NEW HIRES
How soon will I receive my benefits?
The date your benefits at The University of Iowa begin depends upon your position. In all cases, you must actually enroll in specific plans, which are also based on your classification. Coverage is not automatic.
- Fiscal Year Faculty, Professional and Scientific or Merit Exempt: You are eligible for benefits the first of the month following your employment date. You may be eligible to purchase health and/or dental insurance effective the first of the month of your hire date. Please contact UI Benefits about purchasing temporary insurance.
- House Staff: You are eligible for benefits the first of the month following your contract date.
To view a Statement of Stipends, Benefits, and Other UI Hospitals and Clinics Services: FY2012.pdf
- Academic Year Faculty (9 month): Benefit eligibility begins September 1 if you have a fall appointment, February 1 for a spring only appointment. You may be eligible to purchase health and/or dental insurance effective the first of the month of your hire date. Please contact UI Benefits about purchasing temporary insurance.
- Merit Staff: Benefit eligibility begins the first of the month following a thirty-day waiting period after your hire date. The exception to this is if you are hired on the first working day of the month, in which case benefits will take effect the first day of the following month.
- Employed Graduate Student: Benefit eligibility begins September 1, for fall appointments and February 1, for spring appointments, or the first of the month after you complete an application for appointments other than previously listed.
- Post Doctoral Scholars/Fellows: If you receive a salary, you are eligible for coverage the first of the month following your employment date. Exception: Those on J-1 visas will begin coverage immediately upon hiring. A new application should be completed to change coverage to a Post Doctoral Scholar/Fellow.
- Temporary Employees: The first of the month following the date you begin employment or the completion of an application. You may be eligible to purchase health and/or dental insurance effective the first of the month of your hire date. Please contact UI Benefits about purchasing temporary insurance. Exception: Those on J-1 visas will begin coverage immediately upon hiring.
How and when do I sign up for benefits?
Fiscal and Academic Year Faculty, Professional and Scientific, Merit Exempt, and Merit Staff: Once your department completes the hiring process, you will be invited to a University orientation meeting, during which you will be provided information, forms and instructions for enrolling. These meetings are held twice a month. If you cannot attend, please contact the Benefits Office at benefits@uiowa.edu or 319-335-2676.
House Staff: You will be invited to an orientation meeting by the Graduate Medical Education Office, where you will be provided the information, forms, and instructions for enrollment.
Employed Graduate Students: You will be sent a booklet containing information on options and enrollment forms. This information is also available at http://www.uiowa.edu/hr/benefits/health/student/empgrad.pdf
Post Doctoral Scholars/Fellows: You will be sent information on the available options and the enrollment form through campus mail.
Temporary Employees: Contact your department for information.
How/when are my benefits paid?
Benefits are paid at the beginning of the month for the upcoming month. Although your monthly paycheck reflects salary for work the prior month, the flex credits and premium deductions on that check are for the month in which the check is issued.
Temporary Employees:
If there is an employee cost, premiums for the current month will be billed to you on a monthly basis on a University bill. A preferable alternative is that you choose to have the cost automatically deducted from a bank account.