1. HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
Title I: Health Care Access, Portability, and Renewability
Prohibits restrictions for preexisting conditions
Provides additional opportunities to enroll in a group health plan
Title II: Preventing Health Care Fraud and Abuse
Covered entities are required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information
Covered entities may share health information with each other to carry out treatment, payment, or health care operations
Establishes security standards to protect electronic information
For more information Visit our webpage at
02/21/17

2. COBRA Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985
Allows continuation of medical/dental coverage upon loss of eligibility for employer plan
Applies to employee and covered dependents
May continue coverage for up to 18 months
102% premium
For more information Visit our webpage at
02/21/17

3. FMLA Family & Medical Leave Act of 1993
Provides job protected leave benefits to eligible employees
Provides up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave
Gives employee ability to maintain existing medical benefits
Employees must have 12 months of service with NMSU (need not be consecutive) and have worked at least 1,250 hours in the preceding 12 month period in order to be eligible for FMLA

4. When does FMLA Apply? Birth of a child
Placement of an adopted or foster child
Serious health condition
Care of a child, parent, spouse or recognized domestic partner with a serious health condition
Care for a Service Member (only benefit that allows 26 weeks of leave)

5. Supervisor’s Duty to Report
Supervisors must notify Benefit Services:
Every time the department obtains information that suggests an employee may have a need for FMLA leave.
When an employee uses more than 3 continuous days of sick leave, annual leave or leave without pay (LWOP) for medical circumstances for themselves or their family member.
When an employee is consistently missing work due to illness of self or family member, even if the days are not consecutive.
An FMLA request form should be completed when possible, or,
The supervisor sends an to with the employee’s name and Aggie ID asking Benefit Services to contact the employee about a possible FMLA event.

6. Additional FMLA Information
Benefits Services
Website:
HR Service Center
Phone:

7. NMSU Employee Orientation Benefit Overview
Benefit Services Department
Room 17 Hadley Hall
(575)
Office hours: M-F 8:00am – 5:00pm
02/21/17

8. General Pay Information
Paydays are semi-monthly (on the 15th and last working day of the month)
Non-Exempt (hourly) employees are paid on a pay period lag
Exempt (salaried) employees are paid current
Direct deposit is available* and recommended.
It is the responsibility of the employee to set up the direct deposit through my.NMSU.edu
*Pay advice notification is sent via and is accessed electronically using a password
02/21/17

9. Time and Leave Reporting
All non-exempt (hourly) employees must submit an electronic timesheet through my.NMSU.edu
Timesheets are due 4 business days after the pay period ends
Exempt (salaried) employees report leave taken on a monthly basis
Leave reports are due 10 calendar days after the end of the month
Leave reports must be submitted each month even if no leave is taken

10. Holiday Schedule Martin Luther King Jr. Day Spring Holiday
Memorial Day
Independence day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving (2 days)
Winter Break (Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day)
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11. Annual Leave
Full time employees will accrue annual leave based on the employee’s period of continuous years of service:
Years 1 – 4 Twelve (12) days per fiscal year
Years 5 – 9 Seventeen (17) days per fiscal year
Year 10 + Twenty (20) days per fiscal year
Fiscal Year = July 1 through June 30
240 hours may be carried forward each July 1*
Pro-rated if working less than 40 hours
Leave time cannot be advanced
*excluding non-regular term appt employees & RTW retirees

12. Sick Leave Regular employees will accrue sick leave based on job FTE
Full time 12 month employees earn 12 days per fiscal year*
Full time 9 month (non-faculty) employees accrue 9 days per fiscal year*
Fiscal Year = July 1 through June 30
800 hours may be carried forward each July 1
Pro-rated if working less than 40 hours
Doctor’s note may be requested at any time
*excluding non-regular term appt employees & RTW retirees

