New Faculty and Staff – SMU Benefits Enrollment

Welcome to SMU!

Now that you have completed the on-line New Employee Tutorial you should have a basic understanding of the University’s Benefits Program.  More detailed information about each plan can be found in the Benefits Guide.  While you do have 31 days from your hire date to enroll in certain SMU Benefits plans, it is very important that you enroll on or shortly after your hire date to insure that payroll deductions begin immediately and avoid retroactive payroll deductions.

Benefits Effective Date

The following rules apply regarding the benefits plans you decide to elect as a new hire:

  • Medical: Coverage is effective on the hire date (as long as you make your election within 31 days of your hire date).

    • If you are a monthly-paid employee hired prior to the 15th, you will be responsible for the entire monthly premium.

    • If you are a monthly-paid employee hired on the 15th or later, you will be responsible for one-half of the monthly premium.

    • If you are a bi-weekly employee hired during the first week of a bi-weekly pay period, you will be responsible for the full premium for that pay period.

    • If you are a bi-weekly employee hired during the second week of a bi-weekly pay period, you will be responsible for one-half of the premium for that pay period.

     

  • Dental, Vision, HC FSA, DC FSA, HSA, Supplemental Life, Dependent Life, Spouse Life, AD&D: Coverage is effective on the first day of the month following your hire date (as long as you make your election within 31 days of your hire date).  You will be responsible for the full premium if you elect to enroll in any of these plans.

New Employee Enrollment

For the Benefit plans addressed above under Benefits Effective Date, you will enroll via SMU Access>Self-Service.  As soon as you are ready to enroll, contact Rhonda Adams (214-768-2132) and she will provide the necessary instructions.

Long Term Care Insurance

If you wish to purchase Long Term Care Insurance, you will do so by completing the LTC Employee Enrollment Form below.  Please keep in mind that you have 31 days from your date of hire to enroll in the Long Term Care Plan without having to provide Evidence of Insurability.  If you do so, your coverage will be effective on the first day of the month following your hire date.  If you do not enroll within 31 days of your hire date, Evidence of Insurability will be required.

Limited Evidence of Insurability is required if you wish to enroll your spouse or qualified domestic partner, and additional Evidence of Insurability is required if you have parents, parents in-law, grandparents or grandparents in-law who wish to enroll.  Click here for additional information.

LTC Employee Enrollment Form

LTC Employee Enrollment Form Instructions

403(b) Retirement Program

Enrollment in SMU's 403(b) requires paper enrollment.  The 403(b) has several components and it is very important that you understand each.  Please click here for information regarding eligibility rules and enrollment procedures.

While you are not required to enroll within 31 days of your date of hire, if you are a full-time employee age 26 or older, it is important that you do so immediately to avoid missing out on the SMU matching contribution (8% or 10% depending on your age).  Enrollment is effective on the first day of the month following the date Human Resources receives your SMU 403(b) Salary Reduction Agreement and the enrollment/application form for the investment company you select.  Your 403(b) enrollment will not be processed unless both forms are submitted to Human Resources.