Note: The following statement of benefits for Muhlenberg College employees represents a summary only. The statements below are in effect as of January 1, 2008, and are subject to change. Benefits are limited for part-time employees and differ substantially from the benefits listed in this summary. Visit the Human Resources Office for complete details.

 OPEN ENROLLMENT MEMO

Benefit Summary for Full-Time Employees
As of: January 1, 2008

1. Group Health Benefits:
   You may choose to enroll in one of the Health Insurance programs listed below. Enrollment is voluntary and you may choose to waive all coverage if you prefer. Current providers are:

   Highmark Blue Shield EPO - Exclusive Provider Organization (only in-network providers are covered)
   EPO Benefit Summary
   EPO Benefit Booklet
   

   Click here to view comparison grid

    Highmark Blue Shield PPO - Preferred Provider Organization (in-network and out-of-network coverage)
   PPO Benefit Summary
   PPO Benefit Booklet
   

   Preventive Health Schedule - click here

   Baby Blue Prints (Maternity Education & Support Program) - click here

   You may choose to cover just yourself, or you may cover eligible family members or a qualified same-sex domestic partner. In any case, the College pays approximately 80% of the premium each month. The remaining 20% of the premium is deducted from your paycheck, and may be deducted on a pre-tax basis so that the portion of your income used to fund your health and dental benefits will not be subject to federal income tax or social security tax. See the Human Resources Office for tax implications on domestic partner coverage. Note: If your spouse or partner has access to employer sponsored medical insurance for which his/her employer pays at least 70% of the individual premium cost you will be charged an additional $50 per month surcharge to cover them on Muhlenberg's plan.

   An Open Enrollment period is offered from mid-November through mid-December, allowing you to change your plan selection effective January 1. You may also make appropriate changes to your health plan when a change in family status occurs or a qualifying event takes place (i.e. marriage, birth of a child, divorce, change in spouse's employment status).

   Vision Plans:
   Both Highmark PPO and EPO Vision Benefits are administered by Davis Vision.
   Vision Benefit Summary
   Vision Claim Form

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2. Dental Plan:
   United Concordia is a Dental Preferred Provider Organization Plan is available through payroll deduction for employees. The College does not make a contribution. Rates change each January, and an open enrollment period is held from mid-November through mid-December each year.
   United Concordia Dental Benefit Summary
   Rate/Benefit Grid
   
   
3. Flexible Spending Accounts
   Authorized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a tax-advantaged way to pay for certain medical and/or dependent care expenses. By using pre-tax dollars to pay for these expenses, your taxable income is lowered resulting in a higher take home pay. Visit Hirsch Financial Services, Inc. to see how a FSA account can benefit you.
   

   • Enrollment Form
   • Flex Direct Deposit Form
   • Claim Form
   • Web Instructions

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4. Retirement Annuities:
   The College purchases retirement annuities with Teacher's Insurance and Annuity Association/College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA/CREF) for employees working a minimum of 1,000 hours per year.  A waiting period of two years (at 1,000 hours each, minimum) is required; however, this waiting period is waived if your previous employer contributed to a fully vested retirement annuity on your behalf immediately preceding your employment at Muhlenberg. The College contribution is equal to 10% of base salary up to the current Social Security base, 15% of any salary beyond the Social Security wage base. No employee contribution is required.
   
   
5. Tax Deferred Annuities (403b):
   You may enter into a voluntary salary reduction agreement for the purchase of tax-deferred annuities (403b) with TIAA/CREF. 
   Salary Reduction Agreement form
   
   

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6. Short Term Disability/Salary Continuation (for Faculty/Administrative Staff) and Sick Leave Accumulation program (for Staff Associates and Service Personnel):
   Total Disability occurs when injury or illness, not compensable under Worker's Compensation, prevents you from continuing work. The Short Term Disability plan provides 60% of monthly salary to a maximum of $3,000 per month, while the Sick Leave Accumulation plan pays 100% of pay for accrued sick days. Each program has a maximum duration of six months.
   
