Benefit Groups - Graduate Student Employees, Benefit-Eligible Fellowship Holders, and Medical School Students
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
| Graduate Student Category | Eligibility Requirements | Defaults | Benefits Available |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Graduate
Student Instructors (GSIs) |
Minimum of 25% appointment for at least 4 continuous months for fall or winter term, or at least 2 continuous months for spring or summer term. |
GEO members with a 25% appointment or greater will be immediately enrolled in GradCare and Dental Option I, single person coverage, and the University Life Insurance plan once their job has been entered into M-Pathways. All other benefits must be elected on Wolverine Access within 30 days of the date of eligibility. |
|
GEO |
Less than a 25% appointment for at least 4 continuous months for fall or winter term, or at least 2 continuous months for spring or summer term. |
GEO members with less than a 25% appointment will be immediately enrolled in GradCare, single person coverage once their job has been entered into M-Pathways. Dental Option 1 must be elected on Wolverine Access within 30 days of the date of eligibility. |
|
| Graduate Student Research Assistants (GSRAs) | Minimum or 25% appointment for at least 4 continuous months at all times | GSRAs will be immediately enrolled in GradCare and Dental Option I, single person coverage, and the University Life Insurance plan once their job has been entered into M-Pathways. All other benefits must be elected on Wolverine Access within 30 days of the date of eligibility. |
|
Holders of a designated fellowship Michigan Science Training Program fellows The duration of the fellowship must be at least 4 continuous months at all times Check with your department if you do not know if you are sponsored for GradCare under this provision |
Benefit-Eligible Fellowship Holders will be immediately enrolled in GradCare and Dental Option I, single person coverage, once their eligibility has been entered into M-Pathways. All other benefits must be elected on Wolverine Access within 30 days of the date of eligibility. |
|
|
Medical insurance coverage is mandatory for all University of Michigan medical school students. Medical school students are required to either enroll in GradCare or provide verification to the medical school administration that they have comparable medical insurance coverage elsewhere. |
Medical School Students will be immediately enrolled in GradCare, single person coverage, once their eligibility has been entered into M-Pathways. All other benefits must be elected on Wolverine Access within 30 days of the date of eligibility. |
|
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 Self Service > Benefits, 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 Self Service > Benefits on the Benefits Office Web site.
If you are enrolled in a medical plan, your prescription drug coverage is through informedRx/SXC. You will receive a medical insurance card and a separate ID card for informedRx/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:
- Members of GEO (Graduate Student Instructors and Graduate Student Staff Assistants)
- Graduate Student Research Assistants
- Holders of a designated Rackham fellowship
- 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://benefits.umich.edu/events/termination.html
- If you are a 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.
- If you are a fellowship holder you can continue GradCare coverage under the GradCare continuance plan for yourself and your eligible dependents during periods when you are not receiving funding. In these situations, you are eligible for Level 1 coverage. Following your ineligibility, enrollment materials will be sent to your last known home address. Update your address with HRRIS prior to your funding end date. Send an email to address.change@umich.edu or call HR/Payroll Services. Enrollment must occur within the later of 30 days of your GradCare coverage end date or the date of notification. You will be responsible for 102% of the full premium. Full premiums are due on the first of each month for that month's coverage (i.e., the premium for the coverage period of June 1st through June 30th is due on June 1st.) Any late or partial payments will be processed and refunded.)
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 informedRx/SXC. You will receive a separate ID card from informedRx/SXC. For more information on the U-M Prescription Drug Plan, see benefits.umich.edu/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.
The University of Michigan in its sole discretion may modify, amend, or terminate the benefits provided with respect to any individual receiving benefits, including active employees, retirees, and their dependents. Although the university has elected to provide these benefits this year, no individual has a vested right to any of the benefits provided. Nothing in these materials gives any individual the right to continued benefits beyond the time the university modifies, amends, or terminates the benefit. Anyone seeking or accepting any of the benefits provided will be deemed to have accepted the terms of the benefits programs and the university's right to modify, amend or terminate them.