Benefits News – Page 10

Tips for using your MSU benefits to support breastfeeding

Published on August 6, 2019July 19, 2023 by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

Are you or someone in your household expecting and planning to breastfeed, currently breastfeeding, or interested in breastfeeding in the future? As you explore questions about breastfeeding, think about what your health insurance might cover. If you’re a benefit-eligible MSU employee, MSU HR put together some tips and reminders to help.

MSU’s employee plans all cover breastfeeding supplies to some extent – that’s Community Blue, Blue Care Network (BCN) and the Consumer Driven Health Plan with the Health Savings Account. The one exception to this is if you have BCN and are trying to get equipment from a provider who doesn’t have a contract with BCN, you’ll have to cover that yourself.

Steps to get breastfeeding supplies

In health care lingo, breastfeeding supplies are part of what’s referred to as “Durable Medical Equipment.” Typically, breastfeeding supplies include the pump package, so the pump and whatever typically comes with it (breast milk storage bags, bottles, nipples, etc.). What comes with the kit depends on which brand is offered. How do you know?

Step One: Contact your health care provider and ask for the name and contact info for a durable medical equipment provider located near you. In addition to a store you can visit in-person, sometimes you can get the contact info for a mail order service.

Step Two: Contact the durable medical equipment provider to find out which brand(s) they carry. Many providers only carry one brand, so this may help you decide where you want to go to get your pump.

Step Three: Get a prescription. For breastfeeding supplies? You got it! You can ask your OB-GYN or physician to write this prescription. They can even fax it right to the equipment provider you’ve selected or you can take it in-person.

Other tips:

If you have a pump you’ve used before, your health insurance isn’t going to cover getting the replacement parts. Replacement parts are eligible expenses under a flexible spending account (FSA) (see more info below). If your pump no longer works, most health insurance providers will cover a new breast pump kit after a certain period (example: BCN covers a new pump after 24 months).
Cleaning supplies for the pump or pump parts are not covered.
Extra bags, bottles, nipples, etc. are not covered, only those that already come with the pump.

Other resources

MSU does offer some additional resources related to breastfeeding you may find helpful.

Guidelines on Federal Laws – Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and Providing Urgent Maternal Protection (PUMP) Act

In June 2023, two new federal laws when into effect protecting pregnant and breastfeeding employees. According to the PUMP Act, MSU employees are entitled to a place to pump at work, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public. The university has provided guidance on each of these laws, including the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protection (PUMP) Act.

Flexible spending accounts (FSA)

The health care FSA through WageWorks can be used for some breastfeeding expenses including breast pumps, pump supplies and breastfeeding classes. Even though you’re still picking up the cost of these expenses, by using the health care FSA, the money is pre-tax, which means you’re saving an average of 30%. Make it even easier by using the FSA Store online at fsastore.com for everything from baby monitors to nursing pads and baby thermometers. Learn more about FSAs on the HR website.

Life changes

Chances are if you’re thinking about breastfeeding, you’re planning on a life change or have already experienced one. Don’t forget these steps for making changes to your benefits.

WorkLife Office

The MSU WorkLife Office is a great breastfeeding resource for employees. They offer classes, support, a breastfeeding room location map, and more. Check out these resources on the WorkLife website.

Growing a family comes with a lot to plan for, and breastfeeding can be at the top of that list. Hopefully, these tips and hints can help you and your family navigate through that journey a little easier.

Start your back to school shopping with MSU Benefits Plus!

Published on August 5, 2019August 5, 2019 by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

Have you started your back to school shopping for you and your family? Don’t worry, MSU Benefits Plus has you covered! All benefits-eligible MSU faculty and staff have access to a variety of discounts and savings with MSU Benefits Plus through Corestream. At MSU Benefits Plus you’ll find discounts and special offers on a variety of items for back to school from computers, laptops, shoes and clothing!

