Category: Benefits News

This category is for articles and announcements related to your benefits as an MSU benefits-eligible faculty or staff member.

Sick while on vacation? Get medical advice 24/7 from Teladoc

Published on by Megan MacGregorLeave a comment

Will you be traveling during the holiday season? If you or a family member gets sick or needs medical advice while you’re away (within the USA), remember that Teladoc is here to help. Teladoc gives you 24/7 access to speak with a licensed health care professional by web, phone, or mobile app. They can even send prescriptions to a nearby pharmacy when medically necessary. This benefit is available to all MSU employees and their dependents who are currently enrolled in an MSU health plan.

How Does it Work?
When you need medical advice, you can receive quality care from a licensed health care professional in three simple steps:

  1. Request: Ask to talk to a health care professional 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by web, phone or mobile app.
  2. Visit: Speak with a health care professional; take as much time as you need to explain your medical concern.
  3. 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.

Take advantage of your vision insurance with VSP Vision Care

Published on by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

Have you used your vision insurance yet this year? Don’t worry, there’s still time to schedule your annual eye appointment! If you are an MSU benefit-eligible employee and enrolled in VSP Vision Care, take advantage of your plan. Getting your eyes checked is a good idea for several reasons.

A routine eye exam can detect diabetes and other hidden health concerns like high blood pressure. Here are some things that can show up in your eye exam:

  • Signs of diabetes can show in the eyes with blood spots and leaking fluid, your optometrist can also determine diabetic retinopathy.
  • Diabetic retinopathy is a condition in which continuing damage to retinal tissues from diabetes can lead to impaired vision or even blindness if left untreated.
  • About 24,000 people lost their sight ever year to diabetes and diabetic retinopathy.
  • Blurry vision can be a sign of high blood pressure.
  • High blood pressure can affect your eye by blood covering the macula which affects the light sensing of retina tissue.

Don’t wait until vision problems occur to make an important eye exam. For more information on VSP Vision Care, visit MSU Benefits Plus.

Is Your Home Winter Ready?

Published on by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

With the cold temperatures and snow falling, have you made sure your family will be warm and safe this winter? Here are some basic steps you can take to get your home ready for the winter:

  1. Seal your windows to improve heating efficiency.
  2. Use layered curtains to keep your home insulated for moderate comfort.
  3. If you have a fireplace, hire a chimney sweep to make sure your fireplace is working properly. A chimney sweep can clear out soot, check for damages and change the chimney cap to prevent rain, snow, birds, squirrels and anything else from entering your home.
  4. A generator can be very helpful to have over the winter. Living in Michigan, we know snowstorms can sometimes knock the power out for long periods of time. Having a generator can keep you and your family warm during a storm.
  5. Clean and inspect your gutters – clogged gutters can cause water to back up and freeze once the temperature drops. Keep your gutters clear and make sure they’re properly connected to ensure the melting snow runs off your roof through downspouts.
  6. After a heavy snowfall, it can be tough to see your driveway, flowerbeds, or walkways. Try using fiberglass snow poles or driveway markers every several feet to line the edges of the areas. This will help provide a clear path whether you’re blowing or shoveling snow yourself.
  7. Insulate your attic or crawl space. This can save you money in the long run by keeping your home’s heat in the living space instead of in your attic. It will also help keep your attic cooler which can prevent damaging ice dams from forming on your roof.

Did you know MSU benefits-eligible employees have the option to enroll in voluntary home and auto insurance through MetLife or Liberty Mutual Insurance? As you’re getting your home winter ready, or considering those work commutes over our Michigan winter, you might want to consider re-looking at your home and auto insurance. Make sure your family has the coverage they need this winter season.

For more information on voluntary home and auto insurance through Liberty Mutual and MetLife, visit MSU Benefits Plus. You can get a free quote by contacting Liberty Mutual at 888-860-0316 or MetLife at 877-619-5604.

