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Employee Benefits

Westminster University is committed to providing our staff and faculty with quality benefits programs that are comprehensive, flexible, and affordable. Eligible employees have many benefit options to choose from. Benefits are designed to help staff, faculty and their families have options to what may fit best.

View Your Benefit Elections



Benefits Eligibility

Most benefits begin the first day of the month following your hire date. Eligible employees include:

  • Staff who are scheduled to work 24 or more hours weekly
  • Faculty who are on an annual contract for 9 or more months (including the equivalent of 24 or more credit hours)

Open Enrollment for 2027 Benefits

Open enrollment is active, not passive, meaning your current elections will not roll over into the next plan year. Employees who want to continue or change any benefits for the 2027 plan year must submit their elections in ADP during open enrollment, Nov. 2–11, 2026.

2027 Plan Year Overview

Medical coverage is moving to a self-funded plan through Regence (Blue Cross Blue Shield). While the carrier is changing, benefits are not. Employees can expect 98% of currently covered medical providers to remain the same. Employees will not see a premium increase for medical coverage in the 2027 plan year.

Dental coverage is moving to Delta Dental. Employees will have a modest premium increase and new, more comprehensive plans to choose from.

  • The current Dental $750 plan is increasing to $1,000 for annual maximum coverage.
  • The current Dental $1,250 plan is increasing to $1,500 for annual maximum coverage.

Vision coverage is moving to VSP. The vision premium will increase slightly and coverage will increase from $120 to $150.

Supplemental benefits are not changing.

  • Voya will continue as the Accident/Hospital/Critical Illness carrier.
  • The Hartford will continue as the Life and Disability carrier.
  • HealthJoy will continue as the Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) provider.
  • Health Equity will continue as the HSA provider.
  • NBS will continue as the FSA provider.

Open Enrollment Support

Get information and one-on-one enrollment support from HR and benefits suppliers during info sessions and the Benefits Fair.

Self-Funded Medical Coverage

Westminster University is moving to a self-funded medical insurance plan for 2027 due to the long-term financial benefits. Employees won't notice any differences between the previous insurance model and the new self-funded model. 

Instead of paying a set premium to an insurance company, Westminster only pays for the services and care you receive. The payments are made directly to a Third-Party Administrator (TPA) that manages the plan for Westminster.

If Westminster's insurance costs go down, premiums go down. Here are just two ways employees can help keep costs down for everyone:

  • If you need a prescription, a generic will save you money and help lower premiums.
  • If you need an MRI, an imaging center costs about $500 while a hospital costs about $3,000. Those costs directly impact premiums.

A Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM) is used to manage pharmacy options within a self-funded insurance plan. It watches spending and identifies the least expensive options for employees.

A PBM also allows Westminster to receive rebates from pharmacy manufacturers that used to go directly to Cigna. Westminster can use rebates to lower premiums in the future.

Qualifying Life Events

Qualifying life events can occur any time during the year. If you have a qualifying life event, you have the option to make updates to your benefits outside of open enrollment. To start the process, submit a life event through the ADP WorkforceNow portal.

Qualifying life events include:

  • The birth or adoption of a child
  • The death of a dependent
  • Marriage, divorce, annulment, or legal separation
  • The loss or gain of other coverage

Benefit changes must be completed within 30 days of the date of the qualifying event. Supporting documentation will be required for approval.

Help with Benefits

Westminster’s Human Resources team can help with any questions about eligibility, payroll deductions, enrollment, life events co-pays, deductibles, billing and EOB's, in-network providers, out-of-network claims, and more.

Employee Resources from Cigna

Employees and their family members can learn about Westminster's Cigna benefits by visiting Cigna's online guide for Westminster employees. Resources include:

  • Easy-to-understand details about the medical, dental, and vision plans through Cigna
  • Explanations of plan components and comprehensive plan summary documents
  • Benefits education videos and information, including a video library and glossary of terms
  • Telephone support from Cigna's live open enrollment support team

How to Request Your 1095-C Form

If you would like to receive a copy of your Form 1095-C, you may request one at any time, free of charge. Requests may be made using any of the following methods:

Once requested, your Form 1095-C will be provided within 30 days of the date your request is received.


Benefits Overview

In addition to the benefits listed below, Westminster University proudly offers:

Year-to-Year Benefits

Pet Insurance

Pets Best offers Westminster employees a discount for dog or cat coverage.

HealthJoy EAP

HealthJoy is a concierge app available to all full-time employees enrolled in a medical plan with Westminster.

Retirement

Eligible staff and faculty may participate in the Westminster University 403(b) retirement plan from Transamerica.

Tuition Exchange

Westminster offers a tuition exchange program for your dependents to attend a variety of colleges and universities nationwide.

Tuition Remission

Westminster offers tuition remission for undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Independent Financial Planning

Get one-on-one, individualized help with financial planning, Social Security, or Medicare.

Health Spend Accounts

Westminster offers options to be able to set money aside pre-tax to help fund medical, dental, vision and dependent care expenses.

2026 Benefits

 

Dental

Vision

Westminster offers a vision plan through Cigna Vision - EyeMed.

Accident Insurance

Help minimize the financial impact that can come with an accidental injury.

Critical Illness Insurance<

Help minimize the financial stress that may follow the diagnosis of a serious illness.

Hospital Indemnity Insurance

Help minimize the financial impact that can come with a stay in a hospital or medical facility.

Life Insurance Products

Eligible staff and faculty can receive coverage under a university group life insurance/accidental death and dismemberment plan.

Long-Term Disability

Westminster offers a university-sponsored long-term disability plan.