Benefits

The University of Denver is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package to employees who hold an appointed position that is at least 20 hours per week. This package includes options for health care and other types of insurance, retirement savings, paid and unpaid leave, the DU tuition waiver, and more. Many of the available insurance plans also offer coverage for eligible dependents.

Insurance premiums for monthly-paid employees are deducted from each payroll check on the first of the month for coverage for that month. Insurance premiums for bi-weekly paid employees are deducted from the first bi-weekly payroll check of each month for coverage for that month.

The University also provides a set of "core benefits" which are effective on the date of hire at no cost to the employee. These benefits include term life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance.

For a brief overview of the benefit plans available to DU employees in both benefited and non-benefited positions, see the documents linked below.

Benefited Employees

Non-benefited Employees

Eligibility

Eligibility for DU benefit plans begins for both you and your eligible dependents on the first day of the month following your date of hire into an appointed position. If your hire date is the first of the month, your eligibility may begin on either your hire date or the first of the following month.

Eligible dependents include:

  • Your legal spouse (including common-law and civil union) or domestic partner (including same and opposite sex)
  • Your children up to 25 years of age (including natural or legally adopted children, stepchildren, the children of your domestic partner, and children who have been placed under your legal guardianship)
  • Your children over 25 years of age who otherwise satisfy the above definition and are mentally or physically incapable of earning a living and primarily supported by you

You can make changes to your benefits during the annual Open Enrollment period in May for an effective date of July 1, or within 30 days of an IRS qualifying life event.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact benefits@du.edu.

Benefits Events

Important Benefits Updates

  • Transparency in Coverage

    The Department of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and Treasury published the “Transparency in Coverage Rule”, imposing new requirements on group health plans and health insurers in the individual and group markets to disclose cost-sharing information, in-network provider negotiated rates, historical out-of-network network allowed amounts, and drug pricing information.

    Machine-readable files are made available in response to the federal Transparency in Coverage Rule and includes negotiated service rates and out-of-network allowed amounts between health plans and healthcare providers. The files are formatted to allow researchers, regulators, and application developers to more easily access and analyze data.

    Click on the following link to access the files: https://www.cigna.com/legal/compliance/machine-readable-files

  • Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Testing Kits for Cigna Members

    Cigna will cover over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 antigen tests as a medical benefit for all US commercial customers per the federal mandate that is effective January 15, 2022.


    Summary of the Requirement

    • Customers may receive reimbursement for up to eight OTC COVID-19 at-home tests per covered individual per 30 days without a health care provider prescription or individualized clinical assessment. Each individual test is counted separately, so if a package includes eight tests, it counts as eight tests (not one) toward the quantity.
    • Health plans must reimburse the costs of OTC tests, regardless of where they were obtained (in or out of network, including online).
    • COVID-19 testing performed by health care providers is not subject to a quantity limit.
    • OTC testing used for employment purposes is not covered under this mandate. If a client would like to cover testing for employment purposes, please notify your client or account manager, who can discuss options with you. Also, Cigna offers Evernorth Rapid Antigen Self-Testing Solutions to help control and manage the cost of workplace testing. Your client or account manager can provide more information on these programs.

    Review the flyer for additional information. To be reimbursed for the test kits, you must complete the COVID-19 OTC Test Kit Claim Form and submit the form to Cigna per the submission instructions on page 2 of the form.

  • New Law Affecting Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts

    Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (The Act). The Act has several changes to health Flexible Spending Accounts and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts. These options are a great benefit for employees. The University of Denver has adopted the following changes.


    Change Elections

    Employees may change their health and dependent care flexible spending account elections at any time. The change is limited to the greater of the amount the employee has already been paid or the amount they have contributed less the amount they have been paid.


    Carryover from 2020 Plan Year

    Unused health and dependent care flexible spending account balances to carry over from plan years ending in 2020 to the next plan year with no maximum.


