This guide has been designed to assist our Housestaff with understanding the rich benefit program that the State of Florida, University of Florida, and College of Medicine (COM) has to offer.
UF College of Medicine Human Resources
Email: HR@comfs.ufl.edu
Website: https://hr.med.ufl.edu/
1. Employee Benefits and Retirement Overview
If you are covered under your spouse’s benefits either through UF or another employer, you may choose to waive coverage. Please contact COM HR if you need assistance.
For salaried employees working fewer than 0.75 FTE: You are eligible to participate in all plans offered under the State of Florida / PeopleFirst upon hire, but pay a prorated share of the health and life insurance employer premium based on the FTE, plus the employee share. Contact the COM-HR team for assistance with calculating the monthly premiums.
Employee Benefits Overview – Housestaff
| Benefit | Provider / Coverage | Effective Date | Who Pays Premium | Enrollment (within 60 Days of Hire) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Insurance | GatorCare Premium (employee + dependents) | Date of Hire | UFCOM | UFSelect | 2 |
| Health Insurance | PPO (FloridaBlue) or HMO (depends on county) | 1st of the Following Enrollment | Employee | PeopleFirst (State Plans) | 5 |
| Life Insurance | The Standard. $50,000 (0.75-1.0 FTE) | Date of Hire | UFCOM | Automatically Enrolled | 3 |
| Accidental Death & Dismemberment | The Standard. $10,000 (0.75-1.0 FTE) | Date of Hire | UFCOM | Automatically Enrolled | 3 |
| Short Term Disability Insurance | The Standard. 60% of monthly salary, max of $2,500 weekly benefit (0.75-1.0 FTE) | Date of Hire | UFCOM | Automatically Enrolled | 3 |
| Long Term Disability Insurance | The Standard. 60% of monthly pre-tax earnings up to $5,000 a month (0.75-1.0 FTE) | Date of Hire | UFCOM | Automatically Enrolled | 3 |
| Dental Insurance | Eagles Dental | Date of Hire | Employee | UFSelect | 2 |
| Dental Insurance | Ameritas, Cigna, Humana, MetLife, & Sun Life Financial | 1st of the Following Enrollment | Employee | PeopleFirst (State Plans) | 5 |
| Vision | Humana | Date of Hire | Employee | UFSelect | 2 |
| Vision | Humana | 1st of the Following Enrollment | Employee | PeopleFirst (State Plans) | 5 |
| Legal Plan | Preferred Legal | Date of Hire | Employee | UFSelect | 3 |
| Supplemental Plans (Accident, Cancer, Disability, Hospitalization & Hospital Intensive Care) | Aflac, Cigna, Colonial Life, New Era | 1st of the Following Enrollment | Employee | PeopleFirst (State Plans) | 6 |
| Savings & Spending Accounts | Chard Snyder: Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account & Health Reimbursement Account | 1st of the Following Enrollment | Employee | PeopleFirst (State Plans) | 6 |
Note: If you have a qualifying status change (QSC) such as birth/adoption of a child, marriage, divorce, etc., please contact COM-HR at HR@comfs.ufl.edu for assistance in changing your benefits.
Retirement Options – Housestaff
| Program | Effective Date | UF Contribution | Employee Contribution | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FICA Alternative Plan, Fidelity Investments | Date of Hire | None | 7.50% | 8 |
| 403(b) Plans & 457 Deferred Compensation Plan | Upon Enrollment (begin/end anytime during the year) | None | Voluntary employee contribution up to IRS limit | 9 |
2. UFSelect Insurances: GatorCare Premium
Dedicated GatorCare Representative
Phone: 352-733-9200
Email: GatorCareCSR@bcbsfl.com
Website: https://gatorcare.org/
The Premium plan offers you three network tier options:
GatorCare Premium network tiers
| Tier | Benefits |
|---|---|
| 1 | Benefits are services you receive from the GatorCare Network, which includes hospitals, physicians and providers in Gainesville and Jacksonville. Tier 1 benefits offer the best value, with lower deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. |
| 2 | Benefits apply when you receive services from Florida Blue’s Network BlueOptions providers, which typically result in higher out-of-pocket costs. When using Tiers 1 and 2 for wellness and preventive care, annual physicals and labs are offered with no out-of-pocket expense to you. |
| 3 | Benefits apply when you receive services from an out-of-network provider; you still have coverage, but may be billed for the difference between the provider’s charge and the allowed amount. |
GatorCare health insurance monthly premiums are paid for by UF College of Medicine for all eligible employees and their dependents.
