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1) within the first 31 days of becoming a full-time employee,

2) through the open enrollment process which allows non-participating eligible employees to enroll on July 1 of each year, or

3) when certain family events occur (contact HR Services for further information about these exceptions).

Below are summaries of the two plan options available to you:

In this plan there are three levels of coverage. You choose the level of coverage and the costs you will incur every time you reach the point where you choose to receive medical attention. The POS plan combines the best elements of traditional indemnity plans (i.e., complete freedom to choose where to receive treatment for covered illnesses and injuries, after meeting a deductible and making a co-payment) with the elements of managed care plans and preferred provider networks (which provide coverage for many preventive procedures, do not require large deductibles and co-payments if you choose to use a network provider, and which ensure that all medical providers in the network are certified to provide the type of treatment you require). In the POS you choose a primary care physician (PCP). As long as you allow your PCP to help manage your care you will pay a flat fee of $5 for each medical visit (including all covered medically necessary charges). However, unlike other managed care plans, when you need medical assistance you can choose to bypass your PCP by self-referring yourself to another physician in the network. If you do so, your costs will be slightly higher (instead of a flat $5 fee for covered medically necessary charges, you will pay a fee of $10 for the visit plus 10% of the ancillary charges for covered medically necessary treatment). Or you can choose to self-refer yourself to any non-network physician and pay a deductible and a 20% co-pay of the reasonable and customary charges. On a daily basis you have the option of allowing your PCP to manage your care or to self-refer yourself at somewhat increased costs. Almost all the preventive services that are available under the POS plan require that you go through your PCP. Participants in the POS plan also participate in a prescription drug program. If you take your HealthAssurance identification card and your prescription to one of the local participating pharmacies, you can receive up to a 34-day supply of covered prescription drugs for a flat fee of $10 for generic drugs (or actual cost if lower than $10) or $25 for brand name drugs.  There is also a mail service prescription drug service available through the POS in which for a nominal fee of $20 (for generic drugs) or $50 (for brand name drugs), you can obtain up to a 90-day supply of many maintenance medications. Forms for using the mail service prescription service are available at HR Services.

Click here for a complete Summary Plan Description for the CCPPO.

Option 2: Traditional Indemnity Plan

The second option available to you is a traditional indemnity plan which provides medical coverage for covered illnesses and injuries. Most medically necessary hospital services (including doctor bills for covered services while a patient is in the hospital are covered at 100% of the reasonable and customary charges). Most other medically necessary charges, such as diagnostic doctor visits, ambulance service, and chiropractor for covered services, require that you pay 20% of the costs of services after meeting your deductible for the current calendar year. Charges for psychological counseling services are paid at 50% of the reasonable and customary charges up to a maximum of $120/visit. Note: under a family plan, once three family members have met their individual deductible for the year, no further deductibles will be required from other covered members of that family for the calendar year. Physical exams and similar types of preventive services which are available under the POS plan are not available under the indemnity plan. Under the traditional indemnity plan you are free to choose any doctor you wish. If your doctor is a participating doctor with Health America, you will not be charged the difference between the doctor's actual fees and the amount Health America allows as a reasonable and customary charge (R&C). If you choose a doctor who is not participating, in addition to paying for 20% of the amount Health America considers reasonable, you may be billed for the difference between the R&C rate and the doctor's actual charges. Participants in the indemnity plan also participate in a prescription drug program. After meeting a $50 deductible you will be reimbursed for 80% of your costs for covered prescription drugs. Generic substitution of prescription drugs is required. As with the basic plan, you will not be required to pay more than three deductibles per family. There is also a mail service prescription drug service available through Health America in which for a set nominal fee of $20 (for generic drugs) or $50 (for brand name drugs) you can obtain up to a 90-day supply of many medications. Forms for using the mail service prescription service are available at HR Services.

Click here for a complete Summary Plan Description for the Indemnity Plan.

For questions or concerns, call Member Services at (717)540-6315 or 1-800-788-8445

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Year 1               Year 2                  Year 3

For questions or concerns, call customer service at 1-800-332-0366

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The toll-free phone number to receive a claim form and a current list of participating providers is 1-800-432-4966

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Examples of Health Care Allowable Expenses

• Physician Fees (not covered by insurance) to include medical doctors, dentists, opticians, psychiatrists, etc.
• Registered Nurse fees
• Acupuncture
• Alcoholism and Drug Treatment
• Ambulance
• Birth Control Pills
• Braille Books
• Guide Dog
• Capital Expenses (e.g., home improvements for ill or physically impaired)
• Chiropractors
• Eyeglasses and contact lenses
• Prescription Drugs
• Hearing Aids
• Tuition fees for special schooling for learning disabled caused by a mental or physical handicap
• Lodging - medical expenses, meals and lodging at hospital or similar institutions if main reason is to seek medical care
• Nursing Home Expenses
• Oxygen
• Artificial Limbs
• Telephone - special equipment for the deaf
• Therapy
• Transplants
• Transportation - primarily for obtaining medical care (may include bus, taxi, train or plane fare plus parking expenses and tolls, etc.)
• X-rays