Questions about taking a leave of absence from work? Ask ALEX.

Published on by Megan MacGregorLeave a comment

Have you ever wondered what qualifies as a leave of absence or what steps you should take to apply? Try asking ALEX! ALEX is a new virtual educational tool that guides you through the process of taking a leave of absence from work and provides easy-to-understand guidance for every step along the way.

We understand that sometimes you need to take time away from work due to an illness, injury or adding a child to your family. Find out how much time you’re able to take and if you’ll receive pay during your absence. Whether you’re looking to take a leave of absence now, or just thinking about the future, ALEX is available to assist you.

Click the image below to launch the ALEX educational tool.


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This tool is for educational purposes only; please refer to the FMLA page on the HR website for more information on how to obtain the required FMLA leave notice forms. For assistance using ALEX, or to understand your FMLA options, please contact MSU HR at 517-353-4434 or SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu.

Source Newsletter- May

Published on by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

In case you missed it, here is the May 2018 Source newsletters.

There is a Source Newsletter for Support Staff and a Source Newsletter for Faculty, Academic Staff and Executive Management.

You can find older editions of the newsletter on the HR website.

Here are the headlines at a glance for this month’s Source:

Support Staff:

  • Health Care Coverage Update for Autism Spectrum Disordermay-ss-sourcenewsletter.jpg
  • Performance Excellence Webpage Updates
  • Clerical- Technical Recognition Award Reminder
  • Try a Flexible Work Arrangement for Summer
  • 7 tips for Managing Stress
  • Congratulations to Staff Award Honorees
  • Military Application Month

Faculty/Academic Staff:

  • Health Care Coverage Update for Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • 7 Tips for Managing Stress
  • Simmons Chivukula Award Winners
  • Clerical- Technical Recognition Award Remindermay-fas-sourcenewletter
  • Congratulations to Staff Award Honorees
  • Military Appreciation Month
  • Performance Excellence Webpage Updates
  • Faculty & Academic Staff Hiring Process Changes

Source Newsletter – April

Published on by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

In case you missed it, here are the April 2018 Source newsletters.

There is a Source Newsletter for Support Staff and a Source Newsletter for Faculty, Academic Staff and Executive Management.

You can find older editions of the newsletter on the HR website.

Here are the headlines at a glance for this month’s Source:

Support Staff:

  • New Benefit for Diabetes Management
  • SS NewsletterCVS Caremark Co-Pay Assistance for Specialty Drugs
  • Optimistic Aging: Charting Your Course for Retirement Adventure
  • Clerical-Technical Recognition Award Nominations
  • Activities for Kids this Month and into the Summer
  • Outstanding Supervisor Award Nominations
  • How to Find Your Educational Assistance Balance
  • HireRight Criminal Background Check Changes
  • Introducing I-9 Anywhere for Remote Hiring

Faculty/Academic Staff:

  • New Benefit for Diabetes Management
  • CVS Caremark Co-Pay Assistance for Specialty DrugsFAS Newsletter
  • Fellowship Programs on Teaching & Learning
  • Optimistic Aging: Charting Your Course for Retirement Adventure
  • Outstanding Supervisor Award Nominations
  • Activities for Kids Now and into the Summer
  • Clerical-Technical Recognition Award Nominations
  • Faculty, Academic Staff & Executive Management Retirees Luncheon
  • Introducing I-9 Anywhere for Remote Hiring

Manage Your WageWorks Account Anytime, Anywhere

Published on by MSU Human Resources2 Comments

Managing your flexible spending account (FSA) healthcare benefits is quick and easy with the WageWorks EZ Receipts App. You’ll love the convenience of submitting claims, uploading receipts and checking account balances directly from your phone.

According to one happy EZ Receipts App user: “I absolutely love the WageWorks EZ Receipts mobile app. It makes using my WageWorks benefits so simple. I just snap a photo of my receipt with my smartphone and submit my claim for reimbursement. I signed up for text alerts recently, and now I check my account and card balances when I’m on the go. It couldn’t be easier!”

