Medical
New benefit-eligible employees who will be working a minimum of 20 hours per week must make a health care election within their first 30 days of hire.
If no form is submitted in the first 30 days of employment, new employees will automatically be enrolled in the High-Deductible Health Care (HDHP) for employee only coverage.
New employees who wish to opt out of coverage must submit a form to opt out.
Coverage is effective on the 31st day after hire.
Temporary employees have different eligibility requirements. Please review our temporary employee website for more information.
Benefit-eligible employees working at least 20 hours per week may enroll a UA Choice Health Care Plan.
Employees can enroll or change their prior health care elections within 30 days of a life event or during annual open enrollment.
More information on life events can be found on our qualifying life events website.
Temporary employees have different eligibility requirements. Please review our temporary employee website for more information.
Sikuliaq employees have special enrollment requirements. Please check with your HR Coordinator.
Temporary employees have special enrollment requirements. Please check with your HR Coordinator or visit the temporary employee website for more information on eligibility.
The University of Alaska requires evidence of eligibility for all enrolled dependents. Supporting documents include birth certificate, marriage license, final adoption paperwork, tax returns showing claimed dependents, qualified medical child support orders, legal guardianship papers, etc.
If an employee enrolls in a UA Choice Plan, the following dependents are eligible for coverage, as well.
The lawful spouse of an employee unless legally separated.
Wherever “spouse” is stated in the health care plan, a Financially Interdependent Partner (FIP) would also be included provided all requirements are met as specified by the University of Alaska. Health care deductions for FIPs are post-tax.
- The FIP Explanation Document contains more information about Financially Interdependent Partners such as taxability and required criteria.
- Access the Statement of Financial Interdependence to add FIP and FIP dependents to your health benefits.
- View FIP Tax Rates to see how covering a FIP effects your income tax.
- A “child” 25 years of age or younger
- A natural offspring of either or both the employee or spouse
- A legally adopted child of either or both the employee or spouse
- A child for whom the employee has been granted court-appointed legal guardianship
- There must be a court order signed by a judge, which grants guardianship of the child to the employee or spouse of the employee as of a specific date. When the court order terminates or expires, the child is no longer an eligible child.
- A child for whom the employee or spouse is under a domestic relations order to provide medical benefits as directed by a divorce decree, a medical child support order, or other court-ordered dependent coverage
- A foster child living with the employee
- There must be a court or other order signed by a judge or state agency, which grants guardianship of the child to the employee or spouse of the employee as of a specific date. When the court order terminates or expires, the child is no longer an eligible child.
- A child “placed” with the employee for the purpose of legal adoption in accordance
with state law
- Placed for adoption means assumption and retention by the employee of a legal obligation for total or partial support of a child in anticipation of adoption of such child.
If you are welcoming a new family member and would like to enroll them in your health coverage, you must do so within 60 days of birth. Do not wait for the social security number or official birth certificate.
When completing the Life Event Changes Form submit the temporary birth certificate from the hospital and use 0's for placeholders for the SSN.Once you receive the SSN, please reach out to us at ua-benefits@alaska.edu for instructions on how to add the SSN. Do not send any SSNs through email.
New benefit-eligible employees who will be working a minimum of 20 hours per week must make a health care election within their first 30 days of hire.
If no form is submitted in the first 30 days of employment, new employees will automatically be enrolled in the High-Deductible Health Care (HDHP) for employee only coverage.
New employees who wish to opt out of coverage must submit a form to opt out.
Coverage is effective on the 31st day after hire.
Temporary employees have different eligibility requirements. Please review our temporary employee website for more information.
How to Enroll
- Attend a Benefits Overview (held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month). Register to attend by contacting your HR Coordinator.
- Submit your New Employee Health Care Form within 30 days of hire.
- A form must be submitted within 30 days of hire, even if you are opting out.
- If no form is submitted, you will be defaulted into the HDHP for employee only.
- If enrolling dependents, you must provide supporting documentation at the time of enrollment.
Current employees can update their health care coverage in three ways:
1. During annual open enrollment (mid-April each year);
2. Within 30 days of a qualifying life event; or
3. Adding a newborn within 60 days of birth.
The most common qualifying life events include change in marital status, birth/adoption, or gain/loss of other coverage. For more information about qualifying life events please visit the qualifying life events page.
How to Make Changes
- Complete the Life Event Changes Form to update your benefits within the appropriate timeline.
- If you are enrolling dependents for the first time, you must provide supporting documentation at time of enrollment.
If you are welcoming a new family member and would like to enroll them in your health coverage, you must do so within 60 days of birth. Do not wait for the social security number or official birth certificate.
When completing the Life Event Changes Form submit the temporary birth certificate from the hospital and use 0's for placeholders for the SSN.
Once you receive the SSN, please reach out to us at ua-benefits@alaska.edu for instructions on how to add the SSN. Do not send any SSNs through email.
Check with your HR Coordinator and complete these paper forms found below.
Please visit the temporary employee website for more information on qualifications and enrollment information.
The UA Choice Health Care Plans are offered through Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska and feature three coverage options:
- Summary of Benefits and Coverage - 750 Plan
- Individual Deductible: $750
- Family Deductible: $2,250
- Summary of Benefits and Coverage - HDHP
- Individual Deductible: $1,250
- Family Deductible: $3,000
- Summary of Benefits and Coverage - CDHP
- Individual Deductible: $1,500
- Family Deductible: $3,000
The individual and family deductibles work differently with the CDHP. If more than one person is covered on the CDHP, the family deductible applies.
When selecting your benefits, the UA Choice Health Plan Comparison can help evaluate which plan may be the best fit for you.You may also reach out to TouchCare, your patient advocacy partner, with any questions regarding your health coverage.
The cost of the health care plan is shared between employees and the university. The university covers 82% of the net plan cost. The current bi-weekly premiums are effective from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.
FY23 Health Premium Rates