Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Dental Plans
How do I find a PacifiCare DHMO participating dentist?
Go online to www.pacificare-dental.com and select “Find a Dr”, and select Signature Value HMO, Plan 146. Then you can enter a zip code to find a dental office near you.
For the PacifiCare DHMO plan, how do I pick or change the dental office I’m assigned to?
When you enroll into the PacifiCare DHMO plan, you indicate the dental office provider number and office name on your enrollment form. To change your dental office, call PacifiCare Dental at (800) 228-3384 to indicate which dental office you would like to change to by providing them with the Provider Number and dental office name. See the question above to find a dental office.
My UnitedHealthCare PPO dental ID cards only have my name printed on them. What about my covered dependents?
ID cards for the PPO dental plan will only have the employee (subscriber) name printed on the ID cards. These cards will work for your covered dependents too.
How do I get additional or replacement ID cards?
Contact your dental carrier directly:
PacifiCare DHMO plan – call (800) 228-3384
UnitedHealthCare PPO plan – call (877) 816-3596, or go online to www.myuhcdental.com and register for a PIN. Once you are registered, you can request ID cards online.
Flexible Spending Accounts
What is the maximum amount I can deposit into my Health Care and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account each year?
The university allows you to set aside up to $4,000 into the Health Care account, and up to $5,000 per family into the Dependent Care account. All contributions into your accounts are made on a pre-tax basis.
Who is our flexible spending account administrator?
Our flexible spending account administrator is Creative Benefits effective 01/01/2007. They are located in Vista, CA. Creative Benefits can be reached at:
Phone: 888-295-5656
Email: claims@creativebenefits.com
How do I submit a request for reimbursement from Creative Benefits?
Employees can submit reimbursement requests via fax, mail, or online. To submit a reimbursement request via fax or mail, you will need to complete the Creative Benefits FSA claim form, which is available in the Human Resources office or on the Benefits website under Forms. You can also request this form by sending an email to usdbenefits@sandiego.edu.
I enrolled in the flexible spending account and I have not received a benefit card. Who should I contact?
Creative Benefits will not automatically send you a benefit card. If you have not already done so, you will need to request a benefit card. You can do so by completing the Payment Card Request form available in Human Resources or on the Benefits website under Forms. You can also request this form by sending an email to usdbenefits@sandiego.edu.
How can I access information about my personal health care, dependent care, or transportation spending account?
You can go online at www.creativebenefits.com. Once you register, you can look up your account balance, status of claims reimbursement requests, your account balance, and you can also file claims online and find forms and information.
General Group Insurance Benefits
When do my benefits become effective?
Benefits are effective on date of hire or transfer into a benefit-based position. There is no waiting period.
How do I sign up for my benefits?
If you are a newly eligible staff or administrative employee, the Human Resources office will assign you to a Benefits Orientation. Newly eligible faculty members should contact the Benefits department at usdbenefits@sandiego.edu to arrange for an orientation.
Who can I cover as an eligible dependent under the USD benefits plan?
Eligible dependents are:
- Legal spouse (husband, wife) or registered domestic partner.
- Dependent children under 19 years of age, or if over age 19, FT students until age 25.
Once I sign up for benefits with USD, when can I expect my ID cards?
Please allow approximately 2 weeks for your ID cards to be mailed to your home from the insurance carriers.
I have questions about my insurance benefits. Who should I contact for answers?
You can email the Benefits staff at usdbenefits@sandiego.edu or call the Human Resources office at (619) 260-4594. Your call will be transferred to a Benefits staff member for assistance.
How can I find out what benefit plans I’m covered under and who I’ve covered as dependents?
You can go online to Oracle Self Service at https://oracleapps.sandiego.edu to view your personal benefit statement. You can view the plans you’ve selected, the coverage level, your cost per pay period, and your covered dependents.
When can I make changes to my benefits plans?
In general, you may only make changes to your benefits once a year during the Open Enrolment period in November for an effective date of January 1 of the following year. However, the plan does allow for changes during the year if you experience a “family status change” as defined by the IRS. Examples of a family status change are:
- Marriage, divorce, or change in registered domestic partnership.
- Gain or loss of eligible dependent status (birth or adoption, death, gain or loss of FT student status).
