Health Plan
Description
Introduction
The MU Extension County Office
Secretary Health Benefit Plan is the result of several years of
effort by staff, councils, commissions, University administration
and members of the Missouri legislature.
Plan
Administration
Health coverage will be offered through the Missouri Consolidated
Health Care Plan (MCHCP). MCHCP is the state-authorized
organization that provides coverage for most state employees, and
for many other public employers.
Plan Design
To provide the maximum flexibility for types of coverages
that a given County Extension Council might prefer for its staff, each
County Extension Council will enroll with MCHCP as the employer, and will be involved with
staff in selecting preferred coverages. For example, MCHCP offers
dental, vision and employee assistance plans beyond the basic, MU
Extension
supported, health plan. A County Extension Council may offer these additional plans
to staff through funding provided by the County Extension Council, staff members or
some combination thereof (each plan has specific funding
guidelines). A County Extension Council might also want to offer coverages to
part-time (less than ¾ time, or less than 30 hours per week) staff.
MU Extension funds will not be available to fund these additional coverages.
MCHCP will bill all plan costs to MU Extension, the appropriate portion of
the basic health plan premium will be paid with the MU Extension funds, and
the employee's portion and cost of any additional coverages a
County Extension Council has offered to its staff will be invoiced to
County Extension Councils on a
monthly basis. There is no required contribution from the
County Extension Council to the cost of health insurance if only the basic health
plan is offered to secretaries or program office support staff
working 3/4 time, or more (30 or more hours per week).
County Extension Councils are, however, agreeing by virtue of their employee's
enrollment in MCHCP to ensure that appropriate deductions are made
from their employee's paychecks to cover the employee's share of
monthly premiums.
Eligibility
MU Extension, state funded, support for health plan premiums will be provided
for county office secretaries, or locally paid staff whose primary
duties consist of program office support for Extension program
staff. Individuals must be regularly working at least ¾ time (.75
FTE), or 30 hours per week. This support is intended to provide
reasonably affordable health care coverage to the individuals
employed by the council, within the constraints of available funds.
Each County Extension Council is responsible for direct notification to MCHCP of any
changes in coverage, terminations, or new hires to assure that coverages and charges are correct.
Withholdings
For eligible county secretaries who choose to
participate, the plan requires a monthly payroll deduction. Plan
flexibility allows each individual to select from an array of health
plan options, and to change those selections over time.
Employee contributions may need to be withheld from paychecks in
the month prior to coverage to provide for timely payment. This plan
requires that employee deductions be made from taxable income, and
are not eligible to be treated as a pretax contribution. It is the
County Extension Council's responsibility to ensure that appropriate amounts are
withheld from an employee's pay to cover the individual's share of health
premiums. MU Extension bills the County Extension Council who employs individuals for
health coverage, not the individuals themselves.
Subsidies for .75 FTE
Employees
Consistent with University of Missouri
policy, only employees who work
three-quarter-time (.75 FTE) and above
are eligible for subsidized medical
benefits from MU
Extension.
Each County as Its Own
Entity
For medical benefits, each county is a
unit under Missouri Consolidated
Health Care Plan. Each County Extension Council may
choose to join the MCHCP as a public
entity. Each joining County Extension Council is a
separate entity, and as such, is
responsible for any and all
determinations concerning optional
coverage plans and employee
participation. This will allow each
County Extension Council the flexibility to add
additional benefits and provide
benefits for secretaries less than .75
FTE.
Pre-Tax Deductions through 12/31/2007
Pre-tax deductions for health, dental or vision insurance premiums
were not possible for this
plan prior to January 1, 2008.
2008 Cafeteria Plan for Pre-Tax Deductions effective 01/01/2008
Legislation was passed that requires all entities that offer health
insurance to offer a cafeteria plan to the employees. This
legislation is effective January 1, 2008. The impact of this
legislation to Extension is that a cafeteria plan must be made
available to any Extension county council secretary participating in
the medical insurance plan. County council secretaries will
have the option to have their medical, dental or vision insurance
premiums deducted pre-tax.
For assistance in making changes to your medical, vision and/or
dental payroll items in your accounting file, contact your regional
QuickBooks trainer, or Mary Ann Horvath.
For other questions about the 2008 Cafeteria Plan, contact the Plan Administrator,
Brenda Montague.
Retired Staff
Staff members that retire after the
start of the plan are able to qualify
to continue coverage with MCHCP, as
they would have an existing pension
plan in effect. Retirees are required
to pay 100 percent of premiums
directly to MCHCP.
Existing Contract
Employees
County Extension Councils that have secretarial
contracts with UM are grandfathered in and maintain existing health benefits.
Present cases are subsidized for
health costs. No new contracts between
County Extension Councils and UM will be initiated for
secretarial payroll.
Other Benefit Plans
No arrangements may be made to pay
premiums to other plans or existing
options offered by County Extension Councils, except
for existing contracts with the
University.
Split-Funded Employees
Individuals who are funded 50 percent
by a County Extension Council and 50 percent by the
University are provided benefits as a
full-time secretary.
Billing Procedures
MCHCP bills MU
Extension prior to the beginning of the
coverage month. MU Extension pays the MCHCP
bill then invoices the County Extension Councils, minus
the MU Extension subsidy. Invoices indicate
covered individuals and the types of
coverage. Verify that coverage is
correct.
County Extension Councils should pay invoices upon
receipt. Employee contributions may
need to be withheld from paychecks in
the month prior to coverage to provide
funds timely. Employee deductions must
be made from net income after taxes.
If a County Extension Council wishes to pay the
employee's share, it will not be
considered a taxable benefit and thus
will not be included in an employee's gross
pay. Each County Extension Council is responsible for
notifying MCHCP and the MU Extension Plan
Administrator, upon any change,
termination or employment of new
secretaries to stop or change
coverage. All payments for invoices
must be remitted to University of
Missouri Columbia AR, P.O. Box 807012, Kansas City, MO 64180-7012.
Contact Missouri
Consolidated Health Care Plan
Website
Select Public Entity Section.
Phone: 1-800-487-0771
Customer Service hours: 8:30
a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Mail: Missouri
Consolidated Health Care Plan
832 Weathered Rock Court
P.O. Box 104355
Jefferson City, MO 65110-4355
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