Temporary employees may be eligible for health and dental insurance through the University of Iowa. This page provides information on eligibility, enrollment requirements, available plans, premium rates, and participation in the retirement plan.
Temporary Health and Dental Insurance
Employees who receive compensation from the University of Iowa may be eligible to enroll in temporary health and dental insurance coverage.
Eligibility
Temporary employees are eligible if they:
- Are expected to work 50% time or greater, and
- Are appointed for at least six months.
Additional Eligibility Scenarios
- Temporary faculty members appointed for an entire semester are eligible, even if their appointment is less than six months.
- Regular full-time employees may purchase temporary insurance to help cover the period between their hire date and the date they become eligible for the university's regular benefits. Regular benefits begin on the first day of the month following hire.
Who Is Not Eligible?
The following employees are not eligible for temporary health and dental insurance:
- Employees who do not receive compensation from the University of Iowa.
- Employees in PRN positions.
Because PRN positions do not have a set schedule and work hours may vary significantly, they do not meet the eligibility requirements for temporary insurance coverage. PRN employees are eligible only for participation in the mandatory retirement plan.
Additional Benefit Eligibility Information
Temporary employees may be eligible for the health and dental insurance and retirement benefits described on this page. Most other University benefit programs are generally available only to employees in regular faculty or staff appointments.
Temporary employees are generally not eligible for:
- University Credits
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
- Life insurance
- Disability insurance
- Leave programs available to regular faculty and staff
Contact the University Benefits Office if you have questions about eligibility for a specific benefit program.
Enrollment Deadline
You must enroll in temporary insurance within 30 days of your hire date.
If you miss the 30-day enrollment deadline, you may enroll during the annual open enrollment period or within 30 days of a qualifying life event.
Available Plans
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
UISelect
- Available only to employees with a permanent residence in Iowa.
- Lower monthly premiums.
- Higher out-of-pocket costs when services are used.
- Covers Level 1 and Level 2 providers only.
- Does not provide coverage outside Iowa except for emergencies and approved virtual care through Doctor on Demand.
- A traditional deductible plan.
- Three-tier prescription drug plan with no cost for generic medications.
UIChoice
- Higher monthly premiums.
- Lower out-of-pocket costs when services are used.
- Access to Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 providers nationwide.
- Deductible applies only to inpatient hospital services.
- Four-tier prescription drug plan with no cost for generic medications.
Dental II
- You may receive care from nearly any licensed dentist.
- Three-tier provider network through Delta Dental of Iowa.
- Annual maximum benefit of $2,000, with up to $4,000 available through the carryover feature.
- Covers two diagnostic and preventive visits each year.
- Includes orthodontia coverage for children and adults.
2027 Rates (no contribution)
Monthly Rates are Effective January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2027
| Plan | Employee Only | Employee + Spouse | Employee + Child(ren) | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UISelect | $726 | $1,732 | $1,414 | $1,856 |
| UIChoice | $1,023 | $2,441 | $1,992 | $2,615 |
| Dental II | $54.50 | $114 | $120 | $160.50 |
2026 Rates (no contribution)
Monthly rates are effective January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026
| Plan | Employee Only | Employee + Spouse | Employee + Child(ren) | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UISelect | $682 | $1,627 | $1,328 | $1,743 |
| UIChoice | $955 | $2,279 | $1,859 | $2,441 |
| Dental II | $52 | $109.50 | $115 | $154 |
How to Enroll
If you are eligible and would like to enroll in temporary health and/or dental insurance, follow these steps:
Contact University Benefits
Contact the University Benefits Office at benefits@uiowa.edu to request a temporary employee enrollment packet.
Complete Your Forms
Complete the required enrollment forms and return them to the University Benefits Office for processing.
Billing & Payment
Complete the ACH authorization form to have your premiums deducted monthly from your bank account, or watch for the monthly U-Bill and pay manually.
After Enrollment
Dependent Eligibility Verification
If you add dependents to your health or dental coverage, you must provide documentation to verify their eligibility.
- You will receive an email from University Benefits when the Verify Dependents link is available in Employee Self-Service.
- Submit documentation for each added dependent within 4 weeks of receiving the notification.
- All documents must be in English and uploaded through Employee Self-Service. Paper copies cannot be accepted. You may redact Social Security numbers, account numbers, and other financial information.
- If documentation is not received within 4 weeks, unverified dependents will be removed from coverage and cannot be re-added unless you experience a qualifying event.
For a list of acceptable documents and verification requirements by dependent type, visit the Dependent Eligibility Verification Documentation Requirements page.
Insurance ID Cards
Insurance carriers will mail ID cards to your home address, if applicable. Cards typically arrive within 10-14 business days after the Benefits Office processes your enrollment elections.
- Please ensure your address is up to date in Employee Self-Service to avoid delays in receiving important benefit information.
- All ID cards are issued in the policyholder's name only. Your spouse/partner and dependent children should use the card issued in your name.
- Additional ID cards may be requested through the applicable carrier's online member portal.
- Many benefit providers offer free mobile apps that give you access to digital ID cards and other benefit information on your smartphone.
