1	Graduate Assistant Health Benefits John Chambers Director of Administration
2	Contact info – Graduate School Email: JChamber@bama.ua.edu Phone: 348-8282 Office: 101 Rose Administration http://www.graduate.ua.edu/
3	Contact Info – Student Health Center Student Health Insurance Office Room 210, Student Health Center 750 Fifth Avenue East Phone: 348-2158 http://www.ua.edu/academic/colleges/cchs/cchs/hc/
4	The Benefits New for fall 2006 UA will provide at no cost single coverage health insurance For qualifying graduate assistants Must apply for the benefit by August 31st Scheme provided by Viva
5	The Benefits (contd.) Qualifying assistants may choose to remain covered by another insurance policy Must formally accept or decline the free coverage Smallest period of coverage is a semester
6	The Benefits (contd.) Fall semester coverage runs from August 1^st through January 31^st Spring semester coverage runs from February 1^st through July 31^st If appointed for 9 months, coverage runs for 12 months Option to extend coverage to family for an additional cost
7	Who qualifies to receive the benefit? Graduate Teaching Assistants supported through academic affairs Graduate Research Assistants funded through contracts & grants Other departmental Graduate Assistants supported through “soft” money
8	Academic Qualifications Same as regular criteria for holding an assistantship GPA of at least 3.0 Enrolled in minimum number of hours’ classes Degree-seeking status
9	Points to note Departmental assistantships do not automatically carry the benefit Check with your supervisor to see if your assistantship qualifies Assistantships with work assignments of 20 hours or more per week receive full no cost benefit Assistantships with work assignments of less than 10 hours per week do NOT receive the benefit Assistantships with work assignments of 10 hours per week receive HALF the benefit at no cost
10	Other Points Assistantships with work assignments of between 10 and 19 hours per week will receive prorated free coverage Memorandum of Appointment or offer letter will include work assignment Teaching Assistant appointments – FTE of appointment equates to hours per week 0.50 FTE = 20 hours, 0.25 = 10 hours
11	International Students UA requires all international students to have medical insurance Student account is normally charged automatically at start of semester Student must pay or provide proof of own coverage at least equal to UA’s scheme Those GA’s who now receive free benefit will have charge refunded
12	For more information… Graduate Assistant Health Benefit http://www.graduate.ua.edu/admin/gahealthins.html Student Health Center http://www.ua.edu/academic/colleges/cchs/cchs/hc/start.cfm
13	Questions Questions and answers Contact me if further questions Thank you