Graduate Assistant Health Benefits

1. Graduate Assistant Health Benefits John Chambers Director of Administration Graduate School, University of Alabama

2. Contact info – Graduate School • Email: JChamber@bama.ua.edu • Phone: 348-8282 • Office: 101 Rose Administration • http://www.graduate.ua.edu/ Graduate School, University of Alabama

3. Contact Info – Student Health Center • Student Health Insurance Office • Room 210, Student Health Center • 750 Fifth Avenue East • Phone: 348-2158 • http://www.ua.edu/academic/colleges/cchs/cchs/hc/ Graduate School, University of Alabama

4. The Benefits • New for fall 2006 • UA will provide at no cost single coverage health insurance • For qualifying graduate assistants • Must apply for the benefit by August 31st • Scheme provided by Viva Graduate School, University of Alabama

5. The Benefits (contd.) • Qualifying assistants may choose to remain covered by another insurance policy • Must formally accept or decline the free coverage • Smallest period of coverage is a semester Graduate School, University of Alabama

6. The Benefits (contd.) • Fall semester coverage runs from August 1st through January 31st • Spring semester coverage runs from February 1st through July 31st • If appointed for 9 months, coverage runs for 12 months • Option to extend coverage to family for an additional cost Graduate School, University of Alabama

7. Who qualifies to receive the benefit? • Graduate Teaching Assistants supported through academic affairs • Graduate Research Assistants funded through contracts & grants • Other departmental Graduate Assistants supported through “soft” money Graduate School, University of Alabama

8. Academic Qualifications • Same as regular criteria for holding an assistantship • GPA of at least 3.0 • Enrolled in minimum number of hours’ classes • Degree-seeking status Graduate School, University of Alabama

9. Points to note • Departmental assistantships do not automatically carry the benefit • Check with your supervisor to see if your assistantship qualifies • Assistantships with work assignments of 20 hours or more per week receive full no cost benefit • Assistantships with work assignments of less than 10 hours per week do NOT receive the benefit • Assistantships with work assignments of 10 hours per week receive HALF the benefit at no cost Graduate School, University of Alabama

10. Other Points • Assistantships with work assignments of between 10 and 19 hours per week will receive prorated free coverage • Memorandum of Appointment or offer letter will include work assignment • Teaching Assistant appointments – FTE of appointment equates to hours per week • 0.50 FTE = 20 hours, 0.25 = 10 hours Graduate School, University of Alabama

11. International Students • UA requires all international students to have medical insurance • Student account is normally charged automatically at start of semester • Student must pay or provide proof of own coverage at least equal to UA’s scheme • Those GA’s who now receive free benefit will have charge refunded Graduate School, University of Alabama

12. For more information… • Graduate Assistant Health Benefit • http://www.graduate.ua.edu/admin/gahealthins.html • Student Health Center • http://www.ua.edu/academic/colleges/cchs/cchs/hc/start.cfm Graduate School, University of Alabama

13. Questions • Questions and answers • Contact me if further questions • Thank you Graduate School, University of Alabama