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Western Oregon University, through the Public Employees Benefit Board, more commonly known as PEBB, offers a comprehensive benefit plan for employees and their families including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and other optional benefits. The employee pays 5% of the Core (Medical, Vision, Dental, and Basic Life Insurance) Premium cost and pays the full premium cost of any optional benefits. Employees with other group medical and/or dental coverage may elect to "opt out" of the PEBB medical and dental plans and receive limited cash back (your benefits manager can help you to determine the amount you will receive back). You may also decline benefits entirely.
For a more detailed overview of our benefits options and benefit rates please see PEBB's Summary Plan Description.
New Employees New employees must enroll for benefits within 30 days of their hire date. They are eligible for coverage to be effective the first of the month following their hire date or the date of signature on enrollment forms, whichever is later. It is best to enroll as soon as possible to allow ample time to set up your benefits deductions. After initial enrollment, future changes can be made during the annual Open Enrollment period or due to a QSC (qualified status change) (ie: birth, marriage, divorce, death, employment changes).
 
Core Benefits
Medical coverage
Currently, employees may choose between the PEBB Statewide Plan , Providence Choice, Kaiser HMO, and Kaiser Deductible HMO Plan. The PEBB Statewide plan is a preferred provider plan and is offered throughout the state of Oregon. Providence Choice is a Medical Home plan and is available to employees who live or work in Multnomah, Clackamas, Clark, Curry, Deschutes, Lane, Linn-Benton, Marion Polk, Washington, and Yamhill counties. Under the Kaiser HMO plans, employees must live in the HMO service area and coordinate medical care through a Kaiser facility. Vision coverage is included in all medical plans. Part-time medical plans are available to part-time classified employees.
Health Engagement Model Program (HEM)
Signing up for the HEM program gives you and your spouse or partner lower monthly deductions for health coverage and important tools for better health.See the HEM Program Page for more information.
Tobacco Use Program
Employees enrolled in a medical plan who use tobacco have a deduction to help offset the risks they bring to the group. For employees and/or their covered spouse/domestic partner who use tobacco there is a monetary monthly deduction. Tobacco users can stop the deduction if they quit using tobacco mid-year.
Spouse-other-coverage Program
If an employee covers a spouse or domestic partner on their plan and their spouse or partner waives coverage offered by their employer, it shifts risk and costs to PEBB. Employees to whom this applies have a monthly deduction.
Dental coverage
PEBB sponsors three types of dental plan designs: a traditional plan design offered by Kaiser Permanente and one administered by ODS; a preferred provider dental plan design administered by ODS; and a dental health maintenance organization plan design from Willamette Dental. The ODS traditional plan provides worldwide coverage where persons covered under the plan may chose any dentist, while the ODS "preferred option" benefits employees who go to a dentist on the "Preferred list". There is also a special low cost dental plan available to part-time classified employees only.
Optional Benefits
Life insurance
Benefit eligible employees will receive $5,000 in basic life insurance coverage, and may elect for additional coverage. Optional life insurance is available up to $600,000 for employee's coverage and $400,000.00 for Spouse/Domestic partner coverage. The first $45,000 of employee life insurance is paid on a pre-tax basis. Amounts above $45,000, and spouse life insurance, are deducted on a post-tax basis.
Disability insurance
WOU offers a short-term disability plan, and long-term disability coverage to our employees. Disability plans offer income protection during times when an employee is unable to work due to an injury or illness. Premiums for disability insurance are paid on a post-tax basis, and rates vary depending on the plan(s) chosen and gross monthly salary. Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance is also available for employees and family.
Long term care
Unum's Long Term Care Insurance pays benefits when you require substantial assistance with two out of six activities of daily living. Once you qualify, you will receive the monthly benefit you selected, even if your benefit payment exceeds the actual monthly charge you incur. When your plan pays a benefit, you can use the money to meet the needs that you decide are most important. How and where you receive services depends on your needs, family situation, finances, and plan selection. Employees can enroll in Long Term Care at any time.
Flexible spending
Any benefit eligible employee may establish a flexible spending account to use pre-tax income to pay for eligible healthcare and dependent-care expenses. Employees may enroll in accounts within 60 days of initial date of hire, during Open Enrollment, or within 60 days of and consistent with a qualified status change. FSAs are "use it or lose it" accounts. If your expense is less than the amount that you deposit for the year you will forfeit the balance.
Other Benefits
Employee Assistance Program
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential counseling and referral service that is provided to WOU employees as a pre-paid benefit. Three referral/counseling visits are available at no charge to WOU employees, household members, and dependents per year to help with personal or job-related issues. This service is completely confidential and operates separately from the University.
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