To access all the discounts, visit MSU Benefits Plus and sign-up for a free account using your ZPID number (located on your Spartan Card ID badge), or you can find the number in EBS.

Check out some of these deals that you can find through MSU Benefits Plus:

Apple

Enjoy employee pricing on most Apple products when you shop through their exclusive link! Save on select iPhones, MacBooks, Apple Watches and more! Use this link to receive your employee discount.

Dell

MSU faculty and staff can enjoy exclusive savings of up to 30% on select systems when you shop through Dell EPP link! Shop Laptops, 2-in-1s, gaming PCs, accessories and more.

HP

The HP Employee Purchase Program (EPP) offers HP consumer products at discounts typically up to 10% off starting prices. You can also take advantage of instant rebates, coupons and HP Home & Home Office sales promotions that combine with your EPP discount – for a typical savings of 20-30% off. Find your next printer for your college student’s dorm or your home office here!

Target

Whether you’re looking for school supplies or want to add something extra to your office, Target is your place to go! Take $5 off any item priced $50 or more at Target online! Discount automatically applied to cart with the link. Some exclusions apply.

Learning Care Group

Save 10% on childcare at all Learning Care Group schools including La Petite Academy, Childtime Learning Centers, Tutor Time, The Children’s Courtyard, Montessori Unlimited, Everbrook Academy, Creative Kids Learning Center, and Pathways Learning Academy.

To redeem this discount, identify yourself as MSU faculty or staff to at your preferred Learning Care Group school at the Learning Care Group website.

Foot Locker

Get 15% off orders of $75 at Foot Locker with code LKS18H3M at checkout. Offer valid online only. Some exclusions apply! Get your next pair of shoes here.

Shoes.com

Save 20% off sitewide plus get free shipping with code SHOESDOTCOM at checkout! Visit Shoe.com to use your discount.

Aѐropostale

If you’re looking for uniforms Aѐropostale is your place. Save an extra 15% off 5+ uniform items and get free shipping with code UNIFORM at checkout! Visit Aѐropostale website to find your perfect fit.

For more information on employee discounts, visit the HR website. If you have any questions about the discounts, please call MSU Benefits Plus at 888-758-7575.

Life is full of legal situations – legal insurance can help

Published on July 22, 2019July 22, 2019 by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

Legal insurance is a bit like health insurance; you never know when you might need it, but it helps when you have to pay for doctor or attorney fees. While you may think you have no use for legal insurance, it covers more services than you realize. You can get help with things like financial counseling, divorce, and traffic ticket representation. Do you need to do estate planning or establish your will and inheritance rights? If you’re getting married, do you need to create a will leaving everything to your new spouse? MSU offers ARAG® Legal Insurance as an optional benefit to MSU employees. Learn more in the following video:

ARAG can give you legal advice and consultation when you’re facing legal issues. If you use their legal representation, ARAG can act on your behalf to make sure your legal matters are handled correctly. ARAG offers two coverage plans: the Ultimate Advisor and Ultimate Advisor Plus. Both plans feature an Education Center, advice, and representation. To compare more information on these two different plans, visit the MSU Human Resources website.

An ARAG Plan Member named Philip had the following to say about their plan: "It provided me with quick and clear guidance on how to obtain an attorney, what information they would require and eased the financial burden of taking on legal action."

It’s never too early to start planning ahead so you’re prepared for the unexpected. Start thinking now about your goals for this coming year and what kind of legal coverage or representation you might need. You can enroll in ARAG Legal Insurance during Open Enrollment in October.

Active employees – want to receive more information about voluntary benefits like ARAG and discounts? Opt-in to receive emails from MSU Benefits Plus.

MSU employees call Teladoc “a game changer”

Published on July 16, 2019July 17, 2019 by Megan MacGregorLeave a comment

When you or a family member gets sick, it can be hard to fit in a trip to the doctor’s office – especially if sickness strikes in the middle of the night. Next time you need non-urgent medical care, remember you and your dependents (who are enrolled in an MSU health plan) have access to Teladoc – a service that gives you 24/7 access to a health care professional via web, phone or mobile app.