For additional information, review the plan documents at https://gatorcare.org/plans/com-gnv/.
For all additional insurances (dental, vision, life, etc.), see the College of Medicine Housestaff Benefits and Additional Insurances resource. (Link the “Benefits and Additional Insurances” video/page here.)
Prescriptions are managed through Prime Therapeutics: https://gatorcare.primetherapeutics.com/
3. UFSelect Supplemental Plan
All pricing is specific to the individual employee. Please contact the provider for monthly premiums.
AD&D, Disability, and Life (The Standard)
- As a housestaff in the College of Medicine, you are provided with group term life insurance at no cost to you. Coverage amounts are based on your full-time equivalent (FTE) and include life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) benefits. Coverage becomes effective on your first day of employment.
- Housestaff working 0.75 FTE or higher are provided long-term disability insurance at no cost. This policy provides a tax-free monthly benefit equal to 60% of basic monthly earnings, up to a maximum of $5,000 per month. Coverage is effective on the first day of employment and includes a 180-day elimination period. This is a specialty own-occupation policy.
- You also have the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your covered dependents, through both the UFSelect Plan and the State of Florida. Rates are age banded and based on your UF salary portion only.
- You also have the option to purchase additional disability insurance for you through the UFSelect Plan. There are 30-day and 90-day plans to choose from and you are responsible for the monthly premium rates.
The Standard
Christine D’Angelo, National Accounts Consultant
Phone: 813-878-0283
Email: Christine.Dangelo@standard.com
Website: https://www.standard.com/
Preferred Legal Plan
Schedule of Benefits includes:
- Divorce
- Child Support, Custody and Visitation
- Traffic Tickets / Suspended Licenses / DUI
- Credit Repair
- Loan Modifications / Foreclosures
- Bankruptcy
- Wills / Powers of Attorney / Living Wills
- Revocable Living Trusts
- Identity Theft Services
- Buying or Selling a Home
- IRS Issues
- Landlord-Tenant Disputes
- Probate
- Garnishments
- Civil Litigation / Small Claims
- HOA / Condo Disputes
- Immigration
- Personal Injury
- Criminal Defense
- Domestic Violence
- Car Accidents
Member Benefits include:
- Free unlimited legal advice via phone consultation
- Free review of legal documents (real estate contracts, lease agreements, court papers, etc.)
- Free letters and phone calls on your behalf to third parties to resolve disputes
- Free credit repair and settling of accounts in collection
- Free identity theft protection and restoration
- Free loan modification assistance and foreclosure defense
- Free face-to-face initial consultations with local attorneys
- Free wills for member and spouse or domestic partner (powers of attorney and living wills also available)
- Free legal forms available through the Form Library (bills of sale, court forms, promissory notes, contracts, affidavits, etc.)
Preferred Legal Plan
Phone: 1-888-577-3476
Website: www.preferredlegal.com
4. How to Enroll in UFSelect
UF College of Medicine, UFSelect Enrollment Instructions.
- Log in to the myUFL System. Visit the myUFL system at my.ufl.edu. Enter your Gatorlink username and password. After you log into the portal, use the following navigation: Main Menu > My Self Service > Benefits > Benefits Enrollment.
- Access Your Open Event. Click the Select button next to the open event (for example, new hire, marriage, birth). Elections must be completed within 60 days from your event date, which is displayed on the page. In the fall, an event for Open Enrollment will also be made available. Elections made during Open Enrollment are effective January 1.
- Select Your Benefits. Click the Edit button next to each plan to review your coverage options and to add or remove dependents/beneficiaries if applicable. The “Election Summary” section displayed at the bottom of the page reflects any plan selections you make, along with the total biweekly costs.
