Insurance
Postdoctoral Scholars
USF is very pleased to announce that the University has contracted with a new insurance broker and insurance carrier for the 2023-2024 academic year!
Academic HealthPlans (AHP) has replaced Gallagher Student Health and Special Risk as the broker/customer-service administrator for our USF Postdoc Health Insurance Plan. Aetna is the new insurance provider for the plan, replacing United HealthCare. The new plan went into effect for all participating postdocs on August 1, 2023. (The old plan expired at the end of the day on July 31, 2023.)
The new plan provides robust and affordable health and prescription insurance benefits for our postdoc community. For information on the new Aetna insurance plan (what it covers, how it works, etc.), please see the following links:
Aetna PPO - Plan Design and Benefits Summary
Summary of Benefits and Coverages**
**Here is the Glossary to help you understand the terminology in the Summary of Benefits and Coverages document: Link to Glossary Page
Premium rates for the 2023-2024 USF Postdoc Health Insurance Plan (administered by Academic HealthPlans and insurance provided by Aetna PPO) :
At USF, the postdoctoral experience emphasizes scholarship and continued research training for individuals who have recently completed a doctoral degree. Our postdocs engage in research training under the general oversight of a faculty mentor in preparation for a career position in academia, industry, government or the non-profit sector. In addition, postdoctoral scholars enrich the research community with their expert knowledge and experience, and provide mentorship to graduate and undergraduate students.
The University strives to enhance the postdoctoral experience by providing a stimulating and constructive environment, and by encouraging mutual respect and understanding. Our goal is for you to have an excellent professional and personal development experience during your postdoctoral employment at USF.
USF postdoctoral scholars are eligible for benefits that include medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement plans and paid time off. To participate, you must enroll for medical, dental, and/or life insurance within 60 days of beginning employment at USF, or during the annual fall open enrollment period.
For more information on any available plan options, please contact the Central Human Resources Benefits office at benefits@usf.edu.
(Updated - 9/28/2023)
HOW TO ENROLL
Eligible postdoc employees should receive an email (sent to their @usf.edu email address) from Academic HealthPlans (AHP)/Care 26 with instructions on how to enroll in the postdoc plan. This email should arrive within a week of starting employment in the postdoc position at USF. Please follow the instructions on the email and contact benefits@usf.edu if you have any questions.
Some important points about the USF Postdoc Health Insurance Plan:
** Coverage is available for postdoc employees and (optionally) a spouse and/or child dependents. USF contributes 80% of the cost of the postdoc's health insurance premium and 50% of the spouse/child dependent premiums. The postdoc employee's portion of the premiums will automatically be deducted from their first two bi-weekly paychecks. A schedule of the premiums amounts is listed in the table above.
** Postdoc employees are also eligible for health insurance under the State of Florida Employees Group Plan (http://mybenefits.myflorida.com/health), administered by People First (http://peoplefirst.myflorida.com). Please note that postdocs are prohibited from having both the USF Postdoc Health Insurance (AHP/Aetna) and the State of Florida health insurance. If you currently have the State of Florida health coverage, please do not enroll in this USF Postdoc Health Insurance plan. Contact benefits@usf.edu if you have questions.
** Even though the USF Postdoc Health Insurance Plan has an annual coverage period of 8/1/2023 to 7/31/2024, please note that postdoc coverage is provided on a month-to-month basis. Should you leave employment with USF during the academic year, your coverage will terminate at the end of the month you leave USF.
**Re-enrollment in the plan is required every year. If you enroll in this new postdoc health coverage for this academic year, please note that you will need to re-enroll next summer to continue your coverage. If you do not re-enroll for the coverage next summer, your policy will end on 7/31/2024. (Postdoc employees on the State of Florida health insurance plan are not required to re-enroll every year.)
** The USF Postdoc Health Insurance plan meets or exceeds all immigration requirements for J-1 or F-1 visa holders. No supplemental plan is necessary.
postdoc guide
(Updated guide for the 2023-2024 academic year coming soon!)
The Postdoc Guide contains details on all benefits available to postdoctoral scholars, including medical and dental insurance costs, helpful information about University and research resources, the Tampa Bay area and more.