Default Benefits Plan
New benefits-eligible employees must select their benefits within 31 days of their date of hire. Part-time employees are not enrolled in any benefits unless they specifically make benefit elections. However, full-time employees who don't select benefits or actively opt out of benefits will be automatically enrolled in the default benefit plan, which includes:
- UPMC PPO Option 2 (for the employee only)
- Caremark Prescription Option B (for the employee only)
- No dental coverage
- No vision coverage
- Basic life insurance coverage (1 times salary)
- No spouse/domestic partner or child(ren) life insurance
- Basic long-term disability insurance (60% of salary with no cost-of-living
adjustments)
- No participation in the Health Care Flexible Spending Account
- No participation in the Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts
You will be charged the associated monthly fee for these benefits. Changes to the Default Plan can only be made during Open Enrollment or when you experience a life or family status change. If you do not wish to be enrolled in any Carnegie Mellon health insurance plan, then you must use HR Connection to opt-out of this coverage within 31 days of your benefits-eligibility date.
Retirement Plan Default
You must also select a retirement plan option for the Faculty and Staff Retirement Plan benefit. If you do not choose a retirement account carrier and investment fund, the funds that the university contributes to your retirement will be invested in an age-appropriate TIAA-CREF LifeCylcle Fund. This default enrollment will stay in place until you actively change it. You may make a change in your retirement options at any time. Employee contributions to a Supplemental Retirement Account will not begin until you complete the carrier application form and a salary reduction agreement. (See the Enrolling in Your Carnegie Mellon Retirement Benefits (.pdf) helpsheet.)