R477-6-8. Employee Benefits

  (1) An employee shall be eligible for benefits when:

  (a) in a position designated by the agency as eligible for benefits; and

  (b) in a position which normally requires working a minimum of 40 hours per pay period.

  (2) An eligible employee has 30 days from the hire date to enroll in or decline one of the traditional medical insurance plans and 60 days from the hire date to enroll in or decline one of the HSA-qualified medical insurance plans or other tax-advantaged arrangement offered by PEHP and authorized under the Internal Revenue Code for the benefit of the employee.

  (a) An employee shall only be permitted to change medical plans during the annual open enrollment period for all state employees.

  (3) An eligible employee has 60 days from the hire date to enroll in dental, vision, and a flexible spending account.

  (4) An employee shall enroll in guaranteed issue life insurance within 60 days of the hire date to avoid having to provide proof of insurability.

  (a) An employee may enroll in additional life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance at any time and may be required to provide proof of insurability.

  (5) An employee eligible for retirement benefits shall be electronically enrolled using the URS online certification process as follows:

  (a) An employee with any service time with Utah Retirement Systems prior to July 1, 2011, from any URS eligible employer, shall be automatically enrolled in the Tier I defined benefit plan and the Tier I defined contribution plan.

  (i) Eligibility for Tier I shall be determined by Utah Retirement Systems.

  (ii) An employee eligible for Tier I shall remain in the Tier I system, even after a break in service.

  (b) An employee with no previous service time with Utah Retirement Systems in Tier I shall be enrolled in the Tier II retirement system.

  (i) An employee has one year from the date of eligibility to elect whether to participate in the Tier II hybrid retirement system or the Tier II defined contribution plan.

  (A) If no election is made the employee shall be automatically enrolled in the Tier II hybrid retirement system.

  (ii) An employee eligible for the Tier II system has one year from the date of eligibility to change the election or it is irrevocable.

  (c) Changes in employee contributions, beneficiaries, and investment strategies shall be submitted electronically to URS through the URS website.

  (6) A reemployed veteran under USERRA shall be entitled to the same employee benefits given to other continuously employed eligible employees to include seniority based increased pension and leave accrual.

  (7) All insurance coverage, excluding COBRA, shall end:

  (a) at midnight on the last day of the pay period in which the employee receives a paycheck for employees hired prior to February 15, 2003; or

  (b) at midnight on the last day of the pay period in which the employment termination date became effective for employees hired on February 15, 2003, or later.

  (8) An employee who is not eligible for benefits under R477-6-8(1) but does meet the minimum qualifications under the Affordable Care Act shall be eligible for medical insurance only.