Benefits

• 2018 Benefits Guide
• 2018 Benefit Rates
• Enroll in your Benefits
• Benefitfocus
• Post Open Enrollment Information
• Benefit Eligibility Chart
• Tobacco surcharge
• Spousal Coverage
• Health Savings Account (HSA) HDHP participants only
• Flexible Spending Account
• Know Your Rx
• Preventive Guidelines
• ACA 30 Hour Rule

Certificate of Coverage
Basic Life Insurance & Supplemental Life

Prudential Guaranty Association Notices

• Key benefit terms
  Know Your Rx video
• How to find an Anthem Medical Provider
  How to find a Vision Provider
  How to find a Dental Provider

Who to contact for help

Susan Spier
Asst. Director Benefits and Compensation
sspier@murraystate.edu
270.809.2158

Marcie Clark
Assistant Benefits Manager
mclark23@murraystate.edu
270.809.2158

Carol Downey
Benefits Specialist
cdowney3@murraystate.edu
270.809.4428

The mission of Murray State University's Racer Wellness program is to encourage, support, and assist employees in taking a proactive approach to improve their overall well-being.

Wellness Staff

Lauren Smee
Wellness Plan Coordinator
lsmee@murraystate.edu
270.809.2146

Racer Wellness website​
Racer Wellness Pledge

Retirement monthly benefit and insurance are based on each retirement system’s guidelines and subject to change based on legislation. Murray State University offers additional benefits to retirees, see Qualifying for Murray State Retiree Benefits for more information.

Retirement Process
Retiree Benefit Eligibility Chart
Kentucky Retirement System (KERS)
Teacher Retirement System (TRS)
Optional Retirement Program (ORP) Vendors
Comparison of TRS vs ORP
Supplemental Retirement list of Vendors
ORP Plan Summary
Request In-person Meeting with Retirement Vendor

To View Your Current Benefit elections:

To see all the plans in which you are currently enrolled, log on to Benefitfocus https://murraystate.hrintouch.com, then

1. Log into your account
2. Click "Click Here to View Your Benefits" on yellow View Your Benefits button.

Current employees can make life event changes through https://murraystate.hrintouch.com. Login to your account and follow links for a change in status and life event.

You can make changes to covered individuals within 30 days of the event to your medical, dental, vision, life, and flexible spending accounts during the plan year only if you have a life circumstance change such as:

• Marriage or divorce
• Birth, adoption, or placement for adoption of a child
• Gaining or losing a dependent
• Change in employment status for you or your spouse.

• Provider contact list
• Voya

2017-2018 Schedule
2018-2019 Schedule

Tuition is waived for up to six courses per 12 month fiscal year, not to exceed one course offered during working hours in any given semester or session. Tuition waivers cover tuition costs but not course fees (i.e. computer lab fees or some online courses). Any staff member with at least six months of continuous service or eligible faculty member with one academic semester of continuous service may transfer any unused portion of the tuition waiver benefit to their lawful spouse and/or dependent child(ren). A child or dependent includes natural, adopted or step-child or person for whom the employee has been given legal guardianship. The child or dependent must be claimed on the parent's/guardian's tax return for the year the child/dependent is taking classes. A child is defined as a person under 24 years at the beginning of the academic term during which the benefit is effective. Tuition waivers must be approved on or before the last day of drop/add of the semester or session. This is interpreted to mean the last day to add a full or half semester course, per the academic calendar for each semester, published on the Murray State website. Approved waivers received by the Bursar's Office after this date, will not be applied for that specific semester and will be returned to the employee.

Education benefits have certain tax implications depending on the level of study according to the chart below.

Also, to ease the burden of employee tax withholdings, payroll staff will distribute your taxable deduction amounts based on three pay checks for monthly payroll and four pay checks for bi-weekly payroll.

State of Kentucky Policy
Any regular full-time employee of a post-secondary public institution may with prior administrative approval of the course offering institution, take a maximum of six credit hours per term at any public post-secondary institution. The institution shall waive the tuition up to a maximum of six credit hours per term.

