Teacher Retirement System (TRS)

TRS is a mandatory retirement program in which all benefit-eligible employees are automatically enrolled – effective on hire date.

• • 8.0% employee contribution
  • 7.75% employer contribution
  • Grad Assistant titles do not qualify

Optional Retirement System (ORP)

ORP is an alternate mandatory retirement program in which only certain job titles qualify.  You may choose to participate as an alternative to TRS.

• • Only certain job titles are eligible for ORP.  An email will be sent to those who qualify.
  • 6.65% employee contribution
  • 6.6% employer contribution

Overview of TRS vs. ORP for those who qualify

When new employees go through the new hire process, it is referred to as Onboarding.

You will receive an email when it’s time to start these steps in Workday.

Don’t do anything in Workday until you receive the email about your SSO login.

Tasks will be sent to your Workday INBOX, so check it regularly.

It’s a requirement for new employees to complete all the tasks in their inbox.

The process is straight-forward and simple. It really should only take a few minutes to complete.

The employer contribution will begin on the first of the month following your 60th day of employment.

You are allowed to start your coverage on your hire date and pay the full cost, but you only have a 7-day window from your hire date to complete all the steps.  (contact the Agrilifebenefits@ag.tamu.edu  for this option.)

After you have completed all of your Onboarding tasks in Workday, you will receive the Benefit enrollment task.

Your start date is automatically set to start on your Employer Contribution date.

If you need coverage sooner and want to pay the higher costs, notify Agrilifebenefits@ag.tamu.edu  as soon as your Onboarding starts so that option will be made available to you.

What you choose at this time, you will keep for the entire plan year.  No changes are allowed unless you have a Change in Family Status such as:

Birth // Marriage // Divorce // Job Change with loss of coverage

Premiums 2022-2023

You are allowed to add the following dependents to your coverage:

• • Spouse
  • Children – Up to age 26 can be covered under health, dental, vision and dependent life

• • Grandchildren – Must be claimed on income taxes and meet the age criteria

• • Documentation for each dependent will be required – please gather ahead of time.

Required documents

• • A&M Care Plan
  • A&M Care J Plan – restricted to employees with J-1 or J-2 Visa
  • Grad Student Plan – restricted to Grad Assistant titles

• • A&M Dental PPO Plan – this plan has a wider range of dentists.
  • Delta Care HMO – this plan has restricted coverage areas, you will automatically be assigned to a primary dentist nearest your mailing address
  • A&M PPO vs Delta Care HMO comparison chart 

To Search for dentists in either plan:

• • Go to Website:  Delta Dental

click on  “Find a Dentist”

For A&M Delta Dental PPO = Choose  DELTA PREMIER

For Delta HMO = Choose DELTACARE HMO

Use a network provider for maximum benefits

• • $10 for exam
  • Covers frames + lenses OR contact lenses

Summary Sheet of vision coverage

To Search for Providers:

go to website: Superior Vision

Choose “Superior National”

Be sure to answer the onboarding question about “having other medical coverage and keeping it”

You will be allowed to use half of the employer contribution to pay for:

• • Alternate basic life insurance
  • Accidental death & dismemberment insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Long Term Disability

• Basic Life – $7500 – automatic and free when you enroll in a health plan.
• Optional Life – You may enroll in Optional Life up to six times your annualized salary upon initial enrollment.
  • If you select four, five, or six times your salary, it will require the Evidence of Good Health application process.
• Dependent Life – these are policies are for spouse and children.
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment – Provides benefits in the event of an accidental injury that results in the death or dismemberment of a covered person. (employee or family option)

Premiums are calculated when you enroll in Workday – you are able to cancel after seeing cost

• Optional insurance coverage that provides income in the case of a disability – 65% of salary.
• If you cannot work due to an illness or injury, benefits will be paid after 90 days of disability.
• Premium rates are base on your salary.

These are “Pretax” accounts to be used for health or daycare expenses.

Healthcare Spending Account:

• • Maximum contribution – $2850 (per person)
  • Debit Card available

DayCare Spending Account:

• • Maximum contribution – $5000 (per family)

Plan year is from Sept.1st – Aug. 31st

*Important – you must re-enroll every year during open enrollment.

Certain life events allow you to change your coverage after the initial enrollment or open enrollment period.  Changes must be completed in Workday within 31 days of the event date.

Life Event Type / Documents Required for Life Event

Benefit Change Checklist

All employees are eligible to participant in these retirement plans:

Tax Deferred Account (TDA)

• • Traditional or Roth
  • Minimum of $25 per month

Texa$aver Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP)

• • Traditional DCP or Roth
  • Minimum of $20 per month

More details can be found here:  Voluntary Programs

As an employee, it’s very important to remember that the Open Enrollment period is July 1 – July 31.

At this time, you can make any changes to your current benefits and the effective date will be September 1st.

Employees will be sent an email notification when it begins.  You will be responsible for going to Workday on your own and completing the process by the deadline of July 31st

I made a mistake on my enrollment, can I make a change?

  If it’s before the start date, yes.  Contact the Benefits Office.

When will I get my insurance ID cards?

  Insurance carriers send them close to the start date to your mailing address that’s in Workday.

Why does my medical card only show my name?  Is there one for my spouse?

  The policy is in your name, so the cards will have your name. 

  Dependents will be listed as “covered” under your policy and will use the   same cards.

If I don’t add dental or vision now, can I add it later?

  Yes, during our open enrollment period in July.

How long do I have to complete the insurance enrollment task?

  You have 30 days from your hire date to SUBMIT the task.

Benefits Office

(979) 845–2423

AgriLifebenefits@ag.tamu.edu

Vicki Welch

(979) 862–8096

vrwelch@ag.tamu.edu