Instructions are available on how to consent electronically in Banner Self-Service.

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), Saint Louis University must report health coverage information to the Internal Revenue Service and provide a statement (Form 1095-C) disclosing health care coverage information to covered employees (medical plan participants) and any other covered individuals, such as COBRA participants, Long Term Disability (LTD) or certain retirees.

The information provided on 1095-C for plan participants will include any dependents covered. Dependents will not receive a separate form. If your dependents file a separate tax return, just copy your Form 1095-C for their records.

Yes, you may reference the information on 1095-C form when completing your federal taxes. You will not submit the 1095-C form, but you should retain it with your tax records.

The 1095-C form will be available in Banner Self-Service in the mySLU portal under the Employee tab much like your electronic W-2 by March 31. To provide consent to receive the 1095-C electronically, login to MySLU and navigate to "Tools" then "Banner Self-Service" then "Employee" then "Tax Forms" then "Electronic W-2 Consent and 1095-C Consent."

If you do not electronically consent, the 1095-C form will be mailed to your home address on file (in Banner Self-Service). Please note that this means the 1095-C form may not be received until after March 31.

You do not have to wait to receive the 1095-C form to file your individual income tax return. The IRS has provided more information on the form.

Other forms of documentation that you can use to provide proof of your insurance coverage include:

• Health insurance cards
• Benefits statement from Banner Self-Service
• Explanation of benefits
• W-2 or payroll statement reflecting health insurance deductions
• Any other statements indicating that you, or a member of your family, had health care coverage

Benefits become effective on the employee's first day of regular benefit eligible employment, provided online enrollment and dependent verification is submitted in a timely manner. Enrollment must occur within the first 31 days of employment. Members of a collective bargaining unit may have to satisfy a probationary period prior to insurance coverage. Such members should refer to their collective bargaining agreement for specific details.

Your current benefit elections can be found on your employee benefit statement in Banner Self-Service; which can be found by selecting the "Employee" tab and then "Benefits and Deductions." From there, click on the "Employee Benefits Statement." Use the drop down box for the calendar year you want review.

Changes are generally only permitted during the annual open enrollment period, unless you have a qualifying event during the year. Open enrollment is usually in November of each year, with the requested changes taking effect the following January 1. Open enrollment is the time during which an employee may add or drop dependents to their plans (without a qualifying life change event), as well as change the plan options selected. 

After your initial 31-day enrollment period, the only time to enroll yourself or add a dependent to your plan is during open enrollment, or upon a qualifying event. Such events may, but are not limited to, include birth, adoption, marriage, death or loss of coverage under a different plan. These changes must be made within 31 days of the qualifying life change event. 

Supporting documents may be required when requesting coverage for dependents, or for a qualifying event. 

Medical Benefits 

• Your legal spouse, unless legally separated or divorced
• Each of your children. The term "children" includes any such person related to you by blood or marriage, or for whom you have legally adopted or assumed a legal obligation, or other child, if that child lives in your household in a parent-child relationship and is dependent upon you for support.
• Children are eligible for coverage up until their 26th birthday. *Please note that it is your responsibility to notify the benefits department of this change within 31 days of your child's 26th birthday. 

You and your eligible dependents are provided the opportunity to continue your medical, dental, vision, and/or flexible spending coverage after the termination of your benefits. You will be notified of your election rights within 30 days of your termination via postal mail sent from the University's third party COBRA vendor; Sax Benefits Group. Questions regarding payment of COBRA premiums should be directed to Sax Benefits Group at 314-822-6100 x 2300.

Saint Louis University is concerned with the well-being of its staff members and their families. We recognize personal problems arise and having access to professional licensed counselors on a confidential and cost-free basis can be helpful.  To support our faculty and staff, along with members of their household when encountering difficult situations, the University maintains an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). 

Learn More

The employee does not incur any fees for accessing EAP counseling. Under the SLU EAP benefit, employees and their family members are entitled to eight face-to-face counseling sessions per person, per issue, per year, at no charge to them. If additional counseling sessions are required, the therapist will assist in connecting them with continued care through their health plan or through community resources if they do not have a health plan.

The EAP benefit is paid by SLU for our employees and family members as part of our continued care for your health and well-being. 

An Explanation of Benefits (EOB) is available online. Register on www.myuhc.com to view EOB's, check on claim status, and other helpful information or call 800-382-4259.

Once you register on www.myuhc.com you can get information on the services and procedures that are covered under our plan. You can view our summary plan description on United HealthCare's website or on our benefits website. Your physician can submit a pre-determination to United Healthcare for the scheduled procedure to determine if the procedure is covered and at what level. 

• A dependent may not be eligible for coverage due to age
• The dependent may not have been added to your coverage in a timely manner
• United HealthCare might not have received a copy of the claim from your provider

Please contact United Healthcare at 800-382-4259 or visit their website to determine if additional information is needed to process your claims.