Teladoc treats general medical conditions including: cold/flu, bronchitis, allergies, pink eye, upper respiratory infections, Dermatology conditions including: skin infection, acne, skin rash, abrasions, moles/warts, Behavioral Health conditions including: stress/anxiety, depression, addiction, domestic abuse, grief counseling, and much more!

You can use Teladoc to treat a range of conditions including cold/flu, bronchitis, allergies, pink eye, dermatology and more. Jaclyn Sayen, an Administrative Assistant for the RHS Planning and Projects Office, is a big fan of Teladoc, “I’ve used it multiple times to treat pink eye for my two children…You can submit a photo (if you’d like), and I received a call back (video or voice) within 10 minutes from requesting an appointment from a licensed provider.” The average wait time to speak to a health care provider is less than 10 minutes – far quicker than sitting in a waiting room at your local urgent care or scheduling an appointment with your primary care physician.

Quote from Jaclyn Sayen, an MSU employee: "I use Teladoc all the time. It's a game changer."

In Jaclyn’s case, the doctor decided a prescription was medically necessary, “And I was prescribed medication that was sent to a pharmacy nearest, as we were out of state at the time.” A prescription can be sent to any pharmacy in the USA, which is an excellent option if you or a family member gets sick on vacation.

Plus, you receive care at a time that is convenient for you – even the middle of the night. Vivianne Robinson, the HR Director for University Advancement, was especially grateful for Teladoc’s 24/7 service, “My husband has used it twice – the first time was 2 a.m.! They were great, fast and free.”

Jayme Bisard is a Secretary for the MSU Intercollegiate Athletics department and she agrees Teladoc is super convenient: “I called for a very basic, minor thing. It didn’t cost any money and I had a prescription called in that I could pick up right at lunch!” Using Teladoc is free for most MSU employees enrolled in an MSU health plan, the exception being those who enroll in the CDHP with HSA health plan. These folks will pay the full charge until their annual deductible is met.

Sounds great! How do I get started?

Visit the Teladoc website and click on “Member Login” to set up your Teladoc account. When you need medical advice, you can receive convenient, quality care from a licensed health care professional in three easy steps:

Request: ask for a visit with a doctor 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by web, phone or mobile app.
Visit: talk to the doctor. Take as much time as you need to explain your medical situation – there’s no limit.
Resolve: if medically necessary, a prescription will be sent to the pharmacy of your choice.

Questions? Contact Teladoc directly at 1-800-Teladoc or visit the Teladoc website. You can also download the Teladoc app.

Nationwide pet insurance can help you save!

Published on July 11, 2019July 17, 2019 by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

Taking care of your pet is like taking care of someone in your family – you want nothing but the best for them. But sometimes having a pet can be costly. Did you know that as an MSU benefit-eligible employee, you have the option to purchase pet insurance through Nationwide?

One of the benefits of having pet insurance is that you can receive 90% back on your vet bills. Another benefit is you’re not paying out-of-pocket all at once. Having pet insurance allows you to pay a low annual deductible, while having a generous annual benefit. The more pets you have, the more savings you acquire. The My Pet Protection is one of the plans offered from Nationwide. This plan has a low $250 annual deductible and a $7,500 maximum annual benefit.

If your pet has any preexisting condition it will not be covered with Nationwide. However, My Pet Protection covers a large list of conditions such as:

Accidents (broken bones, injuries, cuts)
Common illnesses (ear infections, vomiting, diarrhea)
Serious/chronic illnesses (cancer and diabetes)
Surgeries
X-rays (MRIs and CT scans)
Prescriptions medications and therapeutic diets

With Nationwide pet insurance, you have access to a veterinary professional 24/7 as well as emergency boarding, lost pet advertising and more. Coverage is available for cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and reptiles. To find out if your pet is eligible for coverage, call Nationwide at 888-899-4874. You can enroll anytime in this benefit at MSU Benefits Plus by selecting your pet (cat or dog), providing your zip code and picking your plan. The coverage period will depend on when your policy is issued.

