This guide has been designed to assist our Postdoctoral Associates 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 – Postdoc Associates
| Benefit | Provider / Coverage | Effective Date | Who Pays Premium | Enrollment (within 60 Days of Hire) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Insurance | GatorCare Options | Date of Hire | UF / Employee | UFSelect | 2 |
| Health Insurance | PPO (FloridaBlue) or HMO (depends on county) (0.75-1.0 FTE) | 1st of the Following Enrollment | Employee | PeopleFirst (State Plans) | 5 |
| Life Insurance | MetLife | 1st of the Following Enrollment | Employee | PeopleFirst (State Plans) | 6 |
| Life Insurance | The Standard | Date of Hire | Employee | UFSelect | 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 |
| Disability Insurance | The Standard | 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) | 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 – Postdoctoral Associate
| 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. 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. |
For additional information, review the plan documents at https://gatorcare.org/plans/com-gnv/.
Monthly Premiums
| Coverage Level | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Employee Only | $0.00 |
| Employee & Spouse / Domestic Partner | $180.00 |
| Employee & Children | $180.00 |
| Employee & Family | $180.00 |
For all additional insurances (dental, vision, life, etc.), see the College of Medicine Postdoctoral Associates 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
AD&D, Disability, and Life (The Standard)
- You may elect Voluntary Term Life and AD&D insurance for yourself as well as for your spouse/domestic partner and dependent children.
- Employees may elect from $10,000 to $800,000 in Voluntary Term Life and AD&D insurance in increments of $10,000. The new hire Guarantee Issue amount (amount without evidence of insurability) is $300,000.* During each open enrollment period, employees may increase coverage without evidence of insurability by $10,000, up to the plan maximum of $800,000, as long as the employee has not been previously declined for a Life Insurance increase by The Standard.
- For a spouse/domestic partner, an employee may elect from $5,000 to $400,000 in Voluntary Term Life and AD&D insurance in increments of $5,000.
- For an eligible child, an employee may elect from $5,000 to $25,000 in Voluntary Term Life and AD&D insurance in increments of $5,000.*
- When an employee turns 76, Employee coverage reduces to $10,000 on the January 1 coinciding with or next following their 76th birthday. Spouse and child coverage if applicable will also reduce to $10,000 at that time, as it cannot exceed 100% of the employee amount.
Voluntary disability insurance from Standard Insurance Company (The Standard) is designed to pay a benefit to you in the event you can’t work because of a covered illness or injury. This benefit replaces a portion of your income, thus helping you to meet your financial commitments in a time of need.
- Under this plan you may choose one of two options: The 30-day plan begins paying benefits after 30 days. The first 60 days of benefits are paid on a weekly basis. Following 60 days of benefits, beginning on day 90, benefits are paid on a monthly basis.
- The 90-day plan begins paying benefits on a monthly basis after 90 days.
- The disability benefit is based on your earnings from your employer.
The benefit under this plan is determined as follows:
- 66 2/3% of the first $22,500 of your monthly predisability earnings, reduced by deductible income.
- The maximum monthly benefit is $15,000.
- The minimum monthly benefit is the greater of $100, or 10% of your LTD benefit before reduction by deductible income.
- Benefits pay from the end of the elimination period until Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA), as long as you meet the definition of disability as specified in the policy.
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.)
- Free notary services
- 40% to 70% reduced legal fees for panel attorney representation
- Comprehensive legal coverage (including all divorce, child support and custody issues)
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week access
- All pre-existing issues are covered
- Spouse (or domestic partner), dependent children and entire household covered
- Unlimited, immediate use of membership
- All communications strictly confidential
- Florida-based plan. Out-of-state assistance available.
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 Postdoctoral Associates 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 Life Insurance (MetLife)
MetLife
Phone: 844-222-9104
Website: https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/myhealth/life_insurance_plans
Basic Term Life Insurance Coverage
A basic group term life insurance benefit of $25,000 is available to all full-time OPS employees. The employee would pay the entire monthly premium, if enrolled.
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.
7. 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/.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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/
11. UF Leave
UF College of Medicine.
Postdoctoral Associate Leave may be used for vacation, sickness, or injury. The accrual rate is 5 hours biweekly, and is pro-rated based on FTE (full-time equivalent).
The maximum accrual is 352 hours. Postdoctoral Associates should coordinate and request leave through their supervisor. Postdoctoral Leave has no cash value and is not transferrable to other positions at UF.
Postdoctoral Associates are also eligible for the December Personal Leave days as well as all holidays with pay. December Personal Leave days are typically used between December 26th and 31st. However, due to department staffing needs, these days will be available for use until the end of the current fiscal year (June 30th).
The holidays include:
- New Year’s Day, Wednesday, January 1
- Martin Luther King, Jr’s Birthday, Monday, January 20
- Memorial Day, Monday, May 26
- Juneteenth, Thursday, June 19
- Independence Day, Friday, July 4
- Labor Day, Monday, September 1
- Homecoming (observed), TBA
- Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11
- Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 27 & Friday, November 28
- Christmas, Thursday, December 25
FMLA Leave
Postdoctoral Associates are eligible for up to 12 work weeks of FMLA leave, once the employee has worked at least 12 months (need not be consecutive), and also has worked at least 1,250 hours during the 12 months prior to the start of the FMLA leave. Breaks in employment do not affect this total. It is a cumulative total of the number of months the employee has been employed by the University. More FMLA information is available here: https://benefits.hr.ufl.edu/time-away/fmla/
For questions regarding leave, please contact the UFHR Central Leave team at central-leave@ufl.edu or (352) 392-2477.
12. 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.