- Add Dependent/Beneficiary Information. Select a plan to add or remove dependent information. For security, UF’s Privacy Office requires validation of your SSN and date of birth to complete the entry. On the dependent page you must enter the date of birth and SSN for each dependent, along with the required fields indicated by an asterisk. On life plans, your beneficiaries do not need the SSN. Missing dependent information will delay your coverage.
- Select Dependent Coverage / Assign Beneficiaries. After adding dependents, follow the hyperlinks on each page to return to your Enrollment Session. From the Dependent/Beneficiary list, you MUST select each person in order to enroll them in coverage or assign them as a beneficiary. Click the Update Elections button to store your selections and return to the Enrollment Summary page to review other plan options.
- Submit Your Enrollment Selections. Verify that your benefit selections are complete and accurate. Finalize your enrollment by clicking the Submit button. Coverage is assigned to begin on your event date (see Step 2). Once you click Submit, your elections are final and no other changes can be made.
Please note, you can save your progress by clicking the Update Elections button. After you click the Submit button, your selections are final and can only be changed during Open Enrollment or if you have a Qualified Event.
5. State of Florida Insurance: PPO & HMO Options
PeopleFirst Service Center
Phone: 866-663-4735, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET
Website: https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/health
State of Florida health plan comparison (network services)
| Feature | State PPO (Standard) | State HMO (Standard) | High-Deductible PPO | High-Deductible HMO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage Area | Entire U.S. / Worldwide | HMO Service Area | Entire U.S. / Worldwide | HMO Service Area |
| Provider | Any | In-network Only | Any | In-Network Only |
| Pre-existing Condition Provision | No | No | No | No |
| Cost (Spouse / Individual / Family) | $15 Spouse Program; $50 Individual; $180 Family | $15 Spouse Program; $50 Individual; $180 Family | Not available (Spouse); $15 Individual; $64.30 Family | Not available (Spouse); $15 Individual; $64.30 Family |
| Calendar Year Deductible (Individual / Family) | $250 / $500 | $0 | $1,400 / $2,800 | $1,400 / $2,800 |
| Office Visits (General / Specialist) | $15 / $25 | $20 / $40 | 20% after CYD | 20% after CYD |
| Prescriptions | $7 generic; $30 preferred brand; $50 non-preferred brand | $7 generic; $30 preferred brand; $50 non-preferred brand | 30% generic (after CYD); 30% preferred brand (after CYD); 50% non-preferred brand (after CYD) | 30% generic (after CYD); 30% preferred brand (after CYD); 50% non-preferred brand (after CYD) |
The state contributes $41.66/month for single coverage (up to $500/year) and $83.33/month for family coverage (up to $1,000/year).
- * Comparison of Network Services only. (Non-Network is available for the PPO Plan, however it is more costly.)
- ** Cost per month based on a full-time, 1.0 FTE employee.
- *** Only after CYD (Calendar Year Deductible).
For all additional state insurances (dental, vision, life, etc.), see the College of Medicine Housestaff Benefits and Additional Insurances resource. (Link the “Benefits and Additional Insurances” video/page here.)
For the Summary Plan Description (SPD), refer to: https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/myhealth/publications_and_resources
Spouse Program: If you and your spouse work for a State of Florida agency, you may be eligible to participate in the State’s Spouse Program. Contact the COM-HR team for enrollment assistance.
6. State of Florida Supplemental Insurance
All pricing is specific to the individual employee. Please contact the provider for monthly premiums.
Accident
Helps you pay the following types of expenses when injured during a covered accident:
- Expensive medical treatment for broken bones and dislocations, or physical therapy.
- Crutches, wheelchairs or other medical aids you may need as a result of your accident.
- Copays and deductibles.
Provider: Colonial Life (Colonial Insurance Company), 888-756-6701
Cancer
Depending on the plan you choose, supplemental benefits for:
- Cancer diagnosis and treatment, including certain screening tests.
- Procedures and treatments you may require to care for your cancer.
Providers:
- Aflac (through Capital Insurance Agency), 800-780-3100
- Colonial Life (Colonial Insurance Company), 888-756-6701
Disability
Helps supplement your income during short-term disability to help you pay the following expenses:
- Mortgage or rent payments, utility bills and other household expenses.