- Change in your spouse or domestic partner’s employment that would affect coverage under the other employer’s plan, such as gain or loss of coverage, or significant change in cost of coverage.
- Change in court order for custody or visitation, or requirement to provide health insurance coverage.
If you have an eligible family status change, a request for change in benefits must be made within 30-days of the family status change, otherwise, you must wait until the next Open Enrollment period to request a change.
Medical Plans
How do I find an HMO Primary Care Physician or Medical Group?
Go online to www.bluecrossca.com and click on “Find a Doctor”. Then select Blue Cross POS – HMO Network to find a primary care physician or medical group. Please note the Provider Number.
For the Blue Cross plan, how do I pick or change the HMO primary care physician or medical group that I’m assigned to?
When you enroll into the Blue Cross plan, you indicate the medical provider number and office name on your enrollment form. To change your primary care physician or medical group, call Blue Cross at (800) 288-6921 to indicate which medical office you would like to change to by providing them with the Provider Number and medical office name. See the question above to find a primary care physician or medical group.
How do I get additional or replacement ID cards?
Contact your medical carrier directly:
Blue Cross Plus (POS) – call (800) 288-6921, or go online at www.bluecrossca.com to register. Once registered you can request ID cards online.
Kaiser HMO – call (800) 464-4000 or go online to www.kaiserpermanente.org to register. Once registered, you can request ID cards online.
SIMNSA HMO – call (619) 407-4082 in San Diego, or (011-52) 664-683-3005 in Tijuana.
Retirement
When can I start participating in the retirement plan?
You may begin participating in the plan the first full pay period following your date of hire or transfer into a benefit-based position, and after you have completed and returned the required enrollment forms to the Human Resources office.
When do I become vested under the plan?
You are immediately vested for all of your contributions and any employer contributions.
When can I make changes to my contributions to the retirement plan?
You may make changes any time during the year, however, you are limited to three changes each calendar year. To request a change to your retirement contribution, you must complete a Retirement Election – Salary Reduction Agreement form available in the Human Resources office, or on the Benefits website under Forms.
What is the maximum amount I can contribute to my retirement account?
For 2008, the IRS has set the maximum contribution amount at $15,500, and if you are 50 years old or older, you may make an additional $5,000 catch-up contribution, for a total of $20,500. To request the maximum contribution, you must complete a Retirement Election – Salary Reduction Agreement form available in the Human Resources office, or on the Benefits website under Forms.
Tuition Remission and Tuition Exchange
When will I be eligible to participate in the tuition remission program?
You will be eligible to participate in the tuition remission program beginning in the semester closest to your first anniversary year of service as a full time benefit-based employee.
When will my dependent be eligible to participate in the tuition remission or tuition exchange program?
Your eligible dependent may participate in the tuition remission program beginning in the semester closest to your second anniversary year of service as a full time benefit-based employee.
Who must complete a Financial Aid Questionnaire?
All employees applying for tuition remission for a full-time undergraduate dependent must complete a Financial Aid Questionnaire.
Can I apply for tuition remission for my step-children to earn an undergraduate or graduate degree?
Yes, as long as they qualify as your IRS dependents.
When is tuition remission taxable income to me?
Tuition remission is taxable income to you when you use it towards a graduate degree for yourself or an eligible dependent. Tuition remission is also taxable if you or your eligible dependent is earning a second undergraduate degree.
Is tuition exchange taxable income to me?
No. Tuition exchange is a scholarship.
Will the tuition exchange scholarship cover summer and intercession classes?
It depends on the college or university granting the tuition exchange scholarship. Each college or university determines whether its tuition exchange scholarship will cover the classes in summer or intersession. Most colleges and universities cover only the regular academic year.
Vision Plan
Will I get an ID card for my vision plan?
No. Vision Service Plan (VSP) does not issue ID cards. Use your full USD ID number followed by two zeros as your VSP ID number. For example, John Doe’s USD ID number is 4098765. His VSP ID number would be 409876500.
How do I find a VSP eye doctor?
Go online to www.vsp.com to find a participating doctor.
How do I know if I am eligible for frames or lenses?
You can register online at www.vsp.com by using your VSP ID number to access information about your eligibility for services. See question above for ID number. Do not use your Social Security Number as this is not provided to VSP so they will not recognize it.
