Health Insurance Benefits for Graduate Assistants

Overview

For academic year 2008-09, Virginia Tech is pleased to offer graduate assistants an insurance benefit program. Assistantship packages include a $1799.00 medical insurance benefit, covering eighty two and a half (82.5%) percent of the GM Southwest insurance premium (for a single student at the $50,000 coverage level). Students may purchase the $50,000 coverage plan or higher coverage levels as they wish; however, the benefit is fixed at $1799.00. Click here for 2008-09 insurance rates for all available coverage plans.

Students must meet the following criteria to receive this benefit:

• Must maintain at least a half-time graduate assistantship (10 hours per week);
• Enroll in university-sponsored health insurance plan ;
• Sign up for the payroll deduction option for payment of premiums.

The insurance subsidy will no longer be offered to students with alternate medical coverage.

To Claim the Benefit

To claim this benefit, eligible graduate assistants must sign up for the university-sponsored medical insurance plan through GM Southwest and choose the payroll deduction option. The insurance benefit will be automatically provided in a prorated amount of approximately $87.22 each pay period.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Insurance Benefit

Am I required to purchase the Virginia Tech insurance plan to receive the benefit?
Yes. The health insurance benefit is only available to studetns who have purchased the university sponsored health insurance plan.

Can students with alternate insurance plans still receive an insurance subsidy?
No. The insurance subsidy is not available for non-VT-sponsored insurance plans.

I am on a fellowship or am employed as a wage employee. Am I eligible for the benefit?
No. The insurance benefit is a component of the graduate assistantship. Only graduate students employed as graduate assistants (GA), graduate teaching assistants (GTA), or graduate research assistants (GRA) and who meet the above criteria are eligible.

If my appointment is entered late by the department with a retroactive start date (for example, it's entered on September 15, but with an August 10 start date), will the benefit begin on August 10 or September 15?
If your appointment is effective August 10, the insurance office will do a multiple premium deduction and make the policy effective August 1. You will also receive the benefit beginning August 10. You still need to get your application to the Medical Insurance Office by the September 15 deadline.

Can I still receive the benefit if my assistantship does not begin in August?
The benefit is distributed in equal amounts each pay period. If your assistantship begins later in the year, if you meet the above criteria, you will begin receiving the benefit as soon as your assistantship appointment is entered in the system.

If my assistantship is is not for the entire 9 months of the academic year, does it mean that I will not receive the full benefit?
Students who maintain assistantships for the entire academic year (August 16 through May 15) will receive the full benefit amount. If you are employed for a fraction of that time, you will receive the associated percentage of the benefit. For example, if you are on assistantship from January 1 to May 15, you are employed for one-half of the academic year. You will be eligible for one-half of the benefit