    Carryover from 2021 Plan Year

    Unused health and dependent care flexible spending account balances to carry over from plan years ending in 2021 to the next plan year with no maximum.


    Extension of Grace Periods

    Grace periods for health and dependent care flexible spending accounts ending in 2020 or 2021 are extended from 2½ months after the end of the plan year to 12 months after the end of the plan year.


    Post-termination Reimbursement for Health FSAs

    An Employee terminating or ceasing to participate in 2020 or 2021 may continue to receive reimbursements from unused benefits or contributions through the end of the plan year when their participation ceased.


    Special Age Rule for Dependent Care

    If an employee has dependent care and their dependent became too old for dependent care, the age dependent care may be used will be increased from 13 to 14 in the current plan year. A carryover into the next plan year is allowed.

2022-2023 Benefits Plan Information

  • Legal Notices

    The Annual Notices (Spanish version) for our health plans should be reviewed by employees and their dependents. Each notice outlines the important benefits, terms, and limitations that apply to our health plans, including:

    • HIPAA Special Enrollment Rights
    • HIPAA Privacy Notice
    • Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act
    • Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act
    • Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
    • Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 "Wellstone Act"
    • Premium Assistance under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
    • Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
    • Model COBRA Continuation Coverage General Notice Instructions
    • Medicare Part D
    • Marketplace Notice
  • Benefits Guide and Premium Contribution

    The following documents cover the benefit period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.

  • Medical Coverage

    Provider: Cigna
    Website: www.cigna.com

    Employees residing or working in the following counties in Colorado will be in the Cigna Local Plus Network: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Eagle, Jefferson, La Plata, Larimer, Mesa, Montezuma, Routt, Summit, and Weld. The vast majority of DU employees will be in the Local Plus Network.

    All other employees will be in the Cigna Open Access Network.

    Network designation is automatic and is not a choice employees make during Open Enrollment.

    Cigna is available 24/7 to answer benefit questions at 888-806-5042.


    Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC)

     

    Prescription Drug and Pharmacy Information

     

    Additional Information

     

    Town Hall Video Archive

  • Dental Coverage

    Provider: Delta Dental of Colorado
    Member Service: 800-610-0201
    Website: www.deltadentalco.com

    The University offers two dental plan options through Delta Dental of Colorado:

    1. Delta Dental Base PPO Plan / Spanish Version
    2. Delta Dental Enhanced PPO Plan / Spanish Version

    With the Delta Dental options, you and your family members may visit any licensed dentist, but you will receive the greatest out-of-savings if you see a PPO Provider.

    Both plans include the Right Start 4 Kids program, which covers children up to their 13th birthday at 100% with no deductible when you see a PPO or Premier provider. Coverage includes the same services outlined in the plan, up to the annual maximum and subject to limitations and exclusions. Orthodontia is not covered at 100% but at the plan's listed coinsurance.

    Provider: Beta Health (Dental Discount Program)
    Member Service: 800-807-0706
    Website: www.betaplans.com

    The Beta Health Alpha Dental Plan is a network only dental discount program that provides an average of up to 70% savings on the most commonly performed dental procedures. Refer to the plan's fee schedule to see how much each procedure will cost.

  • Vision Coverage

    Provider: EyeMed
    Member Service: 866-723-0514
    Website: www.eyemed.com

    The University offers two vision plan options through EyeMed:

    1. EyeMed Base Plan / Spanish Version
    2. EyeMed Enhanced Plan / Spanish Version

    Both plans include the Freedom Pass. Select any frame at Target Optical at no cost to you. Your frame will be covered 100% no matter the brand or the original retail price point. You must show this flyer to the Target store associate to receive the offer.

    Members-Only Special Offers for 2022

    • Glasses.com – $50 off non-prescription pair of designer sunglasses above $200; $20 off other non-prescription pair of sunglasses
    • LasikPlus – Use up to $800 toward Lasik at LasikPlus, TLC Laser Eye Centers, and the LASIK Vision Institute
    • Pearle Vision – $50 toward the purchase of a complete pair of glasses or prescription sunglasses

    More offers are added all year so visit eyemed.com or the EyeMed App, register or sign in, and view Special Offers for the most current discounts.