For more information on pet insurance, visit the MSU HR website or get a free quote today on the Nationwide website.

How to Save Money on Common Household Expenses

Published on July 9, 2019July 17, 2019 by Megan MacGregorLeave a comment

The average Michigan worker spends about 19% of their family income on child care each month (Marx, 2019) and a significant amount on out-of-pocket medical costs for their families. If your family has child/elder care and/or health-related costs, how would you like to save an average of 30% on these common household expenses? Flexible spending accounts (FSA) allow you to use pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible expenses, offering you a sound strategy to save money on items or services you use every day.

MSU is happy to offer benefits-eligible employees the option to enroll in two types of FSAs: Dependent Care FSA and/or Health Care FSA. You will manage your FSA directly with WageWorks, MSU’s plan administrator.

What’s the Difference Between the Dependent Care FSA and Health Care FSA?

Good question! Make sure you know the eligible expenses each FSA plan allows you to use your pre-tax money on before you enroll in one or both plans.

This graphic lists some of the eligible expenses for the two types of flexible spending accounts employees can enroll in: Dependent Care FSA and Health Care FSA. For the Dependent Care FSA, eligible expenses include child care, elder care, preschool, summer day camp, before/after school programs, and nursery school. For Health Care FSA eligible expenses include: medical/dental plan deductibles/co-pays, eyeglasses, hearing aids, orthodontics, first aid kits, allergy medication, bandages, pain relievers, and much more!

When you enroll in the FSA, you’ll decide how much money you’d like to contribute to it. This money will be deducted from your paycheck (pre-tax) and divided over each pay period throughout the plan year. You can read more about maximum contribution limits on the HR website.

Ready to Enroll?

You can only enroll in an FSA during the MSU Benefits Open Enrollment period in October each year unless you experience a qualifying life event (death, birth, marriage, divorce, etc.) or you are a newly hired/eligible employee. You have 30 days from your hire date or qualifying life event to enroll in an FSA plan.

Before you enroll, make sure you take some time to understand each plan and estimate how much you are likely to spend on eligible expenses throughout the plan year. Please note: according to IRS requirements, any unused funds left in your account at the end of the plan year will be forfeited, so please plan conservatively. Learn more about FSAs – including contribution limits, deadlines, and eligible expenses – on the HR website.

Questions? Visit the WageWorks website or call 877-924-3967. You can reach MSU Human Resources at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or 517-353-4434.

Marx, B. (2019, May 22). These Maps Show the Average Cost of Child Care in Each State. Retrieved from https://www.fatherly.com/news/maps-average-cost-childcare-us/

Your Best Doctors Benefit is Available to Help You

Published on June 20, 2019July 17, 2019 by Megan MacGregorLeave a comment

If you’re facing a serious diagnosis or recommendations for medical care such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or other treatment options, your Best Doctors benefit can help. Before you decide on your course of action have your medical diagnosis, treatment plan and/or medical questions reviewed and answered by world-renowned medical experts – at no cost to you. As a result, you’ll be sure to have the right information, the right diagnosis and the right treatment plan. We’re happy to offer this free benefit to all benefits-eligible employees and retirees.

Why Do People Use Best Doctors?

Reasons people use Best Doctors: 32% need help deciding between treatment options, 26% have symptoms that aren't improving, 23% question their need for surgery, 6% are skeptical of their doctors, and 5% don't understand their diagnosis. Source for data is from the Best Doctors website.

People go to Best Doctors to find answers and leave feeling more confident about their decisions. Watch the video below to hear the Price family’s story. They share, “Had it not been for Best Doctors, I would have had a hugely more invasive procedure that would have limited function and extended my recovery time.”

