Different categories of graduate students are eligible for a slightly different set of benefits. Review the chart below to identify the benefits available to you. Additionally, there are separate sections describing each of the benefits plans.

Information for Department Administrators
GEO Members
Graduate Student Instructors (GSI)
Graduate Student Staff Assistants (GSSA)
Graduate Student Research Assistants (GSRA)
Benefit-Eligible Fellowship Holders
Medical School Students
July 2007 Pilot Group

¹ All regular and temporary, active staff members who receive a salary from the University are eligible for Travel Accident Insurance, except those whose jobs involve 50% or more travel.

BENEFITS ENROLLMENT
Generally, there are four times when you can enroll in or may be able to change your benefits at the University:

• as a newly hired or newly eligible GSI, GSSA or GSRA,or benefit-eligible fellowship holder or medical school student,
• after experiencing a qualified family status change, and
• during Open Enrollment

If you are a newly hired GSI, GSSA or GSRA, or a new benefit-eligible fellowship holder or medical school student, you will receive communications about how to enroll.  Newly eligible graduate students enroll online using eBenefits, which is available through Wolverine Access at: https://wolverineaccess.umich.edu (click on Employee Business or Student Business if you are a GSI, GSSA, or GSRA, or click on Student Business if you are a benefit-eligible fellowship or medical school student).  You have 30 days to enroll, add your dependents or waive coverage online.  For step-by-step instructions on enrolling in benefits, see How to use eBenefits on the Benefits Office Web site.

If you are enrolled in a medical plan, your prescription drug coverage is through SXC. You will receive a medical insurance card and a separate ID card for SXC.

If you had a benefit eligible position previously and had a break in your appointment, you will receive additional communications about re-enrolling.  This information will be mailed to you at your home address.

You can apply for enrollment in medical insurance if you were covered under a parent’s, spouse’s, or other qualified adult’s medical plan at the time of your initial eligibility, and later lost that coverage involuntarily. You must make application for coverage within 30 days of your loss of coverage.  Contact the HR/Payroll Service Center at 734-615-2000 for further details. 

CHANGES THAT AFFECT YOUR COVERAGE
Job changes or changes in eligibility for benefit groups can affect your benefits.  

• If you have multiple jobs or funding sources that are all benefit eligible, your eligibility will be based on the benefit group that provides the best benefit package.  For example, if you are a GSI and have a concurrent benefit eligible fellowship, your benefits are based on the GSI position.  The job family priority rules are:
      1.  Members of GEO (Graduate Student Instructors and Graduate
           Student Staff Assistants)
      2.  Graduate Student Research Assistants
      3.  Holders of a designated Rackham fellowship
      4.  Other fellowships
  
  
• Graduate Student Research Assistants (GSRAs) who are enrolled in GradCare and leave the service area may enroll in Blue Cross Blue Shield Community Blue PPO or Comprehensive Major Medical within 30 days of the move only if their employment terminates or job percentage is reduced below 25%.



• If you are a GSI, GSSA or GSRA and you terminate employment or become ineligible for benefits you may continue your health insurance plans under COBRA.  COBRA information may be found at http://www.umich.edu/~benefits/events/termination.htm

• If you are a fellowship holder or Medical School student, you can continue GradCare coverage under the GradCare continuance plan during periods when you are not receiving funding.  In these situations, you are eligible for Level 1 coverage. To learn more about this option or to enroll in the GradCare continuance plan, contact Blue Care Network (BCN) at 800-658-8878 within 30 days of the date your funding source ends.
  
  
• Continuation of medical insurance is available to non-employed GradCare members who are no longer eligible for coverage through the University of Michigan.  You may continue coverage for yourself and your eligible dependents through the OneBlue plan, administered by Blue Care Service Company of BCN.  Pre-existing condition clauses are waived for any GradCare members selecting a Blues product, as long as the enrollment occurs within the later of 30 days of your GradCare coverage end date or the date of notification.

  Information about OneBlue can be found on BCN’s Web site at: http://www.mibcn.com/home/health_care_coverage_options/individualCoverage.shtml.  Monthly premiums are per member, per month, and are based on the enrollee’s age, gender and smoking status.  Current rates can be found at: http://www.mibcn.com/home/health_care_coverage_options/OneBlueCalculatePremium.shtml. 

  If you need additional information or wish to enroll in OneBlue, contact BCN at 800-222-5992, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  (TTY for the hearing impaired 800-257-9980).

