This guide has been designed to assist our OPS employees with understanding the rich benefit program that the State of Florida 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 (OPS, 0.75-1.0 FTE)
Employee Benefits Overview – OPS (0.75-1.0 FTE)
| Benefit | Provider / Coverage | Effective Date | Who Pays Premium | Enrollment (within 60 Days of Hire) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Insurance | PPO (FloridaBlue) or HMO (depends on county) | 1st of the Following Enrollment | Employee | PeopleFirst (State Plans) | 5 |
| Life Insurance | MetLife. $25,000 (0.75-1.0 FTE) | Date of Hire | Employee | PeopleFirst (State Plans) | 6 |
| Dental Insurance | Ameritas, Cigna, Humana, MetLife, & Sun Life Financial | 1st of the Following Enrollment | Employee | PeopleFirst (State Plans) | 5 |
| Vision | Humana | 1st of the Following Enrollment | Employee | PeopleFirst (State Plans) | 5 |
| Supplemental Plans (Accident, Cancer, Disability, Hospitalization & Hospital Intensive Care) | Aflac, Cigna, Colonial Life, New Era | 1st of the Following Enrollment | Employee | PeopleFirst (State Plans) | 7 |
| Savings & Spending Accounts | Chard Snyder: Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account & Health Reimbursement Account | 1st of the Following Enrollment | Employee | PeopleFirst (State Plans) | 7 |
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 – OPS (0.75-1.0 FTE)
| Program | Effective Date | UF Contribution | Employee Contribution | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FICA Alternative Plan, Fidelity Investments | Date of Hire | None | 7.50% | 9 |
| 403(b) Plans & 457 Deferred Compensation Plan | Upon enrollment (begin/end anytime during the year) | None | Voluntary employee contribution up to IRS limit | 10 |
2. 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 OPS 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.
3. State of Florida Life Insurance (MetLife)
MetLife
Phone: 844-222-9104
Website: https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/myhealth/life_insurance_plans
Basic Term Life Insurance Coverage
A free, basic group term life insurance benefit of $25,000 is available to all full-time employees. Eligible part-time employees pay prorated premiums based on their FTE. This coverage is provided at no cost to full-time employees and all full-time employees are automatically enrolled upon their hire date. This coverage is portable by the employee paying the full cost once you have terminated.
Optional Term Life Insurance Coverage
Salaried employees enrolled in basic life insurance coverage can also elect additional term life insurance. Benefit amounts between 1 and 7 times base annual earnings, up to a maximum of $1,000,000 are available. Medical underwriting may be required.
Your optional life insurance premium will increase the month before (for coverage for the month of) your birthday when you change age bands. Your optional life insurance premium will change as the result of a change in annual salary on the effective date of the change in salary.
Guaranteed issue coverage gives you the option to purchase life insurance without providing evidence of insurability (EOI). This means you won’t be turned down for medical reasons. Guaranteed issue coverage may be available during annual open enrollment periods, qualified family status changes and when first eligible to enroll in your life insurance plan. If you apply for coverage above the guaranteed amount and are declined due to health reasons, you will still receive the guaranteed amount.
Optional Dependent Spouse Term Life Insurance Coverage
All employees enrolled in basic term life insurance may elect and pay for dependent spouse coverage. Spouses may be enrolled in either a $15,000 or $20,000 benefit. Dependent spouse coverage is guaranteed issue if elected when the spouse first becomes eligible.
Optional Dependent Child Term Life Insurance Coverage
All employees enrolled in basic term life insurance may elect and pay for dependent child coverage. The benefit for this coverage option is $10,000. The premium for dependent child coverage is $0.85 per month for all eligible children. Coverage is guaranteed issue.
4. 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/.
5. 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.
6. Mandatory Retirement Plans
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.
7. Voluntary Retirement Plans
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/