt out of health, vision and/or dental insurance. If you're full time, you need to provide documentation of other health insurance not provided by CMS. If you waive health coverage, you must also waive dental coverage.
You can make changes to your health, vision and dental coverage during the annual Benefit Choice period, usually held in May. This is the only time you can change dental coverage.
You're also able to change your health insurance whenever you have a qualifying change in status, such as getting married. You must request the change within 60 days of the qualifying event.
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) allows you to extend health, dental and vision coverage when it would otherwise end for you or a dependent.
You can add optional coverage at any time. You can also add spouse or child life coverage, as well as accidental death and dismemberment coverage, at any time.
Illinois was without a state budget from 2015 to 2017. We continue to monitor the impact of the state budget impasse on employee health and dental insurance. State funds have at times been insufficient to pay insurance claims on a normal schedule.
Visit the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) website to learn the current status of claim payments.