Spring/Summer Benefits Continuation for GSIs, GSSAs, and GSRAs
If you are a GEO member and were enrolled in benefits during the previous fall and the current winter terms, and are not graduating, you are eligible for University contributions during the spring/summer terms.

If you are a GEO member or a GSRA and if you are participating in any U-M benefit plans during the winter term (Term II), and you will be re-employed for the following fall term (Term I) with a one-quarter or greater employment fraction, benefits may continue during spring/summer term (Term III).

To ensure continuation of your benefits, your department must confirm your eligible Term I appointment in writing with the Benefits Office by April 10.

Review your April pay stub to see if benefits premiums have been deducted for the summer.

For more information, view the GSI, GSSA and GSRA Spring/Summer Benefits Continuation section.

GradCare
GradCare is a medical insurance program only available to University of Michigan Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs), Graduate Student Staff Assistants (GSSAs), Graduate Student Research Assistants (GSRAs), benefit-eligible fellowship holders, and medical school students. It is a "modified" point-of-service medical plan administered by Blue Care Network (BCN).

Identification Cards
When you enroll in GradCare you will receive an ID card from BCN. The card will show M Premier Care in the right hand corner. Primary Care Physician information and dependent names do not appear on the GradCare card, but the information is retained by the plan.

Prescription Drugs
When you enroll in a University medical insurance plan, including GradCare, you will be concurrently enrolled in the University Prescription Drug Plan, administered by SXC.  You will receive a separate ID card from SXC.  For more information on the U-M Prescription Drug Plan, see www.umich.edu/~benefits/plans/drugs.

Providers
If you enroll in GradCare, you must choose a primary care physician (PCP) to manage all of your medical care needs. If you do not choose a PCP, BCN will choose one on your behalf. You always have the option of changing your PCP. You can change your PCP by calling BCN Customer Service at 800-658-8878.  

Non-emergency medical care (excluding inpatient hospitalization) may be covered with non-network providers only when the member has obtained BCN authorization for service. This includes the requirement to obtain BCN authorization for non-emergency services, including:  

• Off-campus student placement, when the student has registered with BCN in advance of participating in an out-of-area program, and
  
  
• Activity not sponsored by the University, such as vacation, when the student pays any outstanding balances for medical care costs over the BCN fee schedule payment.

The provider network includes University of Michigan Hospital System (UMHS), University Health Service, and all U-M Premiere Care Network 1 Providers. For a provider directory, see BCN Web site.

Assignments that are Not in the GradCare Service Area
If your assignment takes you off campus, complete an Off-Site Registration form.

BENEFIT UPDATES FOR 2008
The eligibility chart at the top of this page details benefits that will be available to GEO members, GSRAs and benefit-eligible fellowship and medical school students for 2008.  In addition to these changes the following defaults will apply to benefit-eligible graduate students:

GEO members, GSRAs, and Benefit-Eligible Fellowship Students

• Immediate enrollment in single person GradCare medical insurance once the job or benefit eligibility has been entered into M-Pathways
• Immediate enrollment in single person Dental Option I.  University contributions are provided as of the date of hire/benefit eligibility
• All benefit-eligible graduate students may add dependents, waive coverage, elect Dental Options 2 and 3, Vision and Legal within 30 days

Benefit Eligible Medical School Students

• Immediate enrollment in single person GradCare medical insurance once the  benefit eligibility has been entered into M-Pathways
• Medical school students may add dependents, elect Dental Options 1, 2, or 3, Vision and Legal within 30 days

GradCare Administration for Benefit-eligible Fellowship Holders and Medical School Students
Effective January 1, 2008, the administration of the GradCare medical plan for benefit-eligible fellowship holders and medical school students will be transferred from M-CARE to the Benefits Office.  If you are enrolled in GradCare, you will be automatically enrolled in the U-M Prescription Drug Plan administered by SXC.  See the U-M Prescription Drug Plan section for information about the plan.  You will receive a separate ID card for your prescription drug coverage.

Impact on Benefit Eligible Fellowship Holders and Medical School Students

• eBenefits, accessed through the Student Business menu on Wolverine Access will be available for new benefit eligible fellowship holders and medical school students to enroll in medical insurance
• Benefit eligible graduate students will have the ability to manage life events on M-Pathways (i.e., marriage, new children, divorce, etc.)
• Graduate students will no longer have to wait for employee coverage to terminate for their benefit enrollment to be completed through an eligible fellowship
• M-pathways will automatically manage multiple benefit-eligible appointments and awards allowing for a seamless and timely transition of coverage as students move between benefit-eligible student and employee statuses.