Postdoctoral Benefits Program Portal

This comprehensive program is comprised of the following plans and insurance carriers:

• Medical: Aetna Health Network Only (HNO) and Open Access Managed Choice Point of Service (OAMC POS)
• Dental: Metlife PPO
• Vision: EyeMed
• Life and AD&D: The Standard
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Impact Solutions
• NEW:Gallagher Marketplace

Important Information

Eligibility:

All newly appointed Postdoctoral Scholars and Fellows are eligible for this benefit program beginning on their appointment start date.

Eligible postdocs have 30 days from their appointment start date to enroll themselves and their eligible dependents (family members). This timeframe is known as the Period of Initial Eligibility (PIE).

Family member eligibility requirements are the same as the family member eligibility requirements for the Case Western Reserve University Faculty and Staff plans. The major family member eligibility categories are the following:

Family member eligibility requirements are the same as the family member eligibility requirements for the Case Western Reserve University Faculty and Staff plans. The major family member eligibility categories are the following:

• Spouse
  • A spouse must be legally married to the eligible employee.
• Surviving Spouse and Chlld(ren) of a Deceased Employee
  • An eligible spouse or dependent child of a deceased employee or retired employee is eligible only for health and dental coverage.
  • The spouse or dependent child must be enrolled in the University sponsored plan at the time of the employee’s death.
• Dependent child(ren)
  • Dependent children include unmarried natural, step, foster, legally adopted children, and any children who are in your custody under an interim court order prior to the finalization of adoption proceedings.
  • Your dependent child may be covered under health, dental, vision, and life plans until his/her/their 26th birthday.
  • Any children who are dependent upon you for financial support and maintenance because of disability are covered regardless of age if they were covered by the plan prior to reaching the limiting age.
• Domestic Partners: CWRU extends benefits to spouses and domestic partners (spouse equivalent). You must document a qualifying member’s relationship to substantiate eligibility.
  • Proof of domestic partnership through a notarized affidavit is required for spousal equivalent coverage. Please submit proof of domestic partnership (notarized affidavit) to the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.

Note: For those wishing to enroll their same-sex domestic partner, you will need to complete the following form:

AFFIDAVIT OF DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP

Once the form is completed and signed, please scan and email the PDF copy to Gallagher Benefit Services at: UniversityServices.GBS.casepbp@ajg.com. Once GPA receives the document, we will proceed with your enrollment into the plans.

Please note: Please note: Qualified Postdocs who wish to enroll their eligible family members must do so during the first 30 days of their appointment (“period of initial eligibility”). The Postdocs and their family members must be enrolled together. Failure to enroll yourself, or enroll your dependents within the 30 day period could result in a significant delay in access to coverage, or the inability to enroll yourself and / or your dependents until the next open Enrollment Period. However, you may enroll eligible family members at a later time due to a qualifying event as listed in the section below.

Currently Enrolled? Postdocs Needing to Enroll a Dependent (Qualifying Events):

If you are currently enrolled, you may be able to enroll a newly eligible family member(s) if you experience one of the following qualifying life events:

Qualifying Events

• Legal Marriage/Domestic Partnership
• Family member(s) arrival in the U.S.
• Birth of a Child
• Dependent loses coverage
• Loss of Eligibility of Medicaid/Medicare
• Adoption of a Child
• Relocation

You have 30 days from the date of the qualifying life event to enroll your eligible family member(s) by submitting an enrollment form on this site.

OPEN ENROLLMENT

Open Enrollment is an annual period of time designated by Case Western University to allow you to make changes to your current enrollment that are otherwise not allowed throughout the rest of the year, unless you experience a qualifying life event. For instance, if you previously waived coverage for yourself and/or any eligible family members , during the designated open enrollment period, you may enroll both yourself and your dependents if you so desire in the available plan choices. For any plans in which you enroll, coverage always begins on January 1st. The annual open enrollment period is usually communicated and starts during the month of November.