Employee Insurance and Other Benefits
The Office of Faculty and Staff Benefits is dedicated to delivering a comprehensive and competitive benefits package as a key component of employees’ total compensation. Georgetown’s employee benefits package includes options such as retirement savings plans, tax-deferred savings, health care insurance, disability benefits, life insurance, tuition assistance, and flexible spending accounts. Details of the benefits package, which is subject to change at any time, are available online at http://benefits.georgetown.edu and by calling the Office of Faculty and Staff Benefits at (202) 687-2500.
To learn about enrolling in the benefits plans, each newly hired benefits eligible employee must attend a benefits orientation within the first month of his of her employment. The University also hosts Benefits Fairs each fall to help employees learn more about the available plans and services.
There are very limited exceptions to the requirements of the Open Enrollment rules. An employee who has a qualifying event, such as a qualifying change in employment or family status, may change his or her selection during the year. In order to do so, the employee must provide documentation of the change in status to the Office of Faculty and Staff Benefits. Here are some examples of qualifying events: marriage or divorce; birth or adoption of a child; death of a spouse or dependent; loss of insurance coverage from a spouse’s policy or source other than the University.
To learn about enrolling in the benefits plans, each newly hired benefits eligible employee must attend a benefits orientation within the first month of his of her employment. The University also hosts Benefits Fairs each fall to help employees learn more about the available plans and services.
Benefits Eligibility
The University President, in consultation with members of the Executive Committee, the Benefits Advisory Committee, and other relevant stakeholders, decides which benefits plans will be offered to specific employee groups. An employee’s eligibility for benefits depends upon the individual’s employment category and the number of regularly scheduled hours or the percentage of full-time hours worked. In most cases, an employee must be scheduled to work at least 30 hours per week in order to be eligible for benefits. Visit http://benefits.georgetown.edu for full details regarding benefits eligibility.Enrollment for New Employees
Newly hired benefits eligible employees may enroll in benefits plans until the final day of the month following the month in which they started working. An employee who joins the staff on Feb. 15, for example, has until March 31 to make their plans. Benefits coverage and premiums are retroactive to the employee’s start date for most plans. Employees who do not enroll by the deadline of the initial enrollment window will not have another opportunity to sign-up for benefits until the annual “Open Enrollment Season.”Open Enrollment Season
All benefits-eligible employees have an opportunity to review and change the medical, dental, and flexible spending plans in which they are enrolled during the Open Enrollment Season each fall. The Open Enrollment period typically runs from late October to the end of November. Any changes elected by employees during this time become effective as of Jan. 1 of the new calendar year.There are very limited exceptions to the requirements of the Open Enrollment rules. An employee who has a qualifying event, such as a qualifying change in employment or family status, may change his or her selection during the year. In order to do so, the employee must provide documentation of the change in status to the Office of Faculty and Staff Benefits. Here are some examples of qualifying events: marriage or divorce; birth or adoption of a child; death of a spouse or dependent; loss of insurance coverage from a spouse’s policy or source other than the University.
