Postdoctoral Scholar Health & Welfare Benefit Plans at UCLA

Plans

As a condition of appointment, UCLA requires that all postdoctoral scholar appointees have adequate health insurance coverage for the duration of their appointments. The primary funding source and timing of the appointment determine for which University-administered health plan the postdoctoral scholar is eligible.

Postdoctoral scholars appointed full-time under the Postgraduate Researcher title (Title code 3240) before January 1, 2005, are eligible for University of California Staff & Faculty Health and Welfare Plans, as determined by the percent-time and duration of employment. Please consult with the departmental HR/Personnel representative for more information about the details of your benefits eligibility.

On January 1, 2005, the University of California implemented a system-wide health insurance plan for all postdoctoral scholars, including employees, fellows and paid-directs: the UC Postdoctoral Scholar Benefits Plan (PSBP). This comprehensive program offers Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and AD&D Insurance, Short-Term Disability Insurance, and Voluntary Long-Term Disability Insurance and is available to all scholars appointed on or after January 1, 2005.

The PSBP is comprised of the following plans, some of which offer you the choice between an HMO or PPO model:

Medical: Health Net HMO or PPO
Dental: Health Net DHMO or Principal PPO
Health Net Vision PPO
Life, AD&D and Short-Term Disability Insurance offered through Standard Insurance (you will be automatically enrolled in these plans)
Voluntary Long-Term Disability Insurance offered through Standard Insurance

Rates

UC Postdoctoral Scholar Benefits Plan (UC PSBP) Monthly Rates (PDF-322KB)
Effective January 1, 2009

UC Postdoctoral Scholar Benefits Plan (UC PSBP) Monthly Rates (PDF-50KB)
Effective January 1, 2008

Enrollment

In order to enroll in the UC PSBP, the Postdoctoral Scholar must complete the online enrollment and beneficiary forms and submit them to the departmental personnel representative for processing.

Sponsoring departments must use the following form to inform CHR Benefits of the amount of the insurance premium that will be paid by the department with the balance paid by the postdoctoral scholar.

2009 Department & Postdoctoral Contributions for Fellow & Paid Direct Categories (iPDF-44KB)

2008 Department & Postdoctoral Contributions for Fellow & Paid Direct Categories (iPDF-44KB)

Period of Initial Eligibility (PIE)

Postdoctoral scholars are given 31 days from their appointment begin date to select and enroll in the UC PSBP. If the forms are not completed within 31 days of the appointment begin date, University coverage can only be provided on an exceptional basis.

Evidence of Coverage

If insurance is not provided by the above-mentioned University of California postdoctoral scholar health care options, evidence of coverage must be submitted along with the initial appointment request.

Questions

Questions concerning general eligibility conditions should be directed to the departmental HR/personnel representative, or Postdoctoral & Visiting Scholar Services, Graduate Division, at postdoc@gdnet.ucla.edu or (310) 825-4247.