Health and Welfare benefits include medical Insurance, dental Insurance, vision Insurance, life insurance, long term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, and COBRA benefits. Please use the menu on the left hand side of this page to learn more about each benefit.
Medical Insurance
Employees have a choice of six comprehensive medical plans. The university provides a considerable subsidy toward employee and dependent premiums. If employee is covered by other health insurance, they may be eligible for a cash benefit up to $100 per month.
Coverage for new hires begins on the first of the month following or concurrent with date of hire assuming all completed forms are received by Total Compensation and Wellness within 30 days of hire date. Our annual Open Enrollment period for the medical plans is in the fall with the new coverage beginning January 1 of the following year.
Dental Insurance
Eligible faculty and staff have a comprehensive dental plan with the Delta Dental Plan of Michigan. For new hires, coverage begins on the first of the month following or concurrent with your date of hire. The university pays the entire premium for the employee and all eligible enrolled dependents.
Vision Insurance
Vision coverage through EyeMed, a national leader in vision care, includes comprehensive benefits for eye exams, glasses and contacts. The program features a $10 copay for the exam and a $10 copay for lenses. There is no limitation on selection of materials, with benefits and allowances applied toward any brand of frame, lens or contact lens available at a network provider location. Also included in the plan are discounts on laser surgery, sunglasses and other vision accessories. The vision coverage provides high quality and affordable eye care. The vision coverage will be automatically provided as an additional level of coverage to all eligible employees who are enrolled in a medical plan.
Life Insurance
Upon employment, the university provides eligible employees with term life insurance with The Standard. The basic coverage amount equals your salary. Supplemental insurance coverage is available in amounts of one, two or three your annual salary at a subsidized cost to the employee. University retirees receive $2,500 in term life insurance paid for by WSU. Coverage begins on the date of hire for new employees.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Flexible spending accounts allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for your unreimbursed medical and/or dependent care expenses. Your eligibility to participate in the health and dependent care spending accounts is determined by your classification and union representation. Enrollment coinsides with medical insurance Open Enrollment in the fall with the new coverage beginning January 1 of the following year.
Long-term Disability
Your LTD benefit provides a monthly income benefit equal to a percentage of your monthly wage base. Benefits begin after six months of permanent and total disability and are offset by other income benefits associated with your disability including but not limited to, Social Security Benefits and Worker's Compensation. The medical rates for persons receiving LTD benefits are subsidized by the university. The university covers the cost of any existing life insurance coverage. If you were participating in the retirement plan at the start of your disability, The Standard contributes up to 15% of your last day of work salary to your retirement funds. The long-term disability income benefit is 66-2/3% of your base salary to a maximum benefit of $7,000/month.
COBRA Benefits
Wayne State University employees covered by the university medical and dental plan have the right to choose COBRA continuation coverage if one loses group health coverage because of a reduction in hours of employment or the termination of employment (for reasons other than gross misconduct on their part).
Spouses of employees covered by the university medical and dental plan have the right to choose continuation coverage for themselves if they lose group health coverage for any of the following reasons: the death of the employee; or termination of spouse(employee's) employment (for reasons other than gross misconduct) or reduction in your spouse's hours of employment; or divorce or legal separation from spouse; or spouse becomes eligible for Medicare; or if they become eligible for Social Security disability.