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Human Resources

Home » Employee Benefits & Retirement » Employee Benefits Overview

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  • HR Equity, Access & Compliance
  • Benefits & Retirement
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Employee Benefits Overview

Core Benefits/Cost Containment Programs

Eligible unclassified or classified employees, must enroll for your benefit plan within 30 days from date of eligibility. For new employees, this is the date you were hired.

Benefits begin on the first day of the month after hire date. Our plan year runs from January 1 to December 31. You may change your elections only during Open Enrollment in October, to be effective January 1 of the following year, unless you have a qualifying midyear change.

  • Our benefit premiums are paid a month in advance, so depending on the timing of your first paycheck you may have benefits taken out twice on your first paycheck.
  • Eligible 9-month employees who are on the 9-month pay plan and are expected to return in the fall, will have their benefits tripled on their May paycheck each year to pay for summer benefit coverage.
  • Additionally, if you don’t receive pay in September, your October paycheck will have benefits taken twice to pay for October and November benefit coverage.

Medical Coverage

Employees may choose between five medical plans: You pay 5% of the monthly premium cost, unless you enroll in the lowest cost plan in your zip code, then you pay 3%.

PEBB Statewide Plan

(Providence PPO) – offered Statewide and Nationwide.

Contact

PO Box 3125
Portland, OR 97208-3125
Phone: (800) 423-9470

Group Number: 108601
Member Number: Assigned by carrier

    Visit Website

    Providence Choice

    (HMO Plan) – available to employees who live or work in Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Hood River, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Wasco, Washington, Yamhill in Oregon; Clark, Walla Walla in Washington.

    Contact

    PO Box 3125
    Portland, OR 97208-3125
    Phone: (800) 878-4445

    Group Number: 106528
    Member Number: Assigned by carrier

      Visit Website

      Kaiser Plans

      Kaiser Traditional HMO Plan or Kaiser Deductible HMO Plan – available to employees who live or work in Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Hood River, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington, and Yamhill in Oregon; Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Skamania & Wahkiakum in Washington. You must coordinate medical care through a Kaiser facility.

      Contact

      500 NE Multnomah, STE 100
      Portland, OR 97232-2099
      Phone: (800) 813-2000

      Group Number: 18273
      Member Number: Assigned by carrier

      Visit Website

      Moda Synergy

      Available to employees who live or work in Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington, Yamhill, in Oregon; Clark in Washington.

      Contact

      PO Box 40384
      Portland, OR 97240
      Phone: (877)605-3229

      Group Number: 10002802
      Member Number: Assigned by carrier

      Visit Website

      Health Engagement Model

      Signing up for the HEM program gives you and your spouse or partner lower monthly deductions for health coverage and important tools for better health. See the HEM Program Page for more information.

      If you participate in the HEM program you receive an incentive of $17.50 (employee only) per month.

        Visit Website

        Tobacco Use Program

        Employees enrolled in a medical plan who use tobacco have a deduction to help offset the risks they bring to the group.

        For employees and/or their covered spouse/domestic partner who use tobacco there is a monetary monthly deduction. Tobacco users can stop the deduction if they quit using tobacco mid-year.

        Employees to whom this applies have a monthly surcharge of $25 per person.

          Spouse-Other-Coverage Program

          If an employee covers a spouse or domestic partner on their medical plan and their spouse or partner waives coverage offered by their employer, it shifts risk and costs to PEBB.

          Employees to whom this applies have a monthly surcharge of $50.

            Dental Coverage

            PEBB sponsors four dental plans: (You may choose to enroll or not enroll.)
            You pay either 5% or 3% of the monthly premium cost dependent on your medical plan enrollment.

            Moda Health Premier

            Provides nationwide coverage, employees may choose any dentist.

            Contact

            (Previously ODS Traditional)
            Moda refers to plan as Delta Dental Premier
            601 SW 2nd Avenue
            Portland, OR 97204
            Phone: (800) 452-1058

            Group Number: 6570
            Member Number: *PEBB.Benefits Number

              *(You should receive a card in the mail.)