Watch the video below to learn how to use the EZ Receipts App.

The WageWorks EZ Receipts App is available for download from the App Store or Google Play.

Starting in 2018, WageWorks became MSU’s FSA plan administrator. Have more general questions about MSU’s FSA plan administrator? Learn more about WageWorks and watch the Welcome to Your WageWorks Account video here.

Finding Care Made Easy

Published on by Megan MacGregor3 Comments

Part of your MSU benefits includes access to Care.com – a top-notch service provided free of charge to MSU faculty and staff to help you find quality child care, adult/elder care, pet care and more. You can post a job or find service providers in your area. Whether you have planned or unexpected care needs, Care.com will help you find the right provider for your family.

All care providers have undergone criminal background checks and can provide in-depth profiles and member references. Search with confidence for qualified care providers according to your requirements: ZIP code, experience, hourly rate, availability and more.

Need a care provider last minute?

If you need a care provider last minute, try downloading the Care@Work app. Find, manage and pay for a quality caregiver on-the-go with the Care@Work app. Download from the App Store or Google Play.

Need advice for choosing a care provider?

Are you ready to interview a care provider but not quite sure where to start? Care.com Community is an advice-sharing network that gives members a space to ask questions and share experiences. They have How-To Guides, like How to Interview a Nanny: Your Questions Checklist, along with articles and resources for both caregivers and Care.com members.

Ready to use Care.com?

To access this service, enter the EBS portal, then log in with your MSU Net ID to be identified as an MSU affiliate. Visit Care.com/msu to start searching for quality care. The search service is free and wages for care providers are negotiated between the provider and user. Please direct questions about Care.com to the MSU WorkLife Office.

I used Care.com to find my provider and it was a great service for screening and communicating with caregivers. Thanks for the awesome resource. I would recommend it to anyone, and actually have, several times. - from an Employee at Michigan State University.

Financial Knowledge for All: Upcoming Workshops

Published on by MSU Human Resources2 Comments

Setting a budget. Managing debt. Planning for a loved one’s future college education expenses. You may find yourself in the midst of one or all of these financial situations and looking for financial knowledge and tips to help you manage everything. Retirement vendor, TIAA, is hosting several upcoming workshops as a part of their Financial Essentials education to provide free workshops to staff and faculty. Click the workshop location to register.

coin jar
Start saving and financial planning for the future.

 

Lifetime Income: Help secure your retirement
Wednesday, November 8, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Live Webinar

This webinar will discuss planning for retirement now, financial risks during working years and in retirement and the importance of creating an income stream for life.

College Savings Seminar
Wednesday, November 15, Noon – 1 p.m.
Chittenden Hall, Room 110

RSVP here by November 14.

This session will provide information on how you can start saving for your loved ones’ higher education expenses with Michigan’s 529 College Savings Plan.

Benefits Include Discounts!

Published on by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

Did you know that as an MSU employee part of your benefits includes discounts at local businesses on and off campus? You can save anywhere from 5-20% on products and services you purchase regularly in the area.

To see a full list of all the discounts MSU employees are eligible for, visit the MSU HR website. Discounts range from arts and entertainment to food to legal services and pet supplies. In addition to this list, there are also specific discounts available such as:

    • Parkwood YMCA (East Lansing) 332-8657
    • Oak Park YMCA (South Lansing) 827-9700
    • Downtown YMCA Wellness Center (Downtown Lansing) 484-4000
    • Dewitt YMCA 668-9622
    • Westside YMCA (West Lansing) 316-9622
  • MSU also offers MSU Specific Discounts ranging from MSU Bakers to specific colleges, the Dairy Store and more!

Along with these discounts, MSU benefits-eligible faculty and staff have the opportunity to enroll in several voluntary employee-paid benefits programs, including an employee discounts program. Learn more about these programs on the MSU HR website.