Welcome to your guide for understanding and managing your benefits. This resource provides the information you need to enroll in coverage, review eligibility, and make updates as your life or employment changes. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions to get the most from your benefits.
Eligibility Overview
Eligibility for benefits varies by employment classification or student status. Use the sections below to review requirements for your group.
Employee Eligibility
- Regular Faculty and Staff
Employees in a regular appointment of 50% or greater, along with their eligible dependents, qualify for the full benefits package. - Temporary Employees
Temporary employees appointed 50% or greater for at least six months may be eligible for temporary health and dental insurance. - House Staff
House staff become eligible for benefits on the first day of the month following the contract date. Their benefit package differs from that of regular faculty and staff. - Unpaid J-1 Employees
J-1 employees and their J-2 family members MUST be enrolled in the University of Iowa health insurance to maintain visa compliance.
Student Eligibility
- Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate students must be degree-seeking and enrolled in at least five more credit hours. They may enroll in SHIP and the student dental plan. - Graduate and Health Science Students
Graduate and health science students must be degree-seeking (no credit hour requirement). They may enroll in SHIP, UIGRADCare, and the student dental plan. - Employed Graduate Students
Graduate students are eligible for expanded benefits if they:- Hold an assistantship of at least 25% time or greater, or
- Hold a fellowship of $5,000 per semester or $10,000 per academic year and
- Are registered for classes.
They should review details on the corresponding benefit pages.
Retiree Eligibility
Retirees may be eligible for health and dental coverage if they meet the following requirements:
- Age 55 or older at the time of retirement
- Age 62 or older with at least ten years of continuous benefits-eligible service to receive the university contribution toward health insurance.
At the time of retirement, employees do not need to be enrolled in health or dental coverage as active employees to elect retiree coverage. Retirement is a qualifying event that allows employees and their eligible dependents to enroll in retiree health and dental coverage.
Retiring employees must elect coverage at the time of retirement. Coverage will begin on the first day of the month following the employee's last day of work. Retirees may choose UIChoice, UISelect, and Dental II coverage for themselves and their eligible dependents.
Enrollment
Employee Enrollment
- Regular Employees & House Staff
You have 30 days from your date of hire to submit benefit elections in Employee Self-Service. - Temporary and J-1 Employees
These employees also have 30 days from the date of hire. Enrollment must be coordinated through the employing department and University Benefits.
Student Enrollment
All students enroll during one of three periods:
- August 1 - September 9
- January 1 - February 9
- May 1 - June 9
Enrollment is completed in MyUI.
Exception: Postdoctoral scholars and research interns enroll directly through University Benefits.
Retiree Enrollment
Retiring employees who wish to enroll in retiree insurance must work with a Benefits HR Specialist to complete the Retirement Checklist within 30 days of termination.
University Benefits recommends scheduling a meeting 6-12 weeks before the retirement date.
Benefits FAQ
When will I receive my insurance cards?
Health and dental ID cards are mailed to your home address 10–14 business days after you receive your benefits confirmation statement.
Our office cannot view your policy information until the end of the week after your enrollment has processed.
If 2–3 weeks have passed and you still have not received your cards:
- Check your home address in Employee Self‑Service.
- If your address needs to be updated, make the change as soon as possible. Updates may take 10–14 days to appear in vendor systems.
If you need replacement cards or have never received cards:
- Call Wellmark (800‑643‑9724) or Delta Dental (800‑544‑0718) to request new cards.
- Log in to your MyWellmark or Delta Dental of Iowa account to request cards online.
- You can also access your cards anytime using the Wellmark or Delta Dental mobile apps.
I need to add/remove a dependent to my coverage
Changes can be made during annual open enrollment or within the timeframe allowed for a qualifying event.
To begin a change, submit a Benefits Change Request in Employee Self-Service within:
- 30 days of the qualifying event, or
- 60 days of a birth or adoption.
Why do I see larger premium rates on my paycheck?
If benefit elections are submitted after the monthly payroll processing deadline (five days before the end of the month), the system cannot capture those elections until payroll processing is complete. This typically occurs about three days after the first of the following month.
Because of this timing:
- The employee's next paycheck will include two months of premiums to bring their deductions up to date.
- The following paycheck will return to normal, reflecting only one month of premium deductions.
I did not sign up for an FSA account, but I see deductions on my paycheck.
The Flexible Spending Account (FSA) deduction showing on your paycheck is the result of unused university credits that automatically default into a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
Here's how it works:
- All regular benefit-eligible employees receive $90 in general university credits each month.
- These credits can be used to help pay for various pre-tax benefit premiums.
- If the employee does not use all their monthly credits towards other benefit costs, any unused credits automatically transfer to a Health Care FSA.
- These credits are not considered salary and cannot be paid out in cash. They must be used for eligible health care expenses.
- Employees are not required to use the FSA dollars that default from unused credits. If the funds are not used by the applicable deadline, they are returned to the University and help support liveWELL.
For more details, please visit the General and shared Savings Credits webpage to learn how university credits work and how they are applied.