Education Tuition Waivers Policy
Tuition Waiver forms are located on the Support Site.
Murray State Tuition Waiver Comparison

Full-time faculty and staff, employed at least six months, are eligible to apply for a 12-month, interest-free loan for the purchase of new microcomputer hardware. The Personal Computer Program provides 80 percent of the cost of the computer hardware up to a maximum outstanding balance of $2,000. Loans are repaid through automatic payroll deduction in equal payments over twelve months. Participants in the program are required to sign a security document and payroll deduction card.

If the employee terminates employment with the university, the outstanding balance on the computer loan will be deducted from the last payroll check. If the last check is not sufficient to cover the remaining loan balance, the employee will be required to pay the balance prior to final clearance from the university.

To apply, send a written request including your name, home address, department and the anticipated total amount of purchase and written vendor quote or invoice for the hardware to Carolyn Pollock, cpollock1@murraystate.edu. She can be reached for questions at 270-809-3789.

All full-time faculty and staff employed at the University for six months or more are eligible to participate in the Bicycle Loan Program. Bicycles, for the purpose of this program, are a two wheeled, non-motorized conveyance powered by a pedal and gear system. One (1) helmet will be allowed as part of the total loan amount. Items excluded from the program include all other separately purchased pieces of equipment or accessories. Used equipment cannot be included in the program.

The Bicycle Loan Program will provide 80 percent of the cost of the bike and helmet up to a maximum outstanding balance of $2,000.00. If the bicycle cost is $2,500.00, the employee will receive 80% X $2,500.00 = $2,000.00. As interest-free loans are paid off or paid down, employees may apply for additional funding for other bicycles. As long as funds are available in the pool, there is no upper limit to the total amount an employee may borrow to purchase bicycles. However, the current outstanding loan amount cannot exceed $2,000.00.

Loans are to be repaid within one calendar year, in equal monthly payments. The payments will be made through automatic payroll deduction. Funds that are repaid stay in the loan pool and are made available to other eligible faculty/staff. Purchases may be made from any vendor for any brand selected by the employee. If it is determined that this program constitutes a taxable fringe benefit, the employee is responsible for the income taxes. Written requests should be submitted to Carolyn Pollock, cpollock1@murraystate.edu. She can be reached for questions at 270-809-3789.

If an employee terminates employment with the University, the outstanding balance on all bicycle loans will be deducted from their last payroll check. If their last payroll check is not sufficient to cover the remaining loan balance, the individual will be required to pay the balance prior to the final clearance from the University.

Murray State University faculty and staff are eligible for discounts on dining, hotel accommodations, banking services and other personal services at many local businesses. Please see below for the complete listing.

Business Discounts

Family and Medical Leave is available to any University employee who has worked at least 1250 hours in the 12 month period prior to the leave request. Murray State University's Family and Medical Leave policy allows leave for eligible employees up to 26 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave during a 12-month period (as defined by the University) for specific medical and/or family reasons (birth of a child, care of a child, care of a child after birth, placement of a child for adoption or foster care, or to care for the serious health condition of the employee, employee's spouse, son, daughter or parent) or covered servicemember; or a qualifying exigency. Employees are required to give the University at least a 30-day notice involving known or planned leaves. Employees are required to use all available sick and vacation leave with the exception of pregnancy. The total amount of unpaid leave may not exceed 6 months in any calendar year.

The University requires certification from a health care provider that a serious medical condition exists before granting leave. Required documentation must be completed and forwarded to the Department of Human Resources for approval. If you are granted an approved FMLA leave, you may continue your coverage under Murray State's medical, dental, or vision plans for you and your eligible dependents. Be sure to request leave before your leave begins or your leave may be denied. Murray State has the right to determine FMLA leave.

Employees returning from Family and Medical Leave will be returning to either their prior position or to an equivalent position. Employees not returning from Family and Medical Leave must certify their inability to do so. Those employees who do not provide such certification will be required to reimburse the University for all costs related to health insurance and other benefit premiums paid during any portion of the Family and Medical Leave.