• Cosmetic Surgery (e.g., hair transplant or hair removal, face lift operation, liposuction)
• Dancing or Swimming lessons
• Diaper Service
• Funeral Expenses
• Health Club Dues
• Household Help
• Maternity Clothes
• Smoking Cessation Program
• Medical Expenses included in a Tuition Fee of College or Private School
• Weight Loss Program
• Ear Piercing
• Tattooing
• Toothpaste, Mouthwash, or other Personal Hygiene Products
• Premiums for Health Care other than Dickinson College's (i.e., spouse's or dependent's employer's plan or an individual's health insurance policies)
• Expenses which occurred prior to your employment at Dickinson College

• Expenses the employee pays to someone to care for the dependent(s), either in or outside your home. Expenses for a day care center are allowed.
• Expenses for a nursery school or day care center which provides lunch and educational facilities as part of a preschool child care service are eligible for reimbursement. Such expenses are not eligible for children in the first grade or above.
• Housekeepers who also cook and clean if the major portion of this service is for dependent care.

• Costs for food, clothing, education, or entertainment for the qualifying dependent
• Cost of transporting dependents to the care location
• Expenses incurred before the employee is a participant in the plan
• Expenses for schooling, unless a portion of the payment is for care of the dependent such as a boarding school
• Child support payments
• Babysitting fees to enable you to make doctor's visits
• Babysitting fees to enable you to partake in non-work related social activities
• Boarding school fees paid for healthy child while parent is recuperating from an illness.  Doctor's prescription is immaterial
• Dance, swim, etc. lessons recommended by doctor for the general improvement of your health
• Tuition and travel expenses to send a problem child to a particular school for a beneficial change in environment
• Overnight camp

Dickinson College participates in the retirement program underwritten by Teacher's Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA) and College Retirement Equities Fund (CREF). Full-time employees are eligible to participate in this plan following completion of one (1) year of full-time service with the College. After the one-year waiting period, Dickinson College contributes an amount equal to five (5) percent of the base salary of all full-time employees. The one-year waiting period is waived for persons coming to Dickinson with previous participation (active contract) with TIAA-CREF or other qualified retirement programs.

Tax Deferred Annuity Plan

In addition to the above retirement plan, all categories of employees are eligible to participate in the Dickinson College Tax Deferred Annuity Plan (TDA) in accordance with Sections 402(g), 403(b), and 415 of the Internal Revenue Code effective from your date of employment. In this plan you can elect to reduce your salary on a pre-tax basis and contribute that amount into a federal tax-deferred annuity with either TIAA-CREF or Fidelity Investments (a mutual fund family consisting of a number of different mutual funds, 16 of which are available through the Dickinson College TDA). The IRS limits the maximum amount you can put into a tax-deferred 403(b) retirement plan in any given year.  All benefits arising from these contributions are immediately and fully vested in the employee. If you are eligible for the Retirement Plan (see above), you will receive an additional 5% College contribution to your Flexcomp; you can put this additional money into the TDA as well, enabling you to build up a more attractive retirement plan. During periods of recognized disability, the College will continue its contributions to TIAA-CREF with the employee's contributions being entirely optional. Further details pertaining to the College's retirement plan and TDA plan are addressed in the TIAA-CREF Retirement Plan and TDA Summary Plan descriptions available at HR Services. Applications for enrollment in both the TIAA-CREF and Fidelity Investment Plans are available at HR Services.

Informational Meetings are held at HR Services the second Thursday of each month. Call x1503 if you'd like to attend.

The toll-free phone number for TIAA/CREF is 1-800-842-2776

The toll-free phone number for Fidelity Investments is 1-800-343-0860

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A group life insurance plan which is fully financed by the College is provided to all full-time employees. This plan  provides term life insurance at three times one's annual base salary (six times one's base salary in the case of accidental death).

Long-Term Disability

Long-term disability coverage is provided to all full-time personnel and is fully financed by the College. Payment of coverage begins with the seventh month of disability, subject to verification and determination by the insurance carrier.   Benefits amount to 60% of your monthly salary up to a maximum of $7,500 per month. Included as an offset in any monthly payments are the following: primary Social Security benefits, Worker's Compensation, veteran's benefits, and other related disability coverages.

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