Rice University Short-Term Disability Benefits Changes in Administration

Effective July 1, 2007, Sun Life Financial will administer Rice University’s Short-Term Disability claims

What does that mean? All short-term disability claims will be submitted directly to Sun Life by the benefits eligible employee Employees will no longer provide physician notes and medical documentation to their departments or Human Resources Sun Life will be responsible for the approval or denial of all claims

Services Provided by Sun Life Online and telephonic claim submission Employee now calls or goes online to initiate a short-term disability leave Review of claims by medical specialists Ease of transition to long term disability (if needed)

What will NOT change? Benefit will still be paid by Rice’s payroll Eligibility is still based on length of employment The 5 day elimination period (benefit time) will remain the same for staff Short-term disability will still run concurrent with Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) applicable time off

Why are we making changes? Increased privacy of employees health information HR will not even know why an employee is on leave – only if the leave had been approved and for what duration Easier transition from short- to long term disability benefits Outsourcing will reduce any potential abuse of Rice’s generous short-term disability policy

Training for Departments The below dates and times have been established for department coordinators/administrators DateTimeLocation Wednesday June 20, :00 to11:00 a.m. Kyle Morrow Memorial Room Thursday June 21, :00 to 3:00 p.m. Kyle Morrow Memorial Room Tuesday June 26, :00 to 3:00 p.m. Kyle Morrow Memorial Room Thursday June 28, :00 to 11:00 a.m. Kyle Morrow Memorial Room

Work Options Group New Back Up Care Options for Rice

What is Back Up Care Options? “Back Up Care Options” offers access to Backup Care Specialists 24 hours a day, 7 days a week back up care for those who depend on you as their primary caregiver Covers infants through elderly Adult family members do not need to be living with you Covers both center and at-home care across the United States & Canada for well care and mildly ill care

Cost Rice is covering the bulk of the cost, but you will be billed for the service on an hourly basis after you use it: $2/hour per child for center based care $4/hour (up to three dependents) for home care 100 hours of care per employee per year (July 1 – June 30)

See handout for more details on how the program works…

Questions?