13. Sick Leave Bank
Available to all regular employees with at least 2 years of service
Must be enrolled in LTD to participate
Donation of 40 hours of personal sick leave to the bank is required
Membership in the Sick Leave Bank is optional
In the event of a “personal emergency”, a member with insufficient leave balances to cover the 135 day waiting period for LTD is eligible to apply for a donation
maximum of 70 days per request per fiscal year or per personal emergency
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14. Insurance Programs Eligibility: Regular employees and Non-regular term appointment employees working 30 hours per week or more
Medical (pre-tax available)
Blue Cross Blue Shield NM (PPO)
Blue Cross Blue Shield NM (HMO)
Presbyterian Health Plan (HMO)
Prescription (included in cost of medical)
Express Scripts
Dental (pre-tax available)
Delta Dental of New Mexico
Vision (pre-tax available)
Vision Service Plan (VSP)
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15. Insurance Programs Eligibility: Regular employees and Non-regular term appointment employees working 30 hours per week or more
Group Life and AD&D, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Long Term Disability
Dearborn National
Critical Illness
AFLAC
Long Term Care
Genworth – available to extended family members
Eligible Dependents may include spouse, qualified domestic partner, and children (biological, adopted, step, and domestic partner’s children). Supporting documentation must be provided at time of enrollment.
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16. Deadlines/Rates Deadline for enrollment:
Must enroll within 31 days of hire date.
Rate splits for Medical/Group Life and AD&D/Long Term Disability:
Dental Rates: NMSU 60%, Employee 40%
Employee paid benefits:
Vision, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Critical Illness, Long Term Care (direct bill)
Details on premium amounts can be found on the NMSU Benefits website at
Annual Salary
NMSU %
Employee %
$0 - $26,249 80 20
$26,250 - $31,499 70 30
$31,500+ 60 40
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17. Effective Dates New Hires
First pay period following 30 days of employment:
Medical/Rx Dental Group & Voluntary Life & AD&D
Critical Illness Long Term Care Long Term Disability
First of the month following 30 days of employment: Vision
First of the month following receipt of enrollment form: Flexible Spending Account
If you leave employment, benefits will end:
12 month employees
Last day of the pay period in which employment ends provided all premiums have been paid*
9 month employees who terminate at the end of Spring semester or do not report for service at the beginning of the Fall semester
Medical/Rx and Dental – June 30th
All other coverages* – May 15th
*Long Term Care does not end provided premiums continue to be paid
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18. Flexible Spending Account Health Care
Enrollment upon hire, at open enrollment (usually in October), or with qualifying/change in status event
Eligible expenses include medical, dental, vision and prescription (some OTC included)
Can elect up to $2,600 per plan year
Can file a claim up to the elected amount without money being in the account at the time of filing the claim
Visa Debit Card available for $10 per year
Any unclaimed amounts are forfeited if not claimed within 3 months of the last day of employment or the end of the plan year, whichever comes first.
02/21/17

19. Flexible Spending Account Dependent Day Care
Enrollment upon hire, at open enrollment (usually in October), or with qualifying/change in status event
Eligible expenses include childcare payments, camps
Can elect up to $5,000 per plan year or $2,500 if filing joint tax returns
Money must be in the account to file a claim
Any unclaimed amounts are forfeited
Visa Debit Card available for $10 per year
Any unclaimed amounts are forfeited if not claimed within 3 months of the last day of employment or the end of the plan year, whichever comes first.
02/21/17

20. Retirement Benefits for Retired Employees
Retirement Plans Available to Current Employees
NM Educational Retirement Plan
NM Alternative Retirement Plan
Voluntary Retirement (403b/457b)
Transitioning to Retirement

21. Tuition Remission Benefits
Eligible employees may take 6 credit hours per semester & 8 credits over the summer without a tuition charge
Employees earning degrees may be eligible for pay increase - see NMSU Policy 7.05
Available through Banner Self-Service 10 calendar days prior to start of classes.
Must be an employee as of the first day of classes.
Must be registered for class(es) prior to submitting request.
Employees who terminate on or before the session census date will lose all employee and dependent waiver coverage for that session.
Available to the spouse or domestic partner* if the employee does not use all the credit hours
Deadlines to submit online waivers:
Summer classes – August 1
Fall classes – November 1
Spring classes– April 1
Courses may be subject to taxation.
*Domestic Partnership paperwork must be on file in Benefit Services for the domestic partner to have access to this benefit

22. Reduced Tuition for Dependent Children
For eligible dependent children under age 25 and unmarried (undergraduate & graduate courses)
Student’s status and the employee’s employment status on the NMSU Census Date (third Friday of the semester, or last day to add or register for summer session courses) will determine eligibility.
Employees who terminate on or before the session census date will lose all employee and dependent waiver coverage for that session.
50% tuition discount for both full-time and part-time students.
Employee must submit a request for tuition waiver for each semester in which the dependent will be using the Reduced Tuition Program
Available through Banner Self-Service 10 calendar days prior to start of classes.
Deadlines to submit online waivers:
Summer classes – August 1
Fall classes – November 1
Spring classes– April 1
Students employed as a graduate assistant or awarded the Lottery Scholarship will not be eligible for this benefit.

23. Additional Benefits Discount Season Tickets for Athletic Events
Discount Tennis Center Membership
Discount Golf Course Season Passes
Discount Meal Plans
Discounts – GM, Verizon
Savings Bonds
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24. For Additional Information
Plan to attend the Benefit Work Session OR
Please contact the Benefit Services Department
Contact the HR Service Center for Employment, Payroll and Benefits Questions
Phone:
02/21/17