How Does It Work?

Member Testimonial – Price Family CTABD from Teladoc Health on Vimeo.

Visit the Best Doctors website and click “Create a Profile” to register. You then have the option to use the following services:

Expert Opinion: Have a physician conduct an in-depth review of your medical case and receive expert advice about medical treatment options.
Find a Specialist: Get help finding a specialist near you.
Treatment Decision Support: You have access to coaching and interactive, online educational tools that offer in-depth and easy-to-follow information about your specific medical condition. Use these tools to help you make more educated, confident decisions about your health.
Medical Records eSummary: With your permission, you have the option to allow Best Doctors to collect and organize your medical records for you and provide them on a USB drive. You will also receive a personal Health Alert Summary based on the records collected, giving you a total snapshot of your medical wellness.

Questions? Learn more on the HR website or visit the Best Doctors website.

How to use your sick time quota balance

Published on June 13, 2019July 17, 2019 by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

If you’re an MSU support staff member, you may have you found yourself wondering how MSU’s family sick time balance works. How is your sick time balance related to your family sick time balance? Let’s break it down.

First, what is family sick time? Basically, the university gives you paid time you can take to care for a family member or someone in your home. Exactly how much time and what qualifies varies depending on your union. Find out here how your union defines family sick time. You get a certain amount of family sick time to use during a fiscal year, July 1 – June 30.

Is this separate from your sick time balance?

Technically, no. When you enter time in EBS, it appears separately, but any time you take for family sick will be deducted from the family sick balance AND your personal sick time balance. This means if you want to take eight hours of family sick time, you have to have eight hours available in BOTH the sick time balance and family sick time balance.

Think of it this way – you earn sick time every pay period and of that sick time, you can use a set number of hours as family sick time. Your sick time can be used when you personally are sick or when you go to the doctor or dentist. If you use up all your family sick time, you cannot use your personal sick time to cover times when you’re away from work to care for a family member of someone in your home. View the full policy for support staff here.

Example: Sue Spartan’s Time Balances

Sue Spartan gets paid monthly. She earns eight hours of sick time every pay period. On July 1, Sue gets 80 hours of family sick time to use through June 30 of the next year. She has accumulated a sick time balance of 100 hours. Sue’s son, Sam, gets sick one day and she wants to take time off work to stay home and care for him. Sue will enter eight hours of time taken from her family sick time balance. Her updated balances will show 92 hours of sick time and 72 hours of family sick time remaining.

Still not clear?

If you’re still not sure how the family sick time quota balance works, or if you have questions for your specific situation, give us a call! You can reach a representative at the HR Solutions Center at 517-353-4434 or SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu.

Enjoy the fresh air this allergy season with Teladoc!

Published on April 11, 2019June 25, 2019 by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

As warmer weather approaches so do those seasonal allergies and other illnesses. Have you dealt with constant sneezing, congestion, runny nose and itchy eyes? They could be a sign of seasonal allergies, which come around when the weather becomes warmer and flowers begin to blossom. We know going outside can get difficult with pollen in the air, you’re not always able to enjoy those outdoor activities. Try to get ahead of it this season with Teladoc, you can get advice for allergies and other illnesses.

Allergies aren’t the only thing that can affect you during the spring time – different illnesses like asthma, Lyme’s Disease and respiratory viruses are all common illnesses during the warmer months.

Here are some tips to help you combat seasonal illnesses (Teladoc, 2016):

On dry windy days, stay inside as much as possible.
Hire someone to mow the lawn and other outside chores.
Keep doors and windows closed at night (that’s when pollen counts are high).
Use a dehumidifier to keep indoor air dry.
After spending time outside, remove and wash your clothes immediately.
Don’t hang laundry outside to dry.
Wear a pollen mask if doing outside chores and activities.