              Visit Website

              Moda Health PPO

              Provides coverage under a select list of dentists.

              Contact

              (Previously ODS Preferred)
              Moda refers to plan Delta Dental PPO
              601 SW 2nd Avenue
              Portland, OR 97204
              Phone: (800) 452-1058

              Group Number: 6571
              Member Number: *PEBB.Benefits Number

                *(You should receive a card in the mail.)

                Visit Website

                Willamette Dental Group

                A dental health maintenance organization with select locations throughout the Willamette Valley.

                Contact

                14025 SW Farmington Rd, Ste 300
                Beaverton, OR 97005
                Phone: (800) 460-7644

                Group Number: Z250I
                Member Number: *PEBB.Benefits Number

                  *(You should receive a card in the mail.)

                  Visit Website

                  Kaiser Permanente Plan

                  Employees must live in the service area and coordinate dental care through a Kaiser facility.

                  Contact

                  500 NE Multnomah, Ste 100
                  Portland, OR 97232-2099
                  Phone: (800) 813-2000

                  Group Number: 18273
                  Member Number: Assigned by carrier

                    Visit Website

                    Vision Coverage

                    PEBB sponsors one vision plan (VSP Vision Plan) if you aren’t with Kaiser medical: (You may choose to enroll or not enroll.) You pay either 5% or 3% of the monthly premium cost dependent on your medical plan enrollment.

                    Vision Service Plan (VSP)

                    Except for Kaiser Members

                    Contact

                    PO Box 997105
                    Sacramento, CA 95899
                    Phone: (800) 877-7195

                    Group Number: 12179989
                    Member Number: PEBB.Benefits Number

                      *(You should receive a card in the mail.)

                      Visit Website

                      Kaiser Provided

                      Kaiser provides the vision coverage for all of the Kaiser plans

                      • Kaiser “Part-time” plans offer a limited vision benefit limited to the exam only
                      • Refer to your medical plan summary for details on the Kaiser vision benefits

                      Contact

                      500 NE Multnomah, Ste 100
                      Portland, OR 97232-2099
                      Phone: (800) 813-2000

                        Visit Website

                        Life Insurance

                        Benefit eligible employees will automatically receive $10,000 of basic life insurance coverage with enrollment through The Standard.

                        The Standard

                        Except for Kaiser Members

                        Contact

                        PO Box 2800
                        Portland, OR 97208
                        Phone: Life Insurance: (800)628-860

                        Plan: Basic Life
                        Policy Number: 606814-D

                          *(You should receive a card in the mail.)

                          Visit Website

                          Optional Benefits

                          Optional benefits include, optional life insurance, short-term disability and long-term disability insurance and medical/dependent flexible spending accounts.

                          Optional Life Insurance

                          Benefit eligible employees may elect for additional life insurance coverage through The Standard.

                          • Optional life insurance is available up to $600,000 for employee’s coverage and $400,000.00 for spouse/domestic partner coverage.
                          • The first $45,000 of employee life insurance is paid on a pre-tax basis.
                          • Amounts above $45,000, and spouse life insurance, are deducted on a post-tax basis

                          Contact

                          PO Box 2800
                          Portland, OR 97208
                          Phone: (800)628-8600

                          Plan: Basic Life & Optional Life Insurance
                          Policy Number: 606814-D

                          Plan: Accidental Death & Dismemberment
                          Policy Number: 603073-A

                          Visit Website

                          Short Term & Long Term Disability Insurance

                          PEBB offers a short-term disability plan, and long-term disability coverage to our employees through The Standard.

                          • Disability plans offer income protection during times when an employee is unable to work due to an injury or illness.
                          • Premiums for disability insurance are paid on a post-tax basis, and rates vary depending on the plan(s) chosen and gross monthly salary.
                          • Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance is also available for employees and family.