Family and Medical Leave Policy

FMLA forms can be found on the Support Site.

All employees are protected by Kentucky's Workers' Compensation law for a work-related injury or disease. Benefits include payment for medical and hospital care costs, loss of work time, permanent disability and death as provided by the terms of the Kentucky Workers' Compensation Act.

All employees are covered the University's Workers' Compensation policy beginning the first day of employment regardless of employment status (full-time, part-time, temporary employees, and student workers). This policy provides for medical benefits and lost-time compensation payments for valid on-the-job injuries. Employees are required to immediately report all on-the-job injuries or illnesses to their immediate supervisor and Human Resources at 270.809.2146. Notification should include information about the work occurrence and the body parts affected.

Entitlement to these benefits begins on the eighth (8th) day of disability. The first seven (7) days of the disability are payable only if the disability lasts 14 days or more. "Days of Disability" refers to those days when a doctor has deemed an employee unable to work because of a work-related injury or disability. These "Days of Disability" do not refer only to consecutive scheduled workdays, but also includes weekends and holidays. Workers' Compensation payments are calculated at two-thirds of the employee's normal pay rate based on a seven-day work-week up to a maximum benefit level regulated by the state.

Employees must use accrued sick leave and vacation leave to remain in paid status as long as possible. Upon receipt of a lost-time payment from Workers' Compensation, the employee may be asked to endorse the payment to the University for an equivalent amount of leave time to be restored.

Murray State University has chosen an authorized managed care program for workers' compensation injuries; therefore,the employee MUST choose from among the participating medical providers within the managed care network. To obtain a list of managed care providers, please go to http://www.talispoint.com/firsthealth/?AE=4175&CAID=CCX1. After choosing the treating physician from this network, the employee may change that selection one time, no questions asked. Employees must notify Human Resources of the physician choice. Employees should ask treating physicians to promptly report their status to Murray State University 's Human Resources. Prompt reporting speeds payment of benefits and helps Murray State University and physicians in assisting employees to return to work.

Although injured employees may seek services from any medical provider within the workers' compensation managed care network, it is recommended that employees also check that they are utilizing providers that are in the employee's group health insurance network so that coverage can be provided should the Workers' Compensation claim be denied. If a claim is denied, the employee, not the University, is responsible for filing the claim with their medical insurance carrier. Murray State strongly recommends the use of Murray State's health services for those illnesses and injuries not of a life threatening nature.

Workers' Compensation forms are located on the Support Site.

Employees may choose to participate in the Sick Leave Bank as a means of obtaining additional sick leave days to avoid loss of compensation due to catastrophic illness or injury of the employee. Catastrophic injury or illness is defined as a life-threatening condition or combination of conditions affecting the mental or physical health of the employee, and includes, but is not limited to, the following: lengthy hospitalizations, necessary surgery requiring a lengthy recovery, an ongoing treatment regimen requiring frequent time off work, or complicated pregnancy requiring bed rest or hospitalization. The catastrophic illness or injury must require the services of a health provider. All regular full-time and regular part-time faculty and staff who are contributors to the Sick Leave Bank, and have legitimately exhausted all of their accumulated sick and vacation leave, may apply for additional sick leave from the bank.

Sick Leave Bank Policy

Sick Leave Bank forms can be found on the Support Site.

Please review sick leave.

HIPAA Privacy Notice

• New Health Insurance Marketplace Coverage Options and Your Health Coverage (Exchange Notice) 7/1/17
• Introduction to New Health Insurance Marketplace Coverage Options (Exchange Notice) 10/1/13

Important Notice from Murray State University about your prescription drug coverage and Medicare
NOTICE: Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA)
NOTICE: Newborns’ Act Disclosure
NOTICE: Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Offer Free or Low-Cost Coverage to Children and Families
NOTICE: HIPAA Special Enrollment Notice
Enrollment Notice
NOTICE: Lifetime Limit
Preventive Care Covered at 100% per person
Notice: Patient Protections-Non-grandfathered plans