Medical and Optional Coverages

A “regular” employee is hired to work at least (20) hours per week for a period of at least four and one-half months.

Group Medical

As a state employee, you receive many valuable benefits through the Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP), administered by the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

The State of Texas offers all benefits-eligible employees comprehensive health and prescription drug benefits, along with $5,000 of basic term life insurance and $5,000 of accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage after a 90-day waiting period. You may enroll your eligible dependents in health coverage without restrictions when you enroll as a new employee. You may also decline health coverage; however, if you wish to enroll in HealthSelect after your initial period of eligibility, evidence of insurability (EOI) is required and your acceptance is not guaranteed.

The State of Texas pays the health insurance premiums for regular full-time employees and half of the premiums for their dependents. If you are regularly scheduled to work less than 40 hours, the State pays half of the premiums for regular part-time state employees and 25% of their dependents’ premium costs.

If you are new to state employment, you will become eligible for health insurance on the first day of the month following your first 90 days of employment. (For example, if you begin employment on October 15, 2004, you will be eligible for health insurance on February 1, 2005).

If you have transferred from another state agency or institution with no break in coverage, or if you were covered as a dependent or on COBRA in the GBP, you may continue participation and not have a 90-day wait. You have 30 days to make health coverage changes.

Your health plan choices are based on your eligibility county, and you can choose either the county in which you live or work.

State Kids Insurance Program (SKIP)

If you qualify, the State Kids Insurance Program (SKIP) can help make the State's health insurance a bargain for your children. SKIP provides two levels of supplements to pay most of the health insurance premiums of eligible children. Employees will pay either $15 or $25 per month toward the premiums for their dependent children. There is no annual enrollment fee. Applicants must meet requirements of family size and income.

Optional Coverages

The following optional coverages are available at the employee’s expense on the first day of employment: Dental, Optional Life, Dependent Life, Short and Long-Term disability, Accidental death and dismemberment, and Long-Term care.

Flexible Spending Accounts

Texas State Technical College offers both a Health Care and Dependent Care Reimbursement account which allows employees to pay for eligible expenses tax-free. Contributions are payroll deducted before federal withholding and Social Security taxes are calculated.

COBRA

The “Consolidate Omnibus Budget Reconciliation act of 1985” (COBRA) is a federal law that requires the State of Texas to offer employees and dependents covered under the Group Benefits Plan (GBP) the opportunity to temporarily extend their health and dental coverage at the group rates. Continuation coverage is available only when qualifying events cause coverage under the GBP to end. Coverage under COBRA is limited to the health and dental coverage in effect at the time of the qualifying event.