  • Life and AD&D Insurance

    Provider: Life Insurance Company of North America, a Cigna Company


    Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance

    The University provides a basic life insurance coverage of 1x your current salary to a maximum of $100,000, plus a basic accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance coverage of 1x your current salary to a maximum of $100,000 at no cost to you.


    Voluntary Life Insurance

    You may purchase life insurance in addition to your company-provided coverage. You may also purchase life insurance for your dependents if you purchase additional coverage for yourself.


    Voluntary Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)

    You may purchase AD&D insurance in addition to your company-provided coverage. You may also purchase AD&D insurance for your dependents if you purchase additional coverage for yourself.

  • Voluntary Accidental Insurance and Critical Illness

    Provider: Life Insurance Company of North America, a Cigna Company

    The University is excited to offer new benefits: Accidental Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance. Please view the premium rate sheet and see below for more detail plan information.

    Employees may now call a Q&A line at 800-351-9214, available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, to get more information.


    Accidental Injury Insurance

    Accidental Injury coverage provides a fixed cash benefit according to the schedule below when a Covered Person suffers certain Injuries or undergoes a broad range of medical treatments or care resulting from a Covered Accident.


    Critical Illness Insurance

    Critical Illness insurance provides a cash benefit when a Covered Person is diagnosed with a covered critical illness or event after coverage is in effect.

  • Business Travel Accident

    Provider: Prudential/IMG Global 
    U.S. Toll Free: 855-847-2194
    Anywhere Toll Free: 317-927-6881
    Website: www.imglobal.com 

    The University provides a $200,000 Business Travel Accident (BTA) policy through Prudential. Prudential also partners with IMG Global to provide Travel Assistance Services and insured Evacuation coverages that wrap around the Prudential plan. This benefit gives you 24/7 access to medical and travel assistance services around the world, while on official University business. That way, you never have to worry where you’re covered and just have to worry about the situation at hand.

    Emergency Medical Assistance Pre-Trip Information Emergency Personal Services
    • Medical referrals
    • Medical monitoring
    • Medical evacuation
    • Repatriation
    • Traveling companion assistance
    • Dependent children assistance
    • Visit by a family member or friend
    • Return of mortal remains 
    • Visa and passport requirements
    • General information on local customs and business etiquette
    • Foreign currency exchange rates
    • Embassy and consular referrals
    • Emergency travel arrangements
    • Emergency cash
    • Locating lost items
    • Bail advancement
    • Pet housing & return

    Multilingual Assistance 24/7
    Whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, Travel Assistance services are available when you're more than 100 miles from home for 180 days or less.

    Review the Travel Assistance Services brochure for more information. 

  • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance

    Provider: Life Insurance Company of North America, a Cigna Company

    Short-term and long-term disability insurance can provide you with the peace of mind that a protected paycheck brings if you are unable to work due to an illness or injury that occurs off the job. The disability plan provides income, after satisfying the elimination period, if you become disabled due to an injury or illness. The University of Denver provides disability coverage at no cost to you.

    Summary of Benefits / Spanish version

  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

    Provider: Rocky Mountain Reserve
    FSA Member Service: 888-722-1223
    Website: www.rockymountainreserve.com

    Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) allow employees to use pre-tax dollars for healthcare or child/dependent care expenses not covered by insurance plans. The University offers three flexible spending account (FSA) options through Rocky Mountain Reserve:

    • Health Care FSA
    • Limited Purpose Health Care FSA
    • Dependent Care FSA


    Healthcare FSA

    A healthcare FSA is a pre-tax benefit account used to pay for eligible medical, dental, and vision care expenses that aren’t covered by your insurance plan or elsewhere. It’s a smart, simple way to save money while keeping you and your family healthy and protected. The IRS sets a limit on how much you can contribute to this account each year. For 2022, the contribution limit is $2,850.