                          Contact

                          Short Term Disability
                          Phone: (800) 368-2859
                          Policy Number: 442210-C

                          Long Term Disability
                          Phone: (800) 368-1135
                          Policy Number: 606717-A

                          Visit Website

                          Long Term Care Insurance

                          UNUM’s Long Term Care Insurance pays benefits when you require substantial assistance with two out of six activities of daily living. Once you qualify, you will receive the monthly benefit you selected, even if your benefit payment exceeds the actual monthly charge you incur.

                          When your plan pays a benefit, you can use the money to meet the needs that you decide are most important. How and where you receive services depends on your needs, family situation, finances, and plan selection. Employees can enroll in Long Term Care at any time.

                          Contact

                          2211 Congress St
                          Portland, ME 04122
                          Phone: 800-227-4165
                          Plan Number: 025758-003 6

                          Plan Highlights
                          Certificate of Coverage

                          Visit Website

                          Medical/Dependent Flexible Spending Accounts

                          Any benefit eligible employee may establish a flexible spending account to use pre-tax income to pay for eligible healthcare and dependent-care expenses.

                          Employees may enroll in accounts within 30 days of initial date of hire, during Open Enrollment, or within 30 days of and consistent with a qualified status change.

                          FSAs are “use it or lose it” accounts. If your expense is less than the amount that you deposit for the year you will forfeit the balance.

                          Contact

                          PO Box 6044
                          Columbia, MO 65205-6044
                          Phone: 800656-3035

                          Visit Website

                          Other Benefits

                          Employee Assistance Program

                          The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential counseling and referral service that is provided to WOU employees as a pre-paid benefit.

                          • Three referral/counseling visits are available at no charge to WOU employees, household members, and dependents per year to help with personal or job-related issues.
                          • This service is completely confidential and operates separately from the University.

                          Contact

                          7180 S.W. Fir Loop Suite 100
                          Portland, OR 97223-8023
                          info@canopywell.com

                          Toll Free
                          (503) 639-3009
                          1-800-433-2320

                          You will need your Medical Card ID# issued by provider.
                          To enroll online use Company Name “State of Oregon”

                          Visit Website

                          Student Debt Solution Benefit for WOU employees through TIAA

                          WOU also offers an extra benefit for WOU employees and their dependents through our partnership with TIAA in a program called SAVI. You can think of Savi as an advocate and a concierge for your student debt journey. You can visit their site to get a better estimate of how much you can save.

                          • It takes about 20 minutes and you’ll be asked to provide information about your income, taxes, family, and student debt.
                          • Savi’s calculator will take all that into account to show you a recommended course of action.
                          • Once you understand your options, you can decide if you want to proceed with any of the available programs.

                          Contact

                          800-842-2252

                          Visit Website

                          Opt-Out/Decline Benefits

                          Opt-Out

                          Employees may opt-out of medical coverage for cash back. Cash back is subject to Federal, State, and Social Security taxes.

                          • The medical opt-out amount is $233 per month less the cost of employee basic life insurance of $1 per month.
                          • You may choose to enroll or not enroll in dental or vision coverage, you would pay 5% of the monthly premium cost of each.
                          • To be eligible to opt-out you must be covered by another employer sponsored health insurance program or employer sponsored health and dental programs.
                          • Other group coverage does not include Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Administration Health Benefits, Student Health Benefits, or an individual plan. You must provide proof of other employer coverage.

                          If you opt out of medical coverage you must still enroll in basic life insurance and may still enroll in any of the PEBB optional insurance coverage.

                          Decline Benefits

                          You may decline coverage all together. If you decline coverage, you are declining enrollment in the CORE benefits (medical/vision, dental and employee basic life insurance). You will also not be eligible to enroll in any of the other PEBB optional insurances.

                          For a more detailed information on our benefits options please see PEBB’s Summary Plan Description.


                          CONTACT

                          Human Resources

                          Lieuallen Administration 305
                          P: 503-838-8490 | F: 503-838-8522 | E-mail: hr@wou.edu

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                          WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY
                          345 Monmouth Ave. N.
                          Monmouth OR 97361

                          503-838-8000 | 1-877-877-1593

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                          Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

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