HB 2611 BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYEES IN PART-TIME FACULTY POSITIONS

SUMMARY

Part-time Faculty Position Benefits

In June of 2023 the State of Oregon passed HB2611. This bill established a mechanism for employees in part-time faculty positions who were eligible for PERS membership during the previous calendar year (2022) across one or multiple Oregon higher education institutions to obtain health care through their higher education employer. This bill requires that the premium costs be funded at 90% by the “home institution” (the institution chosen by the employee to provide the benefits); with the employee paying a 10% premium cost share. This is for employee-only medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage.

This benefit enrollment period will be October 1-31 2023 with plan coverage starting on November 1, 2023, if all conditions are met. The bill allows the employee to pursue enrollment if they provide their home institution evidence of eligibility within a specific time frame. Employees who believe they are eligible for coverage under HB 2611 may select any one of the Oregon Public Universities and Community Colleges that they are currently working at as their home institution and enroll in medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage offered at that institution.

This webpage summarizes the provisions of HB 2611 which provides Healthcare benefits for qualifying employees in adjunct (part-time faculty) positions at Oregon Public Universities and Community Colleges. You will find the following information useful in determining eligibility.

ACCESS A COPY OF HB 2611ABOUT THIS CONTENT

ELIGIBILITY REVIEW PERIODS

One Review period

Fall Term November 1 effective date

• Must be actively working and receiving a paycheck for the home institution for the current term
• Eligible for PERS membership during the previous calendar year (2022) using PERS definition for annual eligibility. (This includes individuals currently enrolled in ORP)
• Only teaching hours count towards determining PERS membership eligibility. (Research & other duties do not count)
   

ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

• The HB 2611 enrollment month at the Universities will be October 1-31, 2023.
• All enrollment time periods following November 1st, 2023 will correspond with the start date of each academic term when an employee is considered newly eligible.  Eligible employees will have 30 days after hire to complete enrollment with the healthcare program.
• If employees are hired mid-term an exception may be made to enroll outside of this time period within 30 days.
• It is the responsibility of the employee to research and compare plan options at the different institutions they could designate as their home institution.
• Enrollment timelines may be updated related to future legislative changes.
• Eligible faculty are allowed to enroll in employee-only medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage.
• To be eligible for this program, you may not be currently covered by or eligible for a PEBB or OEBB medical plan as an employee or dependent
   

COST

• Faculty member monthly premium share 10%. 
• Collected via payroll deduction from monthly paycheck, must be employed at the University during the term
• Rate Chart, Employee pay 10% of the listed amount
• Home Institution monthly premium share 90%

 

DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY

If you currently work at Eastern Oregon University and wish to establish EOU as your home institution you must complete the following process:

1. Gather the documents that demonstrate proof of eligibility from the institutions you have worked in the year 2022. Documentation must state total teaching hours  worked in the year 2022.
2. Complete the Part Time Faculty Attestation of Eligibility for Benefits Coverage.
3. The Benefits team will respond to let you know if you are eligible after reviewing the submitted documentation.
4. If you are eligible, you will receive a link to the PEBB enrollment portal.  Eligible faculty are allowed to enroll in employee-only medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage.
5. Complete the enrollment process within 30 days of eligibility.  Your benefits will begin the first of the month following enrollment if you complete the process within the required timelines.
6. A payroll deduction will be set up for this benefit.  Premiums are paid a month in advance. Your 10% premium cost share will be deducted from your monthly pay.
   1. You may have double premiums taken in the subsequent month if the initial premium isn’t set up in the current payroll cycle.
   2. If your monthly paycheck is insufficient to cover the cost of premiums you will be required to submit the missing amount prior to the end of the current payroll month in which the amount was missing to avoid benefit termination.
   3. If you are concerned that your check will not be sufficient at EOU to cover the cost of premiums you may want to consider designating another institution in which you receive the most pay as your home institution so that premiums are appropriately deducted.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• EOU will complete an Annual Review:  Eligible faculty members who elect coverage will be eligible for coverage for the following 12-months if they remain actively employed and are receiving a paycheck at EOU:
  • October eligibility assessment allows coverage from November through October if employed every month with EOU.
• Employment Termination: If your position ends at EOU, your insurance will cease at the end of the month.  If you continue to work part-time at other institutions of higher education in Oregon (Public Community College or University) and are eligible for this coverage, you can name a new home institution where you are actively receiving pay. You can work with that institution to continue your healthcare coverage.
• Double coverage: Members are not eligible to enroll in HB 2611 PEBB coverage if they are already enrolled in another PEBB or OEBB plan, either as a subscriber or as a dependent.
• Opt out payments: Members eligible for HB 2611 coverage are not eligible to receive any opt out stipends.
• Open Enrollment: You are able to make changes to your initial enrollments during Open Enrollment, October 1-31 each year for changes to be effective January 1st of the following year. The Open Enrollment process is in addition to your enrollment for HB 2611 Healthcare.  
   

Eligible HB 2611 Institutions The institutions listed may be named as your ‘home institution’ for purposes of receiving healthcare benefits under HB 2611. 

Resources:

If you work at a University and Community College your choice in “home institution” will determine which medical, prescription, dental and vision benefits are available to you and at what cost.

Oregon University plan benefits (PEBB)

Community College plan benefits (OEBB)