Benefits

Eligible full-time employees are provided a wide range of benefits. Some of the benefit premiums, or a portion thereof, may be sponsored by the College.  Depending upon selections made, some plans may also require contributions from the employee.  Premiums that are sponsored by the College may be subject to change.  The College and/or ERS will notify employees of any changes as soon as possible.

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Medical: A comprehensive health insurance program (Health Select) is provided through ERS. The State/College will pay 100% of the insurance premiums for a full-time employee and 50% of the premiums for dependent coverage. There is a 90-day waiting period that begins on the first day of the month after the month employee is hired before an employee is eligible to enroll in the health insurance program. ERS

Health Select

Dental:

Dental insurance is available for benefit eligible employees and begins on the first day of employment.  Eligible employees may select the Dental HMO or the State of Texas Dental Choice Plan. The College will pay 100% of the Dental HMO insurance premium for the full-time employee only.  The employee pays 100% of the premiums for all eligible dependents in either plan and the remaining employee premium of the Dental Choice Plan. Dental HMO

State of Texas Dental Choice Plan

Other Benefits:

Group life insurance Galveston College provides, without charge, group life insurance coverage in the amount equal to two (2) times the annual salary for the employee. Additional life insurance may be purchased at the employee’s expense with Evidence of Insurability (EOI). Life Insurance

Optional Term Life

Voluntary Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D)

Dependent Life

Long-term and short-term disability Through long-term and short-term disability insurance coverage programs, eligible employees may receive a portion of their monthly income if they become disabled, are unable to work, and exhaust all sick leave benefits.  This coverage is available to eligible employees only during the first 31 days of employment without going through the Evidence of Insurability (EOI) process. Long Term/Short Term Disability Insurance Employee Assistance Program The College offers an Employee Assistance Program that provides free confidential short-term counseling for full-time employees and their immediate family. Mental health, financial and legal counseling sessions are available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week at no charge to the employee. Simply call  Interface EAP at 1-800-324-4327.  Se habla Espanol marca el telefono 1-800-324-2490. Information on this program is available in the Human Resources Office.  Flexible Spending Accounts The College participates in a Section 125 Flexible Health Care and Dependent Care Program through ERS. Upon employment, the employee may enter into a written agreement with the College and ERS that a pre-tax payroll deduction be made to fund a Health Care Spending and/or Dependent Care Spending Account. The employee may use the tax-free money from these accounts to pay for eligible health expenses not reimbursed under the employee’s medical and dental plans, or to pay for eligible child care expenses. The process of entering into a written agreement needs to be repeated prior to September 1 for each subsequent calendar year in which an employee wishes to fund such accounts. Credit Union Employees are eligible for membership in the The University Federal Credit Union and/or the Associated Credit Union of Texas .

Retirement: All eligible employees are enrolled in either the Texas Teachers Retirement System (TRS) or Optional Retirement Plan (ORP).  TRS is a defined benefit plan administered by the Teachers Retirement System of the State of Texas. ORP is a defined contribution plan administered applicable vendor and legislated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Only full-time faculty, administrators and professional/technical staff are eligible to participate in ORP (ORP eligible positions).

Before you choose your retirement plan, please read:  Overview of ORP and TRS  Teacher Retirement System of Texas

Optional Retirement Program

If you are planning to retire soon please read the following information -

Pre-retirement package for ORP participants

Pre-retirement package for TRS participants

Voluntary Tax Deferred Programs:

Employees may elect to participate in a voluntary Tax-Deferred Program by purchasing deferred annuity contracts or custodial accounts from a College approved vendor. Such custodial accounts or annuity contracts are acquired under 16 Section 403(B) and 457(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. Employees electing to contribute an amount to purchase a tax deferred annuity contract or custodial account will sign a salary reduction agreement, which will be effective only for contributions made.

ORP Plan documents approved by the Galveston College Board of Regents on May 14, 2008:

Galveston College ORP 403b Plan Document

Galveston College Elective 403b Plan Document

Galveston College ORP Resolution

Last Updated January 2010