Health Insurance, Direct Pay, & Waiver Plans FAQs

To learn more about the plans, refer to the Summary Plan Descriptions and Plan Summaries. Employees may also log onto My Payroll and Benefits for more details.

Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance under the following circumstances:

• New hire (employees have 60 days to enroll online)
• Newly eligible due to a change in employment status (e.g., Part-time B to Part-time A or Full-time status)
• Qualifying life event (30 days from date of qualifying event to enroll)
• Annual Open Enrollment period (changes take effect January 1)

Health insurance coverage terminates at the end of the month following the last month worked (e.g., Last day worked is June 15, coverage ends July 31).

Rates vary by plan and coverage level. Employees must log on to My Payroll and Benefits to view the applicable rates. The health insurance premium is deducted on the first payroll of each month. The first time an employee enrolls in benefits, a double deduction will be charged to cover the first and last month of coverage.

For Full-time employees only, dental coverage is included when the employee enrolls in health insurance. There is no additional deduction for dental coverage. The Empire health insurance card will apply towards medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage.

A Qualifying Life Event is a change in an employee’s family or employment status that may allow the employee to make certain benefit changes. Qualifying events may include marriage, divorce, birth or adoption, and loss or gain of coverage. An employee is required to present supporting documentation such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate(s), and/or loss of coverage or proof of alternate coverage. If an employee experiences a life event and needs to add or drop a dependent(s), the employee must do so within 30 days of the event.

Any benefits-eligible employee with alternate coverage may waive RFCUNY’s health insurance plan. Medicare, Medicaid, Affordable Care Act Marketplace Exchanges, or other government issued insurance do not qualify for the opt-out funds.