   
7. Long Term Disability Insurance: (After 1 year of employment, minimum 1248 hours/year)
   Benefits from this plan, which require the approval of the insurance carrier, begin after six months of total disability. The plan provides an initial benefit of 2/3 of your base pay to a maximum benefit of $5,000 per month, reduced by Social Security payments and/or Worker's Compensation if applicable. Following the first year of payments, this benefit increases by 3% per year for 10 years to provide inflation protection. Premiums are paid by the College. In some circumstances, the long-term disability plan also provides continuing payment of pension contributions and group life insurance premiums if you were a participant in those plans at the onset of the disability. Immediate participation may be arranged for those new employees who present evidence of long-term disability coverage by the immediately previous employer. 
   
   

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8. Group Life Insurance: (After 1 year of employment, minimum of 1248 hours/year)
   During active employment, eligible employees are covered for term life insurance to a maximum amount of $75,000 using this schedule:
   
   To age 40, 2.5 times salary; Age 40 - 49, 2 times salary; Age 50 - 59, 1.34 times salary;
   Age 60-69, .9 times salary; Age 70 and over, .67 times salary.
   
   Premiums are paid entirely by the College. Immediate participation may be arranged for those new employees who present evidence of similar coverage by the immediately previous employer. The cost of the life insurance provided above $50,000 is considered a taxable benefit by the Internal Revenue Service. 
   
   
9. Tuition Scholarship Assistance: (After 2 years of employment, minimum 1248 hours/year)
   Remission program : Full tuition scholarships are available at Muhlenberg for you and your spouse for a maximum of 2 courses per term, space available (http://www.muhlenberg.edu/mgt/humanres/pdf/Tuition_Remission.pdf). As an alternative to Muhlenberg tuition remission, through the LVAIC Tuition Exchange program, you and your spouse are eligible for up to 2 undergraduate courses per term, tuition free, on a space available basis at any of the LVAIC member institutions ( Lehigh University, Lafayette College, Cedar Crest College, DeSales University and Moravian College). For eligible dependent children, full tuition scholarships at Muhlenberg (maximum four years of study) are available.
   
   Tuition Exchange Programs : Eligible dependent children may be certified for participation in a nation-wide tuition exchange program, Tuition Exchange Incorporated. Certification by Muhlenberg allows dependent children to compete for generous scholarship awards at more than 500 institutions. For detailed information and eligibility requirements, please visit the Human Resources Office.
   
   

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10. Vacation:
    Full-time administrative managers earn 2 days of paid vacation during each month of employment, except for the last month of the work year for a maximum of 22 days. Full-time administrative managers on 9, 10 or 11-month assignments are eligible for vacation on this same basis for a maximum of 16, 18 and 20 days respectively. Staff Associates and Service Personnel earn vacation credits (based on their average work day) at the rate of 10 days per year until their fifth service anniversary, 15 days from their fifth to their tenth service anniversary, and 20 days per year after completing 10 years of service.
    
    
11. Holidays:
    The College observes as holidays Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and 3 days during the Christmas break period, Good Friday, Memorial Day and Independence Day. Should a holiday fall on a weekend, the College will designate a weekday observance. Some offices remain open on designated holidays. Employees should check with their supervisors regarding holiday office coverage. An employee who is required to work on any of the designated holidays to keep an office open is given one floating holiday in exchange for each holiday worked. One floating holiday is also available for use on either Martin Luther King, Jr. Day or Easter Monday.
    
    
12. Other Benefits:
    Arrangements for these benefits may require individual enrollment or an ID card that may be arranged through the Human Resources Office.
    
    Assigned Parking
    Bookstore Discount
    Lehigh Valley Educators Credit Union
    Library Privileges
    Life Sports Center privileges
    Miller Keystone Blood Bank membership
    Mutual of Omaha's Employee Assistance Brochure
    Mutual of Omaha's Travel Assistance Brochure
    Travel Insurance
    Wellness, Personal and Professional Development Courses
    
    For more information, contact the Human Resources Office, (484) 664-3165.