- Food, clothing and other necessities.
- Copayments and health costs not covered under other plans.
- Travel and lodging expenses for treatment.
Provider: Colonial Life (Colonial Insurance Company), 888-756-6701
Hospitalization
Daily cash payments when you are hospitalized.
Providers:
- Cigna (through Capital Insurance Agency), 800-780-3100
- New Era (through State Securities Corp.), 800-277-2300
Hospital Intensive Care
Daily benefit for confinement in a hospital intensive care or a sub-acute intensive care unit.
Provider: Aflac (through Capital Insurance Agency), 800-780-3100
Flexible Spending Account
A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) lets you use pretax payroll deductions to pay for eligible healthcare and dependent care expenses, helping reduce your taxable income.
Provider: Chard Snyder Service Center, 1-855-824-9284. For more information, please visit https://www.chard-snyder.com/.
7. How to Enroll in State Insurance
State of Florida Enrollment Instructions, PeopleFirst Service Center, 1-866-663-4735.
- Log on to https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com. Note: Certain web browsers are not supported on this site. Disable the pop-up blocker on your browser before you begin.
- Enter your ID and password. User ID (7-digit ID number): You can obtain it by calling 866-663-4735 or by going to MyUFL.edu > Main Menu > My Self Service > My Benefits > PFID and Beneficiary. If you have not established a password before, use:
PeopleFirstMMDDYYYY!For example, a 1/1/70 date of birth would bePeopleFirst01011970! - Change your password and complete three security questions. Click the “Save and Logon” button to proceed with enrollment. Click on the People First Password Guidelines link and review. Passwords must follow the delineated criteria to be approved.
- Select the Change My Benefits link to begin your enrollment. You may view your benefits summary, premium history, dependent information, etc. by accessing the links on this page any time during the year.
- Select your qualifying event. This screen displays your event (hire, open enrollment, etc.) and your deadline to enroll in benefits.
- Register/validate eligible dependents if applicable. Name, birth date, social security number, etc. are required for each entry. This list is used later to attach dependents onto your plans. Detailed instructions can be found in the People First Dependent Certification Process guide. (If enrolling in individual coverage, skip this section and go to the next step.)
- Click Add to select a plan or Cancel to remove a plan. Select dependents for each plan if applicable.
- Verify your selections and any dependents if added. Coverage is assigned based on the payroll cycle. Health is the only plan that provides an option to request an earlier coverage date for new hires.
- Enter your password and click the Complete Enrollment button to finalize your elections. No other changes are permitted until the next open enrollment period or if you have a qualified event. Print the confirmation sheet for your records.
Note: Once you have enrolled in your benefits, your information will be transmitted to the vendor within 1-2 weeks of the effective date. If you need to access care and have not received your ID card, please contact People First at 866-663-4735.
8. Mandatory Retirement Plan
FICA Alternative Plan
Below are the mandatory contributions by you as the employee for your retirement plan as a University of Florida College of Medicine OPS employee.
Fidelity
Phone: 1-866-973-5022
Plan: FICA Alternative
The FICA Alternative Plan is a defined contribution plan authorized under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. Employees in certain temporary positions are mandated to participate in lieu of earning credit for Social Security. Participants contribute 7.50% of their wages and decide how to allocate the money in their account among the available investment funds. The benefit depends on the amount of money contributed and its growth over time.
Mandatory Employee: 7.50% of biweekly earnings.
Voluntary employee contributions are not permitted to this plan.
All OPS employees must designate a future rollover plan to take the funds with you upon termination.
9. Voluntary Retirement Plan
403(b) Plans & 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
The University of Florida offers voluntary retirement savings plans, the 403(b) and 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan, to help employees supplement their core retirement benefits. These optional, employee-funded plans allow you to contribute through payroll deductions on a pre-tax and/or Roth (after-tax) basis, subject to IRS limits. While there is no employer contribution, both plans offer valuable tax advantages and flexible investment options. Employees may contribute to one or both plans, and because each has separate IRS limits, participating in both can significantly enhance long-term retirement savings.
