Health Plan Participation

Employee Eligibility

All eligible employees of Lesley University can participate in our health and dental insurance programs. Employees (except students or adjunct faculty members) are considered eligible if they are regularly scheduled to work at least seventeen and one-half hours (17.5) per week. Additionally, a temporary employee who works at least seventeen and one-half hours (17.5) per week and is scheduled to work nine months or longer is considered an eligible employee. Eligible employees may participate in the health and dental insurance plans the first day of the month following the date of hire, providing they have completed the appropriate enrollment form(s). Coverage ends on the last day of the month following the date of termination.

Family Eligibility

An eligible employee may enroll eligible family members in the health or dental insurance programs. Eligible family members include:

• Spouse;
• Same sex spousal equivalent (with proper documentation);
• Former spouse until the former spouse remarries or until such time as may be specified in the divorce judgment;
• Unmarried children (including adopted children), under age 19 who: (a) reside(s) regularly with you or your spouse; (b) qualifies as a dependent for tax purposes; or (c) for whom you are required by agreement or court order to provide health care coverage;
• Unmarried dependent children (including adopted children) aged 19 to 25 who are enrolled full-time at an accredited educational institution. The health insurance plan will require a student verification form that needs to be submitted each academic year to ensure continuation of coverage,
• Unmarried children (including adopted children) age 19 or older who:
1. Is/are incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of a physical or mental handicap (disability); and
2. Was/were covered by the health plan you have selected or any of its affiliates before turning 19 or has had continuous group health insurance coverage from the onset of the disability to the date of enrollment; or
• An unmarried children under the age of 19 for whom you or your spouse is the court-appointed legal guardian. Proof of guardianship must be submitted prior to enrollment; or
• The child of an eligible dependent as defined above, until such time as your eligible dependent no longer qualifies.

Please refer to information regarding COBRA as it may apply to eligible dependents upon loss of group-sponsored health insurance coverage.

Enrolling in the Health Plan

An eligible employee can opt to enroll in a health plan within thirty (30) days after date of hire by completing an enrollment form. Enrollment forms can be obtained in the Human Resources Department.

Lesley University offers two types of health coverage levels:

1. Individual (employee)
2. Family (employee and eligible family member(s))

Employees can also make changes to their health or dental plan elections during open enrollment. Open enrollment usually occurs in the fall, and all changes are effective January 1 of the coming year

Changes during the course of a year are allowed only if a qualifying event occurs. Please see section on Qualifying Events for more information.