E. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
1. Comprehensive Benefits
E.1.01 Benefit Plan
The System, through the State of Texas and administered through the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS) provides all eligible employees with a comprehensive benefit plan to include medical, dental, long and short-term disability, life insurance, retirement plans, premium conversion option, flexible spending accounts, and deferred compensation plans.
The State of Texas has qualified the plans under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code. The State of Texas reserves the right to amend, modify or terminate its welfare and benefit plans at any time and for any reason.
E.1.02 Medical PlanAll full-time employees are eligible to participate in the medical plan beginning the first day of the month following a 90-day waiting period. Optional benefits, such as dental, term life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and long-term disability are available the first day of employment.
Detailed information on the premium conversion and flexible benefits account plans and options eligibility will be made available to all employees by the Human Resources Department upon enrollment.
Employees, spouses, and dependents covered by the State's health benefit plans will be notified of their right to continue health insurance coverage in certain situations, including lay-off, discharge or reduction in hours of employment and separation or divorce, as required by law.
The State reserves the right to amend, alter, or terminate its benefit plans.
E.1.03 - Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits - Eligible Retiring Board Members
LSCS will pay from local funds the full costs to continue the health insurance benefits for a retiring, through voluntary retirement or loss of election, board member who has served as a member of the LSCS Board of Trustees for ten (10) or more years and, as of the date of his or her departure, is at least fifty-five years old.
E.1.04 - Payment of Health Insurance Benefits - Board Members
The System is authorized to pay from local funds the premium costs for members of the Board of Trustees who were appointed or elected, and enrolled in the health insurance plan, prior to September 1, 2003.
E.1.05 - Continuation of Group Insurance Benefits
Group medical/dental benefits and other insurance plans will remain in effect during periods of leave without pay if the employee is on Family Medical Leave. During these periods of leave the employee must pay all premiums for health insurance, including the dependent and employee coverage cost usually paid by the System.
E.1.06 - Tex-Flex Participation
Participation in the Tex-Flex dependent care and medical care reimbursement plan by employees enrolled in the plan shall remain in effect for the plan year.
E.1.07 - Workers' Compensation Benefits
An employee who is receiving workers' compensation benefits and who has exhausted all available leave shall be placed on leave without pay.
The System shall continue to make all benefit contributions for the employee. The employee shall be responsible for all premium contributions for eligible covered dependents.
E.1.08 - Family Medical Leave
During any period that an eligible employee takes unpaid Family Medical Leave, the System shall continue the employee's coverage under the group health plan for the duration of the leave at the level and under the conditions coverage would have been provided if the employee had continued on active duty with the System. In order to continue dependent medical coverage, the employee must pay the dependent coverage premiums.