We know that life can happen, and you may not always be able to see your physician. That’s when Teladoc comes in! Teladoc gives you 24/7 access to speak with a licensed health care professional by web, phone, or mobile app. Teladoc can send prescriptions to a nearby pharmacy when medically necessary. To speak with a licensed health care professional through Teladoc, you need to:

Request: Ask to talk to a health care professional 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by web, phone or mobile app.
Visit: Speak with a health care professional; take as much time as you need to explain your medical concern.
Resolve: If medically necessary, a prescription will be sent to the pharmacy of your choice.

To find more information on this benefit you can visit the HR website. To sign up, visit Teladoc.com and click on “Member Login” to set up your Teladoc account. Then request a consult with an available medical professional. If you have any questions you can contact Teladoc directly at 1-800-Teladoc or visit the Teladoc website.

Teladoc. (2016, May 03). Seasonal Allergy Tips. Retrieved April 3, 2019, from https://www.teladoc.com/blog/2016/05/03/seasonal-allergy-tips/

photo of a book open on a desk with library stacks in the background.

Assistance for Professional or Educational Development

Published on February 11, 2019April 5, 2022 by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

As a benefits-eligible MSU employee, you have access to a variety of unique benefits and resources to help you and your family succeed, including Educational Assistance and Course Fee Courtesy. These benefits offer financial assistance toward your professional development or the educational development of your spouse and/or dependents after you’ve worked at MSU for a certain amount of time.

MSU HR receives a lot of questions about the differences between Educational Assistance and Course Fee Courtesy. We hope this article will help clarify the differences between the two benefits and encourage you to take advantage of them.

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

Who’s eligible to receive this benefit?
The Educational Assistance benefit is available to MSU support staff after working at MSU for an equivalent of 12 full-time service months. If you work less than full-time, the benefit is pro-rated based on your employment percentage.

Note: A similar program, The Professional Development Support Program, is available for Academic Specialists.

What does the benefit include?
You may receive financial assistance for both credit and non-credit courses, which may include trainings, seminars, workshops, conferences or other educational opportunities. Use this benefit to enhance your professional skillset or help you reach Performance Excellence goals.

For non-credit courses, like professional development courses available through HR, support staff employees have up to $800 per year to use towards course registration fees. This money does not roll over to the next year, so be sure to take advantage of this benefit every academic year. The course must be considered job-related and from an approved institution/program to receive assistance.

For credit courses, you can receive up to 14 credits per academic year. Your financial assistance level is determined by your union group, the type of course you’re taking (graduate or undergraduate), and where you’re taking the course (MSU or another university). The course must be considered job-related, degree-related, or career/professional development-related.

MORE INFO: Find detailed information about Educational Assistance – including how to apply – on the HR website.

COURSE FEE COURTESY

Who’s eligible to receive this benefit?
The Course Fee Courtesy benefit is available to your dependents or spouse. Regular support staff become eligible for this benefit after the equivalent of 60 full-time service months, which is equal to working at MSU full-time for 5 years. Faculty and academic staff become eligible based on their appointment; fixed-term faculty/academic staff are eligible after 60 full-time service months; continuing/tenure employees are automatically eligible; full-time Health Programs (HP) faculty become eligible upon the commencement of the first additional HP appointment.

What does it include?
This includes a Michigan resident undergraduate tuition rate reduction of 50% for your dependent(s) and/or spouse who attend MSU. So, if you have children and/or a spouse who are planning on attending MSU, you could save 50% off their undergraduate tuition rate. This benefit is only valid for a student’s first bachelor’s degree and through the semester in which the 120^th credit is attempted.

MORE INFO: Find detailed information about Course Fee Courtesy – including how to apply – on the HR website.

Have further questions about Educational Assistance or Course Fee Courtesy? Contact HR’s Organization and Professional Development department at prodev@hr.msu.edu, and we’ll be happy to assist.

Category: Benefits News

Tips for using your MSU benefits to support breastfeeding

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