Contact Express Scripts Inc (ESI) member services at 888-778-8755 or online at www.express-scripts.com. 

More Information on Express Scripts

Our prescription benefit through ESI provides a mail order program. This program offers you a 90-day supply for two co-pays. If you take a maintenance medication, you will be automatically enrolled in the mail order program after three refills at the retail pharmacy. You can opt out of the mail order program if you prefer to visit the pharmacy every 30 days. Failure to opt out of the mail order program may create a disruption in refilling your prescription at a retail pharmacy.

You can initiate your participation in the mail order program by contacting ESI member services at 888-778-8755.

You must contact ESI member services at 888-778-8755 to opt out of the mail order program in order to fill your maintenance prescriptions at the retail pharmacy.

Possible reasons that your prescription isn't covered may be:

• It is a Step Therapy prescription.
• It needs a prior authorization.
• You are filling a maintenance prescription but have not yet opted out of the mail order which will cause a delay in getting a prescription filled.

Contact ESI Customer Service at 888-778-8755 with any additional questions. 

Electing the Flex Option, the highest level of benefits as well as coverage in the PPO network, and out of the PPO network is provided. The Flex option also includes adult and child orthodontia.

However, when electing the Basic Plus Option, a lower level of benefits as well as coverage in the PPO network and out of PPO network is available. The Basic Plus option offers orthodontia for children only up to age 19. 

More Information on Dental Benefits
 

To find out if your dentist is in the Delta Dental PPO Network or to find a Delta Dental participating dentist in your area:

• Visit the Delta Dental website at www.deltadentalmo.com and click on "Looking for a Dentist." Choose Delta Dental PPO Network and locate a list of dentists by zip code or specific dentist name.
• Call Delta Dental at 800-335-8266 or 314-656-3001 to request a dentist directory. 

Yes, although it is not required to obtain services from a participating dentist. Your dentist can verify your coverage by calling Delta Dental and supplying your social security number. Upon enrollment in SLU's dental plan, identification cards will be generated and mailed to your home within seven to 10 business days.

Yes, members simply choose a VSP provider and let them know they have VSP coverage. 

Please visit www.vsp.com and select the "Find a Doctor" option.

VSP does not provide vision insurance ID cards. Members are not required to carry or produce a vision card for services at any of our VSP providers' offices. As an alternative, members can download a member-specific ID cards on www.vsp.com if they would like a card to carry in their wallets. To confirm eligibility in VSP's system, please contact customer service at 800-877-7195.

Employees must be considered full-time on the first day of classes for the semester for which tuition remission benefits are requested.

Tuition remission is strictly an online process. The tuition remission application is submitted through the Banner Self-Service portal and is a universal application so the benefit must only be requested once per enrollee. Tuition remission must be requested before the term for which the benefit is requested. 

The spouse and/or children (natural or adopted) of any full-time faculty, staff or Faculty Emeritus who have completed a minimum of three years of continuous full-time service are eligible for benefits under the tuition remission plan. However, restrictions do apply to this benefit. 

Employees who leave the University by reason of retirement upon or after the attainment of age 60 with at least seven years of continuous full-time service may use the tuition remission benefit for themselves and/or their eligible dependents. These requests must be made in writing by emailing the Benefits office at benefits@slu.edu.

A report of all new tuition remission applications is generated by the benefits office each Friday and reported to Student Financial Services. If you have applied online within the last week, please allow seven days for the applications to be processed. If you experience an extensive delay, please contact Debbie Alexander in Student Financial Services at 314-977-2424. 

The form works like a budgeting tool for the withholding of the taxes you owe on your tuition remission benefit.  The form allows you to spread out your tax withholding over the course of the calendar year based on your program and the number of hours you "anticipate" taking for the year, and you are taxed on the same amount each paycheck, instead of being taxed on what you owe each semester. Once you submit the form, your tax withholdings are spread out over all of your remaining paychecks over the course of the calendar year, so the tax amount is consistent and your checks are not adversely affected during the summer and fall semesters, after you have exceeded the $5,250 non-taxable benefit amount.

Yes, the form is only good for the current calendar year.

No, only one form or election can be made per calendar year.

If you end up taking more classes than you originally indicated on your form, than your tax deductions will fall short for the year. In this case, by late September or early October, we will email you letting you know that we will discontinue using the amount on your form and we will change the amount that needs to be deducted on your paychecks for the remainder of the year, so all of the taxes you owe are paid by your final paycheck in December. If you end up taking fewer classes than you originally indicated on your form, than you will have a credit by the end of the year,and any over withholding of taxes will be reimbursed to you on your final paycheck in December.

If you do not want to use the Voluntary-Advanced Tax Election Form, once you surpass the $5,250 nontaxable amount, we will send you a tuition remission letter and we will tax your paychecks on your taxable benefit amount for that semester.

The form is updated once a year, and is released by the first week of January, so it has the most up to date information regarding current taxable benefit amounts and the supplemental tax rates that are set by the IRS the previous December.

