Support Staff - Benefits Eligibility

For Non-Union Support Staff (NUSS) members, eligibility begins on the first day of the month following completion of the applicable waiting period.

If you are a full-time employee and you do not enroll within 31 days of hire or eligibility, you will be automatically enrolled in individual Choice Plus 90 medical coverage and individual EmblemHealth Dental Program coverage only. You will not be able to enroll eligible dependents in Medical, Prescription Drug or Dental coverage, and you will not be able to contribute to Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Optional Term Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance coverage from the University for the remainder of the calendar year.

^{* Eligible part-time employees are regularly scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week. However, all employees with W-2 earnings are eligible for the VRSP. 
** The benefits of eligible full-time and part-time members of Non-Union Support Staff are effective the first day of the month following the completion of the applicable waiting period.
*** EmblemHealth Dental only.}

Dependent Eligibility

For most University benefits, including Medical, Prescription, Vision and Dental, your dependents can be covered if you verify they are your:

• Legal spouse;
• Legally-dependent child(ren), including adopted children and stepchildren.

Go to Dependent Eligibility to learn more.

Active Support Staff Turning 65

Active Support Staff and their spouses age 65 and over who are enrolled in a University-provided medical plan option do not need to enroll in Medicare because they still have creditable coverage through the University. At least three months in advance of your retirement from the University, you should enroll in Medicare to avoid any gaps in coverage.

For Support Staff Association (SSA) members, eligibility begins on the first day of the month following completion of the applicable waiting period.

If you are full-time and do not enroll within 31 days of hire or eligibility, you will be automatically enrolled for individual Choice In-Network medical coverage and individual EmblemHealth Dental coverage only. You will not be able to enroll your eligible dependents in Medical, Prescription Drug or Dental coverage, and you will not be able to contribute to the FSAs or Optional Term Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance coverage from Columbia for the remainder of the calendar year.

^{* Eligible part-time employees are regularly scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week. However, all employees with W-2 earnings are eligible for the VRSP. 
** Benefits of eligible full-time and part-time members of SSA are effective the first day of the month following, or coincident with, the completion of the applicable waiting period.
*** Benefits of eligible full-time and part-time members of SSA are effective the first day of the month following the completion of the applicable waiting period.} 

Eligible Dependents

For most University benefits, including Medical, Prescription, Vision and Dental, your dependents can be covered if you verify they are your:

• Legal spouse;
• Legally-dependent child(ren), including adopted children and stepchildren.

Go to Dependent Eligibility to learn more.

Active Support Staff Turning 65

Active Support Staff and their spouses age 65 and over who are enrolled in a Columbia-provided medical plan option do not need to enroll in Medicare because they still have creditable coverage through the University. At least three months in advance of your retirement from the University, you should enroll in Medicare to avoid any gaps in coverage.

For Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) members, eligibility begins on the first day of the month following completion of the applicable waiting period.

If you are a full-time employee and you do not enroll within 31 days of hire or eligibility, you will automatically be enrolled in individual Choice Plus 80 medical coverage and individual EmblemHealth Preferred Dental Benefits Plan B coverage only. You will not be able to enroll eligible dependents in Medical, Prescription Drug or Dental coverage, and you will not be able to contribute to Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Optional Term Life Insurance coverage from the University for the remainder of the calendar year.

^{* Eligible part-time employees are regularly scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week. However, all employees with W-2 earnings are eligible for the VRSP}

^{** The benefits of eligible full-time and part-time members of TWU Local 241 (maintenance and custodial employees and security officers) are effective the first day of the month following the completion of the applicable waiting period.}

Dependent Eligibility

For most University benefits, including Medical, Prescription, Vision and Dental, your dependents can be covered if you verify they are your:

• Legal spouse;
• Legally-dependent child(ren), including adopted children and stepchildren.

Go to Dependent Eligibility to learn more.

Active Support Staff Turning 65

Active Support Staff and their spouses age 65 and over who are enrolled in a Columbia-provided medical plan option do not need to enroll in Medicare because they still have creditable coverage through the University. At least three months in advance of your retirement from the University, you should enroll in Medicare to avoid any gaps in coverage.

The majority of your benefits are provided through your Union’s insurance plans. Please consult your collective bargaining agreement or contact your union representative for more information on eligibility.

Voluntary Benefits

No matter who provides your medical insurance, you are eligible for a number of Voluntary Benefits.