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3.13 / Benefits Applicable to University Employees

Death/Long-term Disability Insurance:
To be eligible for this coverage, an employee must work a minimum of half-time and must be eligible to participate in a retirement program.  This coverage is provided by KPERS-Kansas Public Employees Retirement System.  The life insurance coverage will be 150 percent of annual salary, and the disability coverage will be 66-2/3 percent of annual salary, offset by awards from Social Security or Workers' Compensation.  Coverage of this insurance commences upon the date of employment and ceases at date of termination or retirement.

Dental Insurance:
All employees in health plans with single coverage are also enrolled in the dental program.  A member may elect to provide dental coverage for all dependents that are enrolled in the medical coverage through the State of Kansas group.

Flexible Spending Accounts Program (KanElect):
KanElect flexible spending accounts program (FSA) is offered by the State of Kansas to benefits-eligible employees when they first sign up for health insurance.  It allows the employee to pay for Group Health Insurance, unreimbursed health care expenses, and dependent day care expenses with pretax dollars.

The KanElect program offers three benefit plans:
  1. Pretax Premium Option - allows the employee to pay for the cost of Health Plan coverage with pretax or after-tax dollars. 
  2. Health Care Flexible Spending Account - allows the employee to use pretax money to pay for certain expenses allowed by the IRS but not reimbursed by medical, dental, prescription drug or vision insurance.
  3. Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account - allows the employee to use pretax money to pay for day care expenses.
Employees who wish to continue the flexible spending account(s) must re-enroll each year during the Fall Open Enrollment period.

Optional Group Life Insurance:
A newly hired benefits-eligible employee can receive $50,000 of optional life insurance coverage without providing proof of good health if they enroll within the first 30 days of employment.  The premium cost is based upon age and is paid entirely by the employee through payroll deduction.

An employee may start or increase coverage at any time during the year with proof of good health.  The maximum optional life insurance that can be purchased is $250,000.  A change in family status (the birth or adoption of a child, a change in marital status) will permit an employee to enroll or change coverage by $25,000 without proof of good health within 30 days of the change.

Retirement:
Faculty and unclassified professional employees may be eligible to participate in the Board of Regents Retirement Plan.  Classified employees may be eligible for participation in the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System.  University police officers may be eligible to affiliate with the Kansas Police and Fireman System.  See Sections 5.01 (faculty), 6.09 (unclassified professionals) and 7.16 (classified employees and university police officers) of this manual for specific details.

Phased Retirement:
The Kansas Legislature has authorized the Kansas Board of Regents to develop and implement a phased retirement program for unclassified employees who are at least 55 years of age and who have completed at least ten years of full-time service at a Regents University (see K.S.A. 76-746, as amended).  The Kansas Board of Regents has chosen to develop and implement such a program and has promulgated regulations which can be found at Article 12 of Chapter 88 of the Kansas Administrative Regulations (a copy of the regulations may also be obtained from the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel).  Participation in the phased retirement program shall be voluntary on the part of the unclassified employee and Wichita State University, except that the University shall refuse to enter into such an arrangement when execution of such an agreement is deemed not to be in the best interests of Wichita State University.

Those interested in additional details of the phased retirement program may contact the office of the Vice President and General Counsel and/or the Employee Benefits Officer in the Office of Human Resources.  Those interested in participation should advise their immediate supervisor, who should then contact the office of their divisional vice president.  All requests for participation must be submitted in writing.

Social Security:
The University is a participant in the Federal Social Security Program.  This program is often referred to as OASDI (Old Age, Survivor and Disability Insurance).  Under this plan, employee and employer contributions are deposited with the Social Security Administration and Medicare Administration and are available to employees in the form of retirement, disability, and death benefits.

State Group Health Insurance:
The State of Kansas has group health and hospitalization plans available to eligible employees.  Employees pay a percentage of the cost of their health plan coverage based on the rate for each plan and on the employee's salary range.  Dependent coverage is available at an additional cost based on plan, options and salary.

Go to http://www.accesskansas.org/employee/ for complete information on the health plans available.