Departments Contribution Information
Departments may choose to pay all or part of the cost of temporary health and dental insurance for eligible temporary employees, subject to departmental approval. When a department elects to contribute toward coverage, the employee's monthly premium responsibility is reduced accordingly.
Important: Departments determine the coverage level for which they will provide a contribution. Temporary employees may only enroll in the coverage level approved by the department. For example, if a department elects to contribute toward employee-only coverage, the employee is only eligible to enroll in employee-only coverage and may not select family coverage.
Premium Rates
The premium rates below show both the department's share and the employee's share of the monthly cost for each available coverage level.
2027 Rates (with department contribution)
Monthly Rates are Effective January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2027
| Plan | Employee Only | Employee + Spouse | Employee + Child | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dept Cost / Empl Cost) | (Dept Cost / Empl Cost) | (Dept Cost / Empl Cost) | (Dept Cost / Empl Cost) | |
| UISelect | $726 / $0 | $1,386 / $346 | $1,131 / $283 | $1,485 / $371 |
| UIChoice | $921 / $102 | $1,953 / $488 | $1,594 / $398 | $2,092 / $523 |
| Dental II | $54.50 / $0 | $91.20 / $22.80 | $96 / $24 | $128.40 / $32.10 |
2026 Rates (with department contribution)
Monthly rates are effective January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026.
| Plan | Employee Only | Employee + Spouse | Employee + Child | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dept Cost / Empl Cost) | (Dept Cost / Empl Cost) | (Dept Cost / Empl Cost) | (Dept Cost / Empl Cost) | |
| UISelect | $682 / $0 | $1,302 / $325 | $1,062 / $266 | $1,394 / $349 |
| UIChoice | $860 / $95 | $1,823 / $456 | $1,487 / $372 | $1,953 / $488 |
| Dental II | $52 / $0 | $87.60 / $21.90 | $92 / $23 | $123.20 / $30.80 |
MFK Funding Information
Department contributions for temporary employee health and dental insurance are charged to the department's designated MFK funding source. Departments may not use grant-funded accounts (Fund 500 or Fund 510) to pay for temporary employee insurance contributions. Departments are responsible for ensuring that an eligible funding source is identified and approved prior to submitting the enrollment workflow.
If a department uses 2 different MFKs, the percentage will be split 50%/50% between them.
How to Enroll Your Employee
Please submit the workflow form for processing to enroll your temporary employee in health and dental insurance, along with your contribution.
Retirement Plan Election
Are you required to participate?
Most temporary employees are required to participate in a retirement plan as a condition of employment.
Employees Exempt from Mandatory Retirement Plan Participation
The following employee groups are exempt from mandatory retirement plan participation:
- Adjunct faculty
- Most fellowship appointments
- House staff
- Students
- Employees whose appointment is less than six months in duration
Retirement Plan Options
Eligible staff members may choose between IPERS or TIAA to satisfy the university's mandatory retirement plan requirement.
- IPERS
The Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS) is a defined benefit plan. Retirement income is determined by a formula based on your years of service and salary earned. - TIAA
The University-Funded Retirement Plan through TIAA is a defined-contribution plan. Retirement income is based on your account balance, investment elections, and investment performance.
Learn more about the differences between the plans:
Compare the two mandatory retirement plans
Important Before You Enroll
You must make your retirement plan election within 60 days of your hire or transfer date. Retirement contributions begin with your first paycheck, so employees are automatically enrolled in IPERS until an election is made. If you do not actively enroll in TIAA within 60 days, you will remain enrolled in IPERS for the remainder of your employment with the University of Iowa.
Your retirement plan election is irrevocable and cannot be changed unless you experience a break in service from the University of Iowa of 31 or more days.
Enrollment Instructions
- Log in to Employee Self-Service with your HawkID and password.
- Select Benefits & Wellness.
- Select the Retirement section, select Retirement Enrollment.
- Employees are automatically enrolled in IPERS for retirement deductions beginning with their first paycheck. This ensures required retirement contributions are made while you have up to 60 days from your hire or transfer date to elect a retirement plan. If you wish to remain in IPERS, no further action is required.
- If you prefer to participate in TIAA, select Enroll in TIAA and complete the enrollment process.
Next Steps
After enrolling in your retirement plan, be sure to create your online account with your retirement provider, IPERS or TIAA. Your online account allows you to:
- Update your personal information
- Designate and manage beneficiaries
- Review account balances and retirement plan information
- Access retirement planning tools and resources
Voluntary Retirement Savings
In addition to your mandatory retirement plan election, you may choose to save additional money for retirement through the university's voluntary retirement savings programs. These plans allow you to make pre-tax or after-tax contributions through payroll deduction. Participation is optional, and the university does not contribute to these plans.
Available programs include:
- 457(b) Deferred Compensation Program through TIAA
- 403(b) Voluntary Retirement Savings Program offered through multiple investment providers, including TIAA
Learn more about voluntary retirement savings options and how to enroll:
Review the Voluntary Retirement Savings Plans