No, the taxable benefit amounts will not be exact, because the tuition rate per hour for your classes may be higher in the new fiscal year (in July), beginning with your summer and/or fall classes. Because the form is only updated once a year, there will be an additional tax amount that will be owed if tuition costs per hour go up in your program and you take all the hours you indicated on the form. The additional amount will be deducted by your final paycheck in December, or if the amount is substantial, we will email you in late September or early October and let you know that we need to change the amount you are being taxed on until the end of the year.

Once we become aware that you will be leaving the University, you will be taxed in full for taxes you still owe by your final paycheck. Please let the Benefits Office know ahead of time if you will be leaving the University, so we can work with you on the number of paychecks you will be taxed on.

The value of your taxable tuition remission benefit is taxed using supplemental tax rates set by the IRS. 

No. The taxes withheld are based on the supplemental rate set by the IRS and you will be taxed per semester or by use of the Voluntary-Advanced Tax Election Form.

Yes, the current and YTD taxable benefit amount (not the tax itself) is noted under the Federally Taxable Benefit section of your paystub.

The taxes withheld for your taxable tuition remission benefit are not listed separately on your paystub. The taxes are incorporated into and shown with your existing federal, FICA, state and local tax deductions on your paystub.

Yes, the total taxable benefit amount is noted in Box 14 - (Other) with the notation TUI REM. The taxable tuition remission amount is also included in your yearly wage amounts shown in boxes 1, 3, 5, 16 and 18 (wages, Social Security wages, Medicare wages, state wages and local wages as additional earnings or taxable income).

Yes, they are incorporated and included with your taxes withheld in boxes 2, 4, 6, 17 and 19. (Federal income tax withheld, Social Security tax withheld, Medicare tax withheld, state income tax and local income tax).

You may begin your 403(b) contributions after you receive your first paycheck from the University. To start your contributions and set up your 403(b) account, please register on TIAA-CREF's website at www.tiaa-cref.org/slu. 

Yes, after one year of continuous service and working at least 1000 hours, faculty and staff are eligible for the University's contribution, only if the employee is contributing to the 403(b) plan. The University match is based on the employee's 403(b) contribution. 

In-service withdrawals of 403(b) contributions are not allowed until April 1 of the year following attainment of the age 70.5. However, TIAA-CREF, the University's sole approved retirement vendor, allows access to fund balances through a loan provision for active employees. Loans are arranged directly between TIAA-CREF and the employee. Please contact TIAA-CREF at 800-842-2776 to request program specifics, or visit their website.

Hardship withdrawals from the 403(b) plan may be available for active employees in very specific circumstances. Please contact TIAA-CREF at 800-842-2776 to see if you are eligible.

Once the employee separates employment with the University, he or she may transfer fund balances to another qualified retirement account, including an IRA, or receive a cash distribution. Please consult a tax consultant for tax consequences associated with a cash distribution. 

The life insurance information is available as part of the employee benefit statement under Banner Self-Service. The employee benefit statement can be accessed through Banner Self-Service.

Base coverage, provided by Saint Louis University is equal to one times your annual salary to a maximum of $400,000.

There is no open enrollment for optional life insurance or accidental death and dismemberment so coverage can only be increased or decreased by completing and submitting a new Cigna enrollment form to the Benefits Office. 

The combined amount of basic and supplemental life insurance cannot exceed $400,000 or four times your annual salary, whichever is less.

Beneficiaries can be changed at any time, and are recommended to be changed after a life event, such as marriage, divorce, death or birth or adoption of a child. The completed form should be faxed back to the Benefits Office at 314-977-1785.

Your long-term disability benefit becomes effective on the first day of the month following your one year anniversary with Saint Louis University. A waiver of the 12 month waiting period is available if you were insured under a prior employer's group total disability insurance policy (terminating within the last 90 days and that would have provided a benefit of at least five years in the event of your disability). The waiver must be provided to Saint Louis University within the first 31 days of employment.

Benefits under the long-term disability plan begin after three months of disability or the exhaustion of sick leave not to exceed six months.

 A claim must be filed within 31 days of disability or as soon as reasonably possible.

The application for long-term disability is available  by calling the Benefits Office at 314-977-2595, or by emailing benefits@slu.edu.

Retirement is obtaining age 60 with seven or more years of continuous, full-time service to the University. The benefit of retirement is that you may continue your SLU medical insurance coverage, as long as you pay the premiums for this coverage.

If you are over 65, Medicare is primary and our plan is secondary. If you retire under age 65, your SLU United HealthCare is the primary payer until you reach Medicare eligibility. At that time, if you chose to remain on the SLU United HealthCare health insurance, you must pick up Medicare Part B.

Retirees from SLU are entitled to maintain their tuition remission benefits for themselves and any eligible dependents. The Simon Recreation Center also provides a one year gift membership to retirees as a token of appreciation.