Support Staff Policies & Procedures
Optional BenefitsRevised 6/30/2021
Participation in the following benefits is optional:
Eligible employees may enroll online using the Enterprise Business Systems (EBS) portal. If enrollment is not made within 30 days, newly hired employees must wait until the annual open enrollment period.
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D)
Eligible employees may voluntarily purchase AD&D coverage. This plan provides various amounts of coverage for accidental death or dismemberment or loss of sight whether in the course of business or pleasure. Optional family coverage is also offered. The cost of the plan varies according to the plan selected and is deducted from the employee’s paycheck. For more information regarding Accidental Death and Dismemberment including eligibility criteria, click here.
Dental Plan
MSU offers dental coverage to eligible employees. Depending on the percent of employment, a monthly employee contribution may be required. If applicable, premiums will be payroll deducted. More information regarding dental plans including eligibility criteria, click here.
Employee-Paid Life Insurance
Eligible employees may voluntarily purchase employee-paid life insurance coverage. This plan provides various amounts of coverage for the employee. Optional family coverage is also offered. The cost of the plan varies according to the plan selected and is deducted from the employee’s paycheck. More information about Employee-Paid Life Insurance including eligibility criteria, click here.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Flexible Spending Accounts provide a tax-free reimbursement to employees for health care and dependent care expenses not reimbursed by any other insurance or reimbursement program.
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (Dependent Care FSA)
Dependent Care FSA provides employees the opportunity to pay for dependent care expenses for a child, disabled spouse, or dependent parent on a pretax basis. An example of an eligible expense is the cost of care provided in or outside of the home for a qualified dependent. Eligible expenses must be incurred for a qualifying dependent and expenses must be work related.
The employee may contribute up to $5,000 per household through payroll deduction. For additional information and eligibility criteria, please visit the Flexible Spending Accounts website.
Health Flexible Spending Account (Health FSA)
Health FSA provides employees the opportunity to pay for medically related expenses that are not reimbursed by an insurance plan on a pretax basis. The amount contributed and the amount reimbursed from the Health FSA are income tax-free. Examples of eligible expenses are physician office and prescription drug copays, deductibles, eyeglasses, contact lenses, and orthodontics.
Employees may contribute up to $5,000 per household through payroll deduction. For additional information and eligibility information, please visit the Flexible Spending Accounts website.
Health Care Coverage
MSU offers health coverage, including prescription coverage, to eligible employees. Depending on the percent of employment, a monthly employee contribution may be required. If applicable, premiums will be payroll deducted.
To be covered by an MSU health plan, spouses or Other Eligible Individuals of MSU employees who have access to coverage elsewhere must purchase single coverage through their own employer if the annual premium contribution toward that coverage is $850 or less.
For specific plan information, including information regarding applicable co-payments, deductibles, benefit maximums and exclusions, as well as eligibility criteria, click here.
Health Plan Waiver
Eligible employees who have adequate health plan coverage through another employer may waive MSU’s health care coverage and receive up to a $600 payment. The payment is considered taxable income and the normal waiver period is July 1 through June 30, with payment to be received the following July. The waiver payment is not an option if an employee and a spouse or Other Eligible Individual are both employed at MSU. For more information regarding Health Plan Waiver including eligibility criteria, click here.
Retirement Plans
MSU provides two different retirement plans: the MSU 403(b) Retirement Plan and the MSU 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan.
MSU 403(b) Retirement Plan
Michigan State University sponsors a tax-deferred defined contribution plan operated under section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. The MSU 403(b) Retirement Plan consists of two different programs: the MSU 403(b) Base Retirement Program (BRP) and the MSU 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP).
MSU 403(b) Base Retirement Program (BRP)
Eligibility: Participation is dependent upon length of service and is mandatory for many employees, based on the collective bargaining agreements. For more information on eligibility and other details, please contact MSU Human Resources at 517-353-4434, 800-353-4434 or solutionscenter@hr.msu.edu.
Coverage: Upon termination or retirement, the program can provide an income based on the total amount accumulated from the employee’s and the University’s contributions, and the earnings on those accounts.
Cost: For eligible employees, the MSU 403(b) Base Retirement Program consists of a 5 percent contribution from the employee’s base wage/salary and a University contribution of 10 percent of base wage/salary. For more information regarding the Base Retirement Program, click here.
MSU 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP)
Generally, all MSU employees may contribute to the 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SPR), and is funded entirely by employee contributions. Even if you are not eligible for the Base Retirement Program, you can still participate in the Supplemental Retirement Program. For more information regarding the Supplemental Retirement Program, click here, or contact MSU Human Resources at 517-353-4434, 800-353-4434 or solutionscenter@hr.msu.edu.
MSU 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP)
Michigan State University also sponsors a voluntary, tax-deferred 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP). The amount that can be contributed is completely separate from the amounts contributed to the MSU 403(b) Retirement Plan. For more information, visit the retirement website or contact MSU HR at 517-353-4434, 800-353-4434 or solutionscenter@hr.msu.edu.