Tax Deferred Annuities/Deferred Compensation:
Two programs of tax deferral are available to University employees.  Eligible employees may sign up for these plans at any time during their employment.
  1. "Deferred Compensation" (457) is available immediately to all benefits-eligible employees upon employment through the ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company.  All contracts are held by the State.  This plan is designed as a retirement supplement.
  2. Voluntary Tax Sheltered Annuities (403b) are available immediately to all benefits-eligible employees.  For a list of participating companies, employees should contact the Office of Human Resources - Benefits Area.  The contract is between the employee and the company selected.
United States Savings Bonds:
Employees of the State of Kansas, with positions requiring more than 1,000 hours of service per year may participate in the payroll plan for purchase of United States "EE" Savings Bonds.  Payroll deductions for savings bonds begin at a minimum of $5 per pay period.  The bond, after the purchase price is accumulated, is mailed directly to the owner.  Savings Bonds are safe, protected from loss, easily converted to cash, and have special tax advantages.

Workers' Compensation:
All employees on the state payroll, including: faculty, unclassified professional, classified and student employees, are covered by the Workers Compensation Act.  The following procedures must be followed in order to insure correct processing and investigation of work-related accidents or occupational illnesses.  All claims are processed and managed by the State Self Insurance Fund under the direction of the Kansas Department of Administration.

Workers' Compensation Process and Procedures:
All state-paid employees involved in a work related accident or illness are required to complete a WSU Accident or Illness form and submit it to the Office of Human Resources - Employee Relations & Training Area (Campus Box 115) within ten (10) days of an accident.

The State Self Insurance Fund has designated medical providers for employees who need treatment for a work-related accident or occupational illness.  WSU employees should report to one of the following medical providers for treatment if they want to be considered for complete reimbursement of expenses.  Employees should tell the medical provider that they are a WSU employee and that the injury occurred at work.  The approved medical providers are:

  1. WSU Student Health Services - 209 Ahlberg Hall, WSU Campus.  Hours are: Fall and Spring semesters - M & T 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., W-F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  Summer semester - M-F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  2. Wichita Clinic Occupational Health Services -  901 S. George Washington Blvd. (the "901 Building") Hours are 8:00 a.m. to  5:00 p.m. M-F, closed Saturday and Sunday.
  3. Wesley Medical Center - Emergency Room - 550 N. Hillside.  (For injuries that occur during times when the Wichita Clinic is not open, or in the event of a life-threatening injury.)

Except in life-threatening situations, if an employee decides to receive medical services by any facility other than Wichita Clinic Occupational Health Services or Wesley Medical Center Emergency Room, reimbursement will be limited to $500 toward medical expenses.

Before returning to work, the employee must provide a work release form.  The work release should first be shown to the employee's supervisor and then be forwarded to the Office of Human Resources - Employee Relations & Training Area at Campus Box 115.  Employees should abide by any restrictions placed on them by their treating physician, and continue to follow the prescribed treatment plan until the treating physician indicates that the employee can return to "regular/full" duties.  Send all original work release forms from the treating physician to the Office of Human Resources - Employee Relations & Training Area.

WSU Employees Association Programs:
The WSU Employees Association has been formed to provide certain group insurance programs and services that are not available to faculty and staff through the State of Kansas.  All University employees and the related corporations, and retired employees, are eligible to become members of the association.  Voting members (who elect the association's council) are required to participate in the association's program of direct deposit of payroll checks and to participate in the association's group term life insurance program.  The association's activities are administered through the Office of Human Resources in cooperation with the Controller's Office.  The various programs and services available through the association are described below.

Group Term Life Insurance:
Group term life insurance is available through the association.  Premium rates are based on age. Also available to group life policyholders is dependent life insurance coverage.

Accident Insurance:
Accidental death and dismemberment insurance is available through the association.

Cancer Insurance:
The association has available a Cancer, Hospital, and Additional Income Policy.  Several plan variations are available in both individual and family coverage.

Payroll Deductions:
An integral part of the association's activities is a provision for payroll deductions through the association.  Deductions may be authorized through the association for the following purposes:

  1. Group term life insurance premiums.
  2. Accident insurance premiums.
  3. Cancer insurance premiums.
  4. United Way contributions.
  5. Campus Credit Union savings or loan payments.

Revision Date:
April 7, 1998
November 8, 2002
May 24, 2005
August 15, 2008

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