University faculty and staff hired into positions expected to last nine months or longer and working 50% FTE (20 hours per week) or more are eligible for enrollment in University employee benefits.
The following employees are also eligible:
- Tenured and tenure-track faculty members with an appointment at .375 FTE (full-time equivalent) or greater
- Employees who have qualified under one of the other categories and are currently on an approved Phased Retirement Agreement
Non-University Employees or groups are eligible for University employee benefits, as follows:
- Post-doctoral trainees being paid through a grant and working at the University with other University employees.
- Members of the Utah State Board of Regents throughout their period of appointment.
- Employees for whom the University processes payroll and provides access to employee benefits, including: Utah Humanities Council, Huntsman Cancer Foundation, Huntsman Mental Health Foundation, Utah System of Higher Education, Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, and my529, who are employed in positions expected to last nine months or longer at 50% FTE or greater.
Some benefits vary based on the position of the employee or eligible non-university employee. For information on these benefits, see Policy 5-308: Benefits Eligibility Chart.
An employee’s family members are eligible for coverage in certain benefit plans. The definitions of eligible family members are:
Spouse – the person to whom the employee is legally married. In the state of Utah, a common law marriage is only applicable if a court of law has certified the common law marriage.
Domestic Partner – the person with whom the employee meets the following requirements:
- We are both over the age of eighteen (18)
- We reside together in a permanent residence and have done so for at least six months and will remain members of the same household for the period of coverage
- We have a serious and committed relationship which we intend to continue indefinitely
- We are emotionally committed to one another and jointly responsible for the common welfare and financial obligations of our household or one of us is chiefly dependent upon the other for financial assistance
- We are not related in any way that would prohibit legal marriage
- Neither of us is legally married to anyone else or the partner of anyone else
Child – Includes the following:
- your biological or adopted child under the age of 26
- a child under the age of 26 for whom you have legal (court-appointed) guardianship or foster placement
- a child with one of the prior relationships to your spouse or domestic partner
A spouse and any children of your spouse that are not also your children lose eligibility on the date a decree of divorce is finalized.
A domestic partner and any children of your domestic partner that are not also your children lose eligibility on the date you no longer meet the domestic partnership requirements set forth above.
A child loses eligibility when they turn 26 (for the health plan, coverage goes to the end of the month in which they turn 26).
The only way to continue coverage for a family member who loses eligibility is to elect COBRA continuation coverage – this only applies to health plan and dental coverage. See the COBRA page for additional information.