Benefits Most Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If I am a new hire, when will my voluntary benefits be effective?
A: Your effective date must always be the first of the month following your official date of hire (unless your official hire date is the first of the month, then you can choose that day or the first of the following month). You have 60 days from your date of hire to elect voluntary benefits; if you do not do so you have waived your right to pick them up until the Open Enrollment period which occurs once every year in late spring.

Q: How can I cancel my voluntary benefits with DU (i.e. health, dental or Flexible Spending Account) if I decide I no longer want or need it?
A: You must have an “IRS Qualifying Change of Status” in order to change or cancel voluntary benefits anytime outside of the Open Enrollment period. A list of what these qualifying events are can be found online at: http://www.du.edu/hr/benefits/HumanResourcesBenefitsIRSregulations.html. If you feel that you qualify to make a mid-year cancellation, enrollment or change, please contact the HR-Benefits Office for the appropriate paperwork.

Q: My last day with DU is this week. What do I need to do to terminate my benefits and get information about COBRA coverage once I leave? How long do my active benefits last once I leave?
A: You do not need to “do” anything. Your department will send in the appropriate “separation paperwork” to HR and we will terminate your benefits for you. Your health, dental, and voluntary Life and AD&D insurance (if you are enrolled) will continue through the end of the month in which you leave. Your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and all Core benefits will terminate at midnight on the date in which your employment terminates. You will automatically receive a COBRA packet from our administrator within 30 days of your separation date which outlines your options under COBRA.

Q: How can I sign up for the 403(b) Retirement Plan?
A: Please call the HR-Benefits Office at Extension 17420 and request that a Retirement Packet be sent to you. All the information and materials you will need to enroll in DU’s 403(b) Retirement Plan is included in this packet.

Q: I want to make changes to the amount that I am contributing to my 403(b) Retirement Plan each paycheck. How do I do this?
A: You need to submit a new Salary Reduction Agreement to the HR-Benefits Office. You can find this form online at: http://www.du.edu/hr/forms/index.html#benefits in the Retirement Forms section. This form can be faxed, mailed, or dropped off at the HR-Benefits Office. Please call Extension 17420 for more information.

Q: I am a former DU employee and need to “Roll Over” my DU 403(b) funds to another retirement account. Who in your office can sign the Employer Authorization portion of this form for me?
A: Both the Benefits Manager (Jane Bucher-McCoy) or the Associate Director of HR (Shannon Winckel) are authorized to sign off on these forms.