Postdoctoral Trainee Benefits Program Portal
Important Dates
Period of Initial Eligibility (PIE):
New Trainees or Postdocs are eligible to enroll 31 days from their appointment start date. Failure to enroll yourself or your dependents during the PIE period will result in disqualifying you from enrolling in the plans until next open enrollment period.
Welcome!
Gallagher Benefit Services is pleased to offer the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Postdoctoral Trainee Benefits Program.
This comprehensive program is comprised of the following plans and insurance carriers:
- Medical: Aetna Open Choice 80/60 PPO and Aetna Open Choice 90/70 PPO
- Dental: Aetna DHMO or DPPO
- Vision: VSP Vision
- Life and AD&D: The Standard
- Long-Term Disability: The Standard
Important Information
Eligibility:
All Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) Postdoctoral Trainees are eligible to enroll in this benefit program:
All newly appointed postdocs will have their insurance coverage begin on your appointment start date (hire date) once Gallagher Benefit Services has confirmed your enrollment in the plans.
Eligible postdocs have 31 days from their appointment start date to enroll yourself and your eligible dependents (family members) in the various benefit plans. This timeframe is known as your Period of Initial Eligibility (PIE). Failure to enroll during your PIE can delay your enrollment until the next Open Enrollment period, which occurs each year during the month of September.
The major family member eligibility categories for this benefit program are the same family eligibility requirements as the Vanderbilt University Faculty and Staff Plans:
- Spouse
- Natural or adopted children to age 26 for medical plans (unless eligible to continue coverage because of disability)
- Stepchildren may be included if they live with the Postdoc and are supported at more than 50% and claimed as a tax dependent
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
- Birth of a Child
- Dependent loses coverage
- Adoption of a Child
- Entry of dependents into the USA
You have 31 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 Vanderbilt University Medical Center 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 October 1st. The annual open enrollment period is usually communicated and takes place during the month of September.
