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.  A pilot group, consisting of the College of Engineering and first year Medical School students, will be transferred as of July 1, 2007.

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.

How to Enroll

If you were enrolled in GradCare as a benefit eligible fellowship holder as of July 1, 2007, and your eligibility continues beyond July 1, the administration of your GradCare medical insurance will automatically transfer from M-CARE to the M-Pathways system.   There will be no change to your medical or prescription drug plan and you should continue to use your M-CARE identification card to obtain prescription drugs and medical services.

If you receive a benefit eligible fellowship after July 1, 2007, you will receive communications about how to enroll once your department has identified your benefit eligibility.  You will enroll online using eBenefits, which is available through Wolverine Access at: https://wolverineaccess.umich.edu.  You have 30 days to enroll, add your dependents or waive coverage online. See Benefit Enrollment Deadlines and Defaults (PDF).  

If you have received communications about your benefit eligibility and you are not able to enroll on eBenefits, you may complete and submit the 2007 Benefits Enrollment Form (PDF).

You can apply for enrollment in GradCare 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 HRRIS Benefits Transaction Team (BTT) at 734-936-0258 for further details.

Important Deadline

Failure to make a benefit election within the 30-day deadline will be considered your election to waive that benefit or keep your default benefit election as follows:
•     New Benefit-Eligible Fellowship students default to no coverage.
•     Medical School students default to GradCare, You Only, coverage.
•     Defaults occur after 30 days from when first eligible.
Once your benefit elections are submitted, you will not be able to make changes to your initial enrollment, even within the 30-day enrollment period, unless you have a qualified family status change or during the next Open Enrollment period.

Change In Family Status

You can make changes to your coverage if you experience a qualified family status change as defined by the IRS.  If you have a qualified change, you must act within 30 days of the qualifying event to make a corresponding mid-year change to your GradCare coverage.
 
Changes that qualify typically include:
• Marriage, divorce, birth, adoption, or death of a spouse or child
• Change in eligibility status for a covered dependent
• Your spouse starts or stops working
• Elimination of your spouse’s coverage due to an employment change
• A relocation to the United States of your eligible dependents who are
  not US citizens (passport verification is required)

To add new dependents due to a birth, adoption or marriage:

• Enroll online, call the HRRIS Benefits Transaction Team (BTT) at 734-936-0258 to report the change. Once the BTT representative has received all the necessary information and entered it into the system, you will receive an email with instructions for adding your new dependent to your benefits online using eBenefits. You cannot add a dependent online without first talking to a BTT representative. You must make the change within 30 days.

To Make All Other Family Status Changes:

• Complete and submit the Benefits Enrollment/Change Form (PDF) within 30 days. You may be asked to provide documentation of the change.

Special Enrollment Under HIPAA
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), a special enrollment period for medical insurance may be available if you lose medical coverage under certain conditions or when you acquire new dependents by marriage, birth, or adoption.
If you are declining enrollment for yourself or your dependents (including your spouse) because of other health insurance coverage, you may in the future be able to enroll yourself or your dependents in this plan, provided that you request enrollment within 30 days after your other coverage ends. In addition, if you have a new dependent as a result of marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption, you may be able to enroll yourself and your dependents, provided that you request enrollment within 30 days after the marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption.
Important Deadline
To change your coverage(s) when a qualified family status change occurs, you must act within 30 days of the qualifying event for the expected change to be accepted by the University.
Questions about Mid-Year Changes?
Questions about mid-year changes affecting your GradCare coverage should be directed to the HRRIS Benefits Transaction Team (BTT) at 734-936-0258. Or you may email your questions to Bentransact@bf.umich.edu.  
A Change in Appointment

• If you change from a benefit eligible Fellowship holder or Medical School Student to a Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA) or Graduate Student Instructor (GSI), you may become eligible for other benefits.  For information view the Graduate Student Employees, Benefit-Eligible Fellowship Holders, and Medical School Students section at http://www.umich.edu/~benefits/jobgroups/grads.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 M-CARE Customer Service at (734) 913-2211 or (800) 658-8878, or email custserv@mcare.org within 30 days of the date your funding source ends.

GradCare Medical Plan Booklet (PDF)

GradCare Costs
The chart below indicates the 2007 monthly GradCare premium for eligible graduate students in department-sponsored groups and medical school students.  For 2007, there is no contribution for department-sponsored students for GradCare.  Medical school students are responsible for paying the full cost of GradCare for yourself and your dependents.  Premiums are billed monthly on your student account statement.

Rates are subject to change annually on January 1. Benefit plans are subject to change.

Be sure to check your monthly student account statement each billing period to make sure that it is accurate. Contact the HRRIS Benefits Transaction Team at 734-936-0258 if you have questions about your GradCare charges.

New plan members will be sent an ID card and a welcome kit within two weeks of enrolling in GradCare.  If you do not receive them, contact M-CARE Customer Service by calling (734) 913-2211.

Graduate Student Benefit FAQs

How will the sale of M-CARE affect GradCare medical insurance?

• GradCare will continue to be offered by the University of Michigan, tailored to the health care needs of U of M graduate students
• GradCare, administered by Blue Cross Network (BCN), will align the offerings for Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs), Graduate Student Staff Assistants (GSSAs), Graduate Student Research Assistants (GSRAs) and benefit eligible fellowship holders.

Why do my benefits change when my graduate student status changes?

• Benefit eligible fellowship holders and medical school students have a student status with the University.  Currently only GradCare medical insurance is available to this group.
• GSRAs have both a student and employee status and are eligible for benefits based on their employee relationship with UM.
• GSIs have both a student and employee status.  They are also covered by the GEO contract.  Benefit eligibility is based on their employee relationship and benefits are bargained for through GEO.

Who decides if a fellowship is eligible for benefits?

• Fellowships tend to cover tuition and stipend.  Graduate programs designate fellowships as being eligible for medical insurance.
• All of the Rackham fellowships include benefits

Why are benefit eligible fellowship holders not offered dental insurance?

• Effective 1-1-2008, if a fellowship offers health insurance, it will also include Dental Option I

What are my options for health insurance if I don’t have a benefit eligible appointment?

• Continuation of benefits:  employed graduate students are offered COBRA, fellowship students may continue coverage directly through M-CARE on a continuation policy.   Contact the HR/Payroll Service Center at 734-615-2000 or M-CARE at 734-913-2211
• Student Accident and Health Insurance plan:  Administered by The Chickering Group- medical insurance, including prescription drug coverage.  Contact UHS Managed Care and Student Insurance Office at 734-764-5182 
• University Health Services (UHS):  provides out-patient health care services to all students, with little out-of-pocket expense.  A part of each enrolled student’s tuition automatically goes toward funding UHS.  For general information, contact  734-764-8320
• M-Dent:  Dental services provided through the UM Dental School at reduced rates.  Contact the UM Dental School at 734-763-6933

Contact Us
Benefits Office Web site             http://www.umich.edu/~benefits/
M-CARE                                  734-913-2211 or toll free 800-658-8878
M-CARE Web site                      http://www.mcare.org
Benefits Transaction Team         734-936-0258