Part-Time Faculty Information

The University will offer a new plan with the largest dental provider network in Central New York. After an extensive review, including an independent analysis by a nationally recognized employee benefits consulting firm and supported by the Employee Benefits Assessment Council, Excellus BCBS was selected as the dental insurance provider for faculty and staff effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Through Excellus BCBS, faculty and staff will have:

• Reduced costs: Depending on plan selection, individuals who enroll will experience a decrease in their paycheck contributions for both the preventive and comprehensive plans by $1 to $17 per month. This plan also guarantees no increase in rates through 2026.
• Orthodontia coverage: Orthodontia coverage will now be available to enrolled adults and dependents under the comprehensive plan.

• As a reminder, this is the year to make changes to your dental and vision coverage—for a two-year commitment—unless you experience a qualifying life event. Elections will remain in effect through Dec. 31, 2026.
• For more information including, how to locate in-network providers, obtain member ID cards, and review important coverage details, visit the Dental Plan FAQs webpage.

The University offers a preventive dental plan, which covers two cleanings per year and other basic services, as well as a comprehensive plan that provides for both basic and major restorative services, including oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics and orthodontics.

Your enrollment in either of the dental plans includes access to both in-network and out-of-network providers. To maximize your plan benefits, you may want to consider seeking care from an in-network provider.

Be sure to check out the benefit summaries for both the preventive and comprehensive plans to learn more about the dental coverage and understand the options available to you.

For more information including, how to locate in-network providers, obtain member ID cards, and review important coverage details, visit the Dental Plan FAQs webpage.

2025 Monthly Dental Plan Contributions

The following rates apply to benefits-eligible faculty and staff. Contributions are based on the 12-month calendar year. The actual deduction from your paycheck depends on your payroll deduction cycle.

For more information including, how to locate in-network providers, obtain member ID cards, and review important coverage details, visit the Dental Plan FAQs webpage.

• To provide faculty and staff with more flexibility and choice, vision coverage will be offered as a standalone benefit. Faculty and staff will no longer be required to enroll in dental to have vision coverage through VSP.
• There will be no increase in contributions for 2025.
• As a reminder, this is the year to make changes to your dental and vision coverage—for a two-year commitment—unless you experience a qualifying life event. Elections will remain in effect through Dec. 31, 2026.

The VSP vision care plan provides coverage for routine eye exams, contact lens care, glasses and frames. Contributing to a health care flexible spending account (FSA) for 2025 may help to offset your out-of-pocket costs for vision and dental. Review our online resources to ensure you’re using your dental and vision benefits to the fullest.

2025 Monthly Vision Plan Contributions

The following rates apply to benefits-eligible faculty and staff. Contributions are based on the 12-month calendar year. The actual deduction from your paycheck depends on your payroll deduction cycle.

If you expect to have dependent care expenses next year, setting aside money in an FSA is a great way to save on taxes.

Under federal regulations, FSA elections will not continue into 2025 unless you take action during Open Enrollment. There is not carryover option for dependent care FSAs.

A Dependent Care FSA can be used for eligible dependent care expenses for a child under age 13 or adult dependent. Visit the HealthEquity website has a searchable database of eligible dependent care expenses.

2025 Flexible Spending Account Limits:

Health care and dependent care FSAs have different rules. Be sure you read and understand which expenses are eligible when you can access the funds and how to file claims by the deadline. Details, online calculators and tips can be found on the HealthEquity website or on the FSA webpage.

Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D):  The University provides you with life and AD&D insurance through MetLife, with options to purchase supplemental coverage for yourself and your family members at favorable group rates. Visit the Life Insurance webpage or the Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance webpage to learn more. A Statement of Health must be approved by MetLife before certain coverage is effective. With supplemental life insurance you also have access to a valuable additional benefit—free will preparation [PDF].

Although you can change your retirement plan contributions at any time, Open Enrollment is a perfect time to evaluate what you’re setting aside for retirement and ensure you’re on track to meet your future goals. You can log in and review your retirement account balance online with TIAA and update your voluntary contributions during Open Enrollment through the Open Enrollment tile in MySlice. During the year, you can make changes to your voluntary contributions through the HR/Benefits tile in MySlice or by submitting the Voluntary Salary Reduction Form to HR Shared Services.

New for calendar year 2025:

• The maximum contribution is capped at $23,500*. If you are over age 50, or turn age 50 during calendar year 2025, you are permitted to make additional catch-up contributions of up to $7,500, for a total of $31,000*.
• Additionally for calendar year 2025, the University adopted an additional age-based catch-up provision available under the SECURE Act 2.0 provisions. This catch-up allows individuals ages 60-63 to be able to defer a greater portion of their salary to the Voluntary Retirement Plan. The higher catch-up amount is based on 150 percent of the regular age 50+ catch-up limit, as indexed. Therefore, if you reach age 60, 61, 62 or 63 during calendar year 2025, you may contribute a total of $34,750*.
• Shortly, you will receive an email from TIAA announcing your personal 2025 maximum retirement plan contribution limit. This email will be sent to your University email account.

*Employees who have completed at least 15 years of service with the University may be able to contribute additional catch-up amounts.

Life circumstances can change from year to year, and Open Enrollment is a time to review who is covered under your benefits, add or remove dependents and update your other personal information. A few reminders:

• To review your personal information and beneficiary designations for your life insurance, go to the Employee Home page of MySlice. Here, you can:
  • Select the Personal Profile tile to review and update your personal information, such as your address, emergency contacts and military status.
  • Select the Payroll tile to review and update your tax withholding and direct deposit information.
  • Select the Open Enrollment tile to review and update your life insurance beneficiaries during Open Enrollment. To update your life insurance beneficiaries during the year, complete the MetLife Beneficiary Designation form [PDF] and return to HR Shared Services.
• Beneficiary designations for your retirement plan account are made through TIAA.
• If you add a dependent to any benefit plan, you must provide proof of eligibility (i.e., marriage license, domestic partner documentation, birth or adoption certificate, legal custody paperwork, etc.). Eligible dependent criteria can be reviewed at the Benefits Eligibility Policy webpage.

There are several ways to connect with resources that will enable you to make the best decisions for you and your loved ones. Please contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042 with any questions or requests for accommodations.

• Meet in person on campus with representatives from Excellus BCBS and Human Resources to discuss any personal dental or other benefit related questions.
• Call the University’s dedicated Excellus BCBS customer service center at 800.493.0318 (TTY: 800.662.1220) if you need additional assistance regarding your personal dental plan questions. Excellus BCBS’s hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• TIAA offers personalized advice and education to help you achieve your retirement goals. To schedule a meeting with one of the University’s dedicated financial consultants, or for assistance with your account, contact TIAA at 855.842.CUSE (2873) (TTY: 800.842.2755) or sign up online.

After reviewing all the important benefit highlights provided for 2025, follow these simple steps to make your selections for next year:

1. Log in to MySlice. From Oct. 28-Nov. 8, click the Open Enrollment tile located on the Employee Home page within MySlice to begin the enrollment process. If you do not know your NetID or password, visit Self-Serv or call 315.443.2677.
2. Select Your 2025 Benefits. Be sure to maximize your benefits! Don’t forget you can add/change/drop your plan options and dependents, elect an FSA, update your beneficiaries and more.
3. Click Finish. Be sure to update your selections by clicking FINISH to replace your prior choices. You can update your benefits as often as you like before the deadline of Nov. 8.
4. Review Your Confirmation Statement. Review the email sent to your Syracuse University email account. This will confirm your 2025 plan choices and pre/post tax costs.