University of Florida 403(b) Plan (Tax-Deferred or After-Tax Roth), through Fidelity: https://hr.ufl.edu/benefits/retirement/plans/voluntary-403b/
457 Deferred Compensation Plan: https://www.myfloridacfo.com/DeferredComp/
Bureau of Deferred Compensation
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET
Toll-Free: 877-299-8002
Fax: 850-488-7186
Address: 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399
Email: DeferredCompensation@MyFloridaCFO.com
All contributions are subject to IRS guidelines. Please find current limits here: https://hr.ufl.edu/benefits/retirement/enrollment/plan-limits/
10. UF COM Housestaff Leave Plan
UF College of Medicine.
As a College of Medicine Housestaff at UF, you are entitled to the following leave options. Leave accruals are prorated based on an employee’s FTE. Rates below are for 1.0 FTE, 12-month employees. Please speak with your supervisor regarding departmental leave policies and tracking processes.
Sick Leave
Housestaff will be provided 10 sick days per contract year. Sick time does not accrue from year to year and there is no provision to compensation in lieu of time off. Earned sick leave may be approved for time off from work because of your exposure to a contagious disease that may endanger others, for your personal visits to doctors or dentists, and for your personal illness which includes disability caused, or contributed to, by pregnancy.
Additionally, sick leave may be used in reasonable amounts for illness, injury, or death within your immediate family, pending the Program Director’s approval. In instances of a serious medical condition of the Housestaff or a member of the Housestaff’s immediate family, Housestaff may be eligible for an extended medical leave of absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Vacation Leave
Housestaff will be provided 15 vacation days per contract year. Vacation time does not accrue from year to year and there is no provision to compensation in lieu of time off. Vacation time does not carry forward, although exceptions may be made on an individual basis when specifically allowed by the program’s certification board and approved in advance by the Program Director. In the event a Housestaff leaves before, vacation time shall be pro-rated at one week per quarter and time owed can be taken as terminal vacation. Time that has been taken will not be required to be paid back.
Parental / Medical Leave
Housestaff may be provided up to 30 consecutive days of paid leave in a rolling 12-month period. Parental/Medical Leave time does not accrue from year to year and there is no provision to compensation in lieu of time off. Housestaff can use this time to cover absences related to parental leave (birth, adoption, fostering), a personal illness/injury, an immediate family member’s illness/injury. Housestaff are not required to exhaust their accrued leave in order to use this benefit. Program may require use of this leave in full week increments, based on the Housestaff’s regularly scheduled work week. Eligibility for medical leave will require a medical certification from the Housestaff’s or Housestaff’s immediate family member’s physician and will be approved under the same conditions provided under the Family Medical Leave Act.
Professional Development Leave
This leave is determined and granted by the individual Program Directors. Time spent attending professional meetings, conferences, job or fellowship interviews, or taking board examinations or other examinations is not counted as vacation if the activity provided the time is approved in advance by the Program Director and does not exceed the program’s allotted limit.
FMLA Leave (unpaid)
The University of Florida values its employees and recognizes the challenges employees can face when it comes to balancing work and personal responsibilities, particularly when those responsibilities are related to the employee’s own health and the health of loved ones. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons. To be eligible for FMLA, you must have at least 12 months of employment with UF, worked at least 1,250 hours for UF during the 12 months prior to starting FMLA leave, and not exhausted your current entitlement.
For questions regarding leave, please contact the UFHR Central Leave team at central-leave@ufl.edu or (352) 392-2477.
11. Wellness Benefits
Employee Assistance Program
University of Florida faculty, staff, graduate assistants, non-student OPS employees, housestaff/residents, and postdoc associates who live within the State of Florida, as well as their spouses or domestic partners, are eligible for six free counseling sessions (per presenting concern) with one of three dedicated therapists.
BabyGator
UF Early Childhood Collaboratory has three centers on campus that serve infants ages 6 weeks to 5 years old. Our centers are NAEYC accredited, offer VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten), and are school readiness centers.
Employee Education Program
The Employee Education Program, or EEP, is an opportunity funded by university resources that enables full-time eligible staff and faculty employees who have been employed in good standing for at least six months to receive tuition assistance for up to six credit hours of instruction per semester at the state university closest to their work location.