    There is a rollover feature for the health care FSA and Limited Purpose FSA. Employees may rollover $570 at the end of the plan year to use in future years.


    Limited Purpose FSA

    A limited purpose FSA (LPFSA) is a flexible spending account that only reimburses you for eligible dental and vision expenses. An LPFSA is available to employees who are enrolled in a high deductible health plan (HDHP); you may enroll in both the LPFSA and the HSA. By establishing an LPFSA, you can save money on taxes by using your LPFSA dollars for your dental and vision expenses while preserving your HSA funds for other purposes, including simply saving those funds for the future. The IRS sets a limit on how much you can contribute to this account each year. For 2022, the contribution limit is $2,850.

    There is a rollover feature for the health care FSA and Limited Purpose FSA. Employees may rollover $570 at the end of the plan year to use in future years.


    Dependent Care FSA

    A dependent care FSA is a pre-tax benefit account used to pay for dependent care services, such as preschool, summer day camp, before or after school programs, and child or elder daycare. A Dependent Care FSA is a smart, simple way to save money while taking care of your loved ones so that you can continue to work. The IRS sets a limit on how much you can contribute to this account each year.

    2022 contributions limit is $5,000 if married and filing jointly or single as head of household or $2,500 if married and filing separately.

    There is an added grace period for Dependent Care FSA allowing you to continue to use current dependent care funds to reimburse expenses incurred for 2 ½ months after the end of the benefits plan year.


    To help you plan, use this FSA expense planning worksheet. For more information, view the FSA Enrollment Guide and visit RMR's FSA website. For a list of eligible expenses, visit RMR's website "What's Covered."

  • Health Savings Account (HSA)

    Provider: Rocky Mountain Reserve
    Member Service: 888-722-1223
    Website: www.rockymountainreserve.com


    Important

    If you are enrolling in the Cigna HDHP plan and will have an HSA with Rocky Mountain Reserve (RMR) for the first time, you will receive a "Welcome" email from RMR.

    If you want to contribute to your HSA, please complete the HSA Payroll Deduction form and return it to benefits@du.edu.


    What is a Health Savings Account?

    A Health Savings Account (HSA) is an individually owned, tax-advantaged account that you can use to pay for current or future IRS-qualified medical expenses. With an HSA you’ll have the potential to build more savings for healthcare expenses or additional retirement savings through self-directed investment options.


    Are You Eligible for an HSA?

    You are eligible to open and contribute to an HSA if you meet all seven of the following criteria:

    1. You are covered by an HSA-qualified health plan (HDHP)
    2. You are not covered by other health insurance (with some exceptions)
    3. You are not enrolled in Medicare
    4. You are not enrolled in TriCare
    5. You are not eligible to be claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return
    6. You have not received health benefits from the Veterans Administration (except for a "service related disability") or an Indian Health Services facility within the last three months
    7. You are not covered by your own or your spouse’s Healthcare FSA


    How Does an HSA Account Work?

    You can contribute to your HSA via payroll deductions, an online banking transfer, or sending a personal check to RMR. Your employer or a third party such as a spouse or parent may contribute to your account as well.

    You can pay for qualified medical expenses with your debit card directly to your medical provider or pay out-of-pocket. You can either choose to reimburse yourself or keep the funds in your HSA to grow your savings.

    Unused funds will roll over year to year. After age 65, funds may be withdrawn for any purpose without a penalty but will be subject to ordinary income taxes.


    How Much Can You Contribute to Your HSA?

    DU contributes $331.68 per year ($27.64 per month) to your HSA. Your contribution plus DU's contribution cannot exceed the IRS maximum for the calendar year.

     

    Coverage Tier on the HDHP Plan

    2022 IRS Maximum Contribution

    Self Only

    $3,650

    Family (includes EE+Spouse and EE+Children)

    $7,300

    Catch-up (age 55+ may contribute an additional amount)

    $1,000


    For more information, view the HSA Enrollment Guide and visit RMR's website about HSA.

