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Back to Managing Benefits Overview

• Postdoctoral Fellow Medical Plan
  • Memo from the AVP for Benefits and Compensation
  • The Enrollment Process

• The Steps
• When Coverage Goes Into Effect

The Steps

Departments must initiate the medical enrollment of full time postdoctoral fellows receiving stipends rather than University salaries. The following steps are required to enroll a postdoctoral fellow in a University medical plan. Please note that Columbia Human Resources must receive enrollment forms within 30 days of a postdoctoral fellow's appointment.

Step 1:

If the postdoctoral fellow is new to the University, complete a Nomination Form and submit it through the normal processing channels. The Nomination Form should reflect the following:

• Salary = zero
• FT/PT Status = full time

If the postdoctoral fellow is continuing at the University, make the appropriate changes on a Personnel Action Form (PAF) or mark the roster ``R" and submit it through the normal processing channels. The PAF or roster should reflect the following:

• Pay Frequency = 9
• Salary = zero
• FT/PT Status = full time

Step 2:

Provide postdoctoral fellows with the following enrollment materials:

• Benefits in Brief for Officers, which provides details about their medical plan options (also available from local HR offices)
  
• Medical Benefits for Postdoctoral Fellows Not Receiving Salary, which includes step-by-step instructions and a contribution rate sheet listing the costs for coverage under each of the medical plan options.

Step 3:

Direct postdoctoral fellows to complete the following forms and return them to you promptly:

• Postdoctoral Fellows Medical Benefits Enrollment Form (HTML / PDF / Word) indicating (1) the plan and coverage level, (2) dependent information, and (3) the payment arrangement chosen by the department. Make sure that both you and the postdoctoral fellow sign and date the form.

• Additional carrier forms in the case of postdoctoral fellows who choose to enroll in an HMO or Point-of-Service Plan:

  • Postdoctoral fellows who elect an HMO or the Oxford Point-of-Service Plan will need to complete an enrollment application (available from their local HR offices)

  • Postdoctoral fellows who elect the CIGNA Point-of-Service Plan must complete a Primary Care Physician (PCP) election form (available from their local HR offices)

Step 4:

Within 30 days of the postdoctoral fellow's appointment, send the postdoctoral fellow's enrollment forms—along with a copy of the Interdepartmental Invoice (IDI) if the department is paying part of the cost—to:

Postdoctoral Fellow Processing
Faculty & Staff Services
1901 Interchurch Center
475 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10115
MC: 7705

There are three possible payment arrangements, which you must indicate on the Enrollment Form (remember that, whichever arrangement you choose, you must submit the Postdoctoral Fellows Medical Benefits Enrollment Form (HTML / PDF / Word)):

• The department paying in full in advance, through an Interdepartmental Invoice. (Please note that medical rates change each January 1st. This means that you should pay in advance only through December 31^st of the calendar year. You will need to submit an additional IDI in January to cover the increased rates.)

• The department paying part in advance, with the postdoctoral fellow paying the balance through monthly premiums, through coupons provided by EBPA.

• The postdoctoral fellow paying in full through monthly premiums, through coupons provided by EBPA.

When Coverage Goes Into Effect

Coverage will be effective on the day the fellow is appointed. If the appointment begins after the first of the month, payment for the entire month will still be required.