PacificSource Insurance benefits include a comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plan. A complete PDF file of benefits is available for viewing by clicking on the "Summary of Coverage" link above.
Yes, all postdoctoral scholars are required to enroll in PacificSource insurance or file a waiver form with the student insurance office. Waiver details are listed under the link "Graduate Plan Waiver Requirements" above.
Yes, costs are listed below under "What does it cost?". In order to enroll family members, the postdoctoral scholar will need to make enough in his/her monthly pay to authorize deduction to cover the cost of the premium.
Your insurance coverage is on a month-to-month basis. The contract year runs from October 1 to September 30 unless your appointment ends earlier. Your insurance will become effective on the first of a month and end on the last day of a month. If your appointment began before the 15th of the month, then your insurance effective date will be the first of that month. If your appointment began the 16th or after, then your insurance effective date will be the first of the following month. It is important to make sure that all departmental paperwork is completed and received by HR and payroll for processing. If processing is delayed and your information is not entered into the system before the 16th, you will see a double deduction on your paycheck the following month.
OSU will pay 100% of the yearly premium cost for Employee-only coverage. Dependants can be added for an additional cost. Premiums for 2009-2010 (per-month, pre-tax payroll deduction) are listed below:
Employee only coverage - $0.00
Employee + Spouse/Partner - $237.11
Employee + Children (1 or more) - $165.96
Employee + Spouse/Partner + Children - $403.03
The university will contribute 100 percent of the employee only insurance premium. Additional coverage for dependents will be paid by the employee during the period you have your appointment. Paychecks must be large enough to accommodate the elected plan deduction. The monthly amount will be deducted from your paycheck.
You need to complete an enrollment form as soon as possible after signing your letter of offer. Some departments may include an enrollment form in their hiring packet. Enrollment forms are available for download at the top of this page, or from the Student Health Insurance Office. Please turn your form in to the Student Health Insurance office rather than the PacificSource web site.
Note: All postdoctoral scholars, including those with continuous jobs year to year, must fill out either an enrollment form or waiver form every Fall as this is the beginning of the year for insurance. During fall term, all forms are due by September 30. All late forms must be received in the Insurance office by the 10th of the starting month for payroll purposes as explained above. Although not preferred, forms can also be filled out on line through the PacificSource web site: https://intouch.pacificsource.com/intouch/enrollmentlogon.htm. The key number is G002 1007.
Employees who have other insurance may qualify to waive out of enrollment in PacificSource. However, postdoctoral scholars who waive out of the university plan will not be eligible for the university’s contribution toward premiums. In order to qualify for a waiver, your insurance plan must be similar in coverage to PacificSource. You can download waiver forms and obtain information on PacificSource benefit coverage from the links at the top of this page.
If you are leaving the university, you have the option of taking COBRA. COBRA coverage is a continuation of the same PacificSource coverage you had as a postdoctoral scholar, but the university would no longer be paying the premium. Additional information about COBRA coverage can be obtained by calling Manley Services at (541) 485-7488. Forms for COBRA coverage are available in the Student Insurance Office and must be filed with Manley Services within 30 days of termination of your appointment. PacificSource will also send information to you regarding Portability Insurance. This is insurance from PacificSource, but the coverage is not the same as the coverage within the postdoctoral program. The Customer Service phone number for PacificSource is 1-888-977-9299
The Billing office at SHS will submit your bills as a courtesy for your visits with SHS providers to PacificSource. The Billing office sends out bills once a month to PacificSource for processing. After PacificSource receives and processes your billing, they will send you an EOB (or Explanation of Benefits) which will explain whether your charges were posted to your deductible ($200 must be met before any payments made), were uncovered, or are being paid and at what percentage. If you have met your deductible and your charges were covered services (see above for links to quick summary or full PDF of covered services), you will also receive a check along with your EOB. All charges from Student Health will be charged onto your account and are your responsibility to pay in a timely manner so as not to incur interest from the university. For any further questions on this process, you may contact the Billing office at (541) 737-8370.
Outside of Student Health you will want to go to what is called a Preferred Provider, a list of those can be found online at www.PacificSource.com. When you go to that provider for an appointment, you will need to present your insurance card so that the office can bill PacificSource for your visit. Some offices will ask you to pay your percentage up front, or may bill you after they have received an Explanation of Benefits from PacificSource. If you receive a billing from an outside provider that you do not understand, or does not look as if it has been charged to PacificSource, you should call the billing office for that doctor for clarification. You can also call PacificSource Customer Service to ask if they have received any billings for that date of service. PacificSource Customer Service can be reached at (888) 977-9299 or (541) 684-5582.