  • Retirement Plan

    Provider: TIAA
    Customer Service: 800-842-2252
    Website: www.tiaa.org/du

    The University offers a 403(b) retirement savings plan with an available Roth option. Please see the Retirement Plan page for a general overview or, for more detailed information, you may view the Plan Document.

    You can register to enroll in a new retirement plan or view your existing account on the TIAA website set up exclusively for DU.

    TIAA Individual Retirement Consultants are available to work with you by phone, email, virtual or in person meetings, and other channels for one-on-one retirement counseling sessions to answer your questions about your account and DU's retirement savings plan.  Click on this link to view the availability and schedule an appointment.  

  • COBRA

    Provider: Rocky Mountain Reserve
    FSA Member Service: 888-722-1223
    Website: www.rockymountainreserve.com

    Rocky Mountain Reserve administers COBRA for the University.

  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

    Information on the EAP is available on the Employee Assistance Program page.

Additional Benefits

  • Student Loan Assistance

    Provider: Savi
    Customer Service: 833-604-1226 (weekdays 5:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time)
    Website: www.tiaa.org/du/student

    Take advantage of a robust solution that can make a significant difference when it comes to student debt.* Brought to you through TIAA and powered by Savi, this tool helps find the best federal repayment and forgiveness programs for your financial situation — plus it simplifies the long-term task of navigating the way to forgiveness.

    • Caps your payment based on your income and family size
    • Frees up funds that you can direct towards other financial goals
    • Removes the complexities of forgiveness

    *Between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019, based on Savi’s internal measurements, Savi users saw average projected savings of $1,880 per year.


    What to Expect When Applying for Forgiveness

    Savi streamlines the entire process, from helping you enroll in forgiveness programs to ongoing support and payment tracking, ensuring you remain on track from start to forgiveness—all for a small fee.* Here's a snapshot of what will happen:

    1. Enroll in Savi Essential Service.
    2. Provide your basic information. Savi handles the rest — from checking your forgiveness application for accuracy and completion all the way to submission.
    3. After verification, which Savi handles, everything is sent to your loan servicer.
    4. You'll receive reminders from Savi for ongoing things you may need to do afterward, like an annual submission to the PSLF program. That way you stay in compliance with all of the particulars that go along with forgiveness programs.

    Take a minute and find out how much you could lower your monthly payment. Visit TIAA.org/du/student today to calculate your savings.

    Savi conducts live webinars every month. To see dates, times, and to register, click here.

    *A portion of the fee may be shared with TIAA to offset costs to support the program. In addition, TIAA has a minority ownership interest in Savi.

  • Legal and Identity Theft Protection

    HRIC has partnered with LegalShield to provide legal and identity theft protection services for a low monthly cost to employees.


    What Your Legal Plan Membership Offers

    Professional Legal Advice and Counsel

    You have access to a variety of legal services including: advice on unlimited personal legal issues, attorney letters or calls made on your behalf, contract and document review and so much more. See details

    Dedicated On-Call Law Firm

    After you become a member, just contact our provider law firm to speak to a lawyer in your area that is experienced in most fields of law and can provide you advice and counsel on an unlimited number of personal legal issues. We even provide 24/7 access for covered emergencies. Proven, professional advice is just a phone call away, when you need it!


    What Your IDShield Membership Plan Offers

    IDShield Detection and Resolution

    IDShield protection provides you valuable services from detection to resolution. You'll feel empowered knowing that for a small monthly fee you have the expertise you need to help protect yourself against identity theft and resolve issues related to it.

    Additional Materials


    For more information on the plans and to enroll online, visit
    www.legalshield.com/info/du.

Benefits Forms

All benefits forms are now located in Freshdesk. You must login with your DU email and password. Forms can be found under Human Resources > Human Resources Forms.