Health Benefits Policy Highlights and Procedure

Postdoctoral scholars are eligible to participate in the UC Postdoctoral Scholar Benefit Plan (UC PSBP), which includes medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), short term disability, and voluntary long term disability. As a condition of appointment, postdoctoral scholars must have adequate health insurance coverage for the duration of their appointment.

UC Postdoctoral Scholar Benefit Plan includes:

  • Medical: Health Net HMO or PPO
  • Dental: Health Net DHMO or Principal Point of Service
  • Vision: Health Net PPO
  • Life: The Standard Insurance
  • AD&D: The Standard Insurance
  • Short-Term Disability: The Standard Insurance
  • Voluntary Long-Term Disability: The Standard Insurance

Eligible postdoctoral scholars will be automatically enrolled in life, AD&D, and short-term disability.

All postdoctoral scholars and their dependents are automatically covered for medical evacuation and repatriation benefits necessary to satisfy the J Visa Program.

For detailed information about the UC Postdoctoral Scholar Benefit Plan, visit Gallagher Benefits Services website.

Eligibility

New postdoctoral scholars appointed in any of the postdoctoral scholar titles will have 31 days from their date of appointment to enroll themselves and eligible family members.

Family member eligibility requirements are the same as the family member eligibility requirements for the University of California Faculty and Staff plans. The major family member eligibility categories are the following:

  • Spouse
  • Natural or adopted child or children to age 26 for medical plans (unless eligible to continue coverage because of disability). Adult age children are not eligible to enroll if they are eligible for their own employer-sponsored plan.
  • Same-sex or opposite-sex domestic partner, as long as the relationship meets established criteria.

Note: When two family members are employed through the UC, duplicate coverage is not allowed.

Eligible family members must be enrolled with the same coverage start date as you, which is the date of appointment. However, you may enroll eligible family members at a later time due to a qualifying event.

Failure to enroll yourself, or enroll your dependents, within this time frame could result in a significant delay in access to coverage, or the inability to enroll yourself and/or your dependents until the next Open Enrollment period.

Enrollment

Enroll or make changes to your benefits via the UCPath website. If you have questions on how to enroll or make changes to your benefits, please contact UCPath Center via the UCPath website, (855) 982-7284, or ucpath@universityofcalifornia.edu.

Opt Out

As a condition of appointment, postdoctoral scholars must have adequate health insurance coverage for the duration of their appointment. If a postdoctoral scholar elects to opt out of UC PSBP, Postdoctoral Scholar Health Benefits Opt Out Form must be completed and submitted to their department administrator.

Postdoctoral scholar titles do not provide eligibility for other UC-sponsored health benefit plans. Individuals may be eligible for other UC-sponsored plans through spouses or concurrently held titles.

Postdoctoral Scholar Contributions

The costs to plans for which the University does not contribute are to be paid by postdoctoral scholars. It is the postdoctoral scholar’s responsibility to ensure timely payment of health benefit premiums. The University is not responsible for benefits cancellation due to premium non-payment. Postdoctoral scholar contribution rates are outlined in plan rates.

University Contributions

Postdoctoral scholars who elect to enroll in UC PSBP will have their insurance premiums covered in full by the sponsoring department except for the costs of the postdoctoral scholars’ required monthly premium contributions. Postdoctoral scholars are automatically enrolled in the life, AD&D, and short-term disability programs. The University provides these coverages at no cost to postdoctoral scholars. In addition, the University shall pay the workers compensation assessment and the benefit broker fee for all postdoctoral scholars. Postdoctoral Scholars cannot be compelled to cover University contributions.

Open Enrollment

UC PSBP provides an annual open enrollment period during which eligible postdoctoral scholars may elect to change specific plan or coverage options. Open enrollment provides an opportunity for postdoctoral scholars to choose among plans due to changes in circumstances of the postdoctoral scholars, changes in the coverage and costs of, and changes in plan availability. Open enrollment is typically held in October-November.

Qualifying Events

If you are currently enrolled, you may be able to enroll a newly eligible family member(s) (and/or change your Medical and Dental plan types) if you experience one of the following qualifying life events:

  • Marriage
  • Domestic partnership
  • Family member(s) arrival in the U.S.
  • Birth
  • Adoption

Questions?

For questions about UC PSBP or general eligibility questions, contact your departmental HR/personnel representative or contact Gallagher Benefits Services at (800) 254-1758 or UniversityServices.GBS.psbp@ajg.com.

For questions about enrollment or paycheck deductions, contact UCPath Center via the UCPath website, (855) 982-7284, or ucpath@universityofcalifornia.edu.

Access the UC-UAW PX contract for complete policy. For additional information about your health benefits, please contact your department administrator. 

In 2019, Garnett-Powers & Associates merged with Gallagher Benefits Services. While the branding of the website and materials transitioned to Gallagher, you may continue to see references to Garnett-Powers & Associates on the website. As the transition continues, the web address will be updated and you will be re-directed accordingly.

Information on this website regarding postdoctoral scholar benefits are based on the previous UAW Bargaining Contract [ratified on 10/17/16]. For the most current information, please refer to the recently ratified contract: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/px/contract.html.