Benefits
Welcome to the Benefits homepage! Please refer to the links on the left side or the tabs above to discover more about all of the benefits provided to employees at George Mason University.
If you have any questions, would like more specific information about employee benefits, or would like to schedule an appointment to discuss your benefits in greater detail, please call (703) 993-2600 and ask to speak to a member of our Benefits Team.
University Hall, 4th floor, 4441 George Mason Boulevard.
Benefits News
Happening Now ....
Open Enrollment for health benefits and flexible reimbursement accounts (FRAs) is May 1 - May 25, 2012. During this time, you may enroll in a health plan and/or an FRA, change your health plan, add or remove family members or waive state health coverage. Changes to your premiums, health benefits and FRAs will take effect on July 1, 2012. Please note that rates and plan design information are subject to change pending approval of the state budget.
Highlights of changes for this plan year include:
COVA Care and COVA Connect:
- Increase choice: You may enroll in either COVA Care or COVA Connect regardless of where you live, since both plans will be available statewides.
- Annual vision benefit: The COVA Care and COVA Connect optional benefit will change to once every 12 months from every 24 months.
- Autism: Coverage for applied behavior analysis (ABA) is included for children ages 2 through 6, with a $35,000 annual limit for these services.
- IV and injected cancer drugs: For statewide plans, you pay the same 20 percent coinsurance for IV and infused chemotherapy as you do for all infusion services, with the plan paying 80 percent of the cost.
Kaiser:
- Ambulance travel: $50 copayment per service
- Prescription: Prescription drug copayments increase
Flexible Reimbursement Accounts:
- Medical Flexible Reimbursement Account (FRA) contribution maximum per plan year: Changes to $2,500 from $5,000 due to federal health reform.
- New Vendor: WageWorks
- New Medical FRA VISA®; payment card mailed to all participants,
Premiums: While full-time employee premiums will increase for most plans, federal health reform funds will pay part of the premium subsidy for full-time employees and the entire subsidy for part-time employees.
For more details, see the Spotlight on Benefits newsletter, which was mailed to your home address the week of April 23rd. Please go to DHRM's Open Enrollment website for more information.
To make changes, please go to EmployeeDirect from May 1 - May 25, 2012.
Past News ....
Fidelity Webinar On Investing
Join Fidelity Investments on Thursday, October 20 for an online webinar entitled, "Building a Portfolio for Any Weather." This beginner-level session is designed for individuals who are enrolled in Mason's 403(b) tax-deferred annuity savings plan and are looking to help improve their investment mix through asset allocation and diversification. Choose from three different session times. You don't need to be a Fidelity participant to sign up. For details and to register, please visit Fidelity Webinar.
Benefits Announcement on Patriot Web
Timely information regarding TRICARE and Virginia Retirement System (VRS) Member Benefit Profiles (MBP) is available here as well as on PatriotWeb.
TRICARE Supplement Available This Fall
There will be a special enrollment period beginning August 22 through September 6 for coverage effective October 1, 2011 for those who are eligible for TRICARE. The plans will be administered for the Commonwealth by Association and Society Insurance Corporation (ASI). The supplement is part of a legislative package passed by the 2011 General Assembly and signed by the Governor to offer education and health care assistance to Virginia's military families.
Employee monthly premiums will be:
Employee only $ 60
Employee plus one $119
Employee plus two or more $160
Employees wishing to enroll in the TRICARE supplement must be eligible for both TRICARE and the State Health Benefits program.
To elect the TRICARE supplement, eligible employees may:
- Change to the supplement from their current health plan; or
- Enroll in the supplement from waived status
For more information, please go the TRICARE page on DHRM's website. If you are eligible and choose to enroll, please complete the enrollment form available on DHRM's website and return to Benefits at MS 3C3 or via fax 703.993.2601.
For more information you may attend an employee meeting at the Northern Virginia Community College on Tuesday, August 30 at 1:00 p.m at:
Northern Virginia Community College
The Theatre, Ernst Community Cultural Center
4001 Wakefield Chapel Road
Grandfathered VRS Example
If you are a granfathered VRS participant, the 5% increase in your salary that you will receive in late June will not completely cover the new VRS deduction that will start at the same time. This is because the 5% increase is based on your current salary and the 5% deduction is based on your new higher salary. To illustrate, let's say someone currently makes $36,000 per year:
Current annual salary $36,000
5% increase $ 1,800
New annual salary $37,800
5% VRS annual contribution $ 1,890
Cash Match Reinstated
As of the July 1, 2011 pay date, the cash match for participants in the Supplemental Retirement Account or the Deferred Compensation Plan will return to 50 percent of your contribution, not to exceed $20 per semi-monthly pay period (adjusted for those on bi-weekly or paid over 9 months). The cash match was reduced to $10 per pay period for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2011.
If you have COVA Care, COVA HDHP, or Kaiser Permanente...
...through Mason your wellness is covered 100%. A summary of your health & wellness benefits is available.
Human Resources and Payroll Benefits Disclaimer
Disclaimer: The Commonwealth of Virginia and George Mason University reserve the right to terminate, suspend, withdraw, amend or modify the benefits plan in whole or in part at any time. Further, The Commonwealth and the University reserve the right to terminate or modify coverage for any group of employees, active or retired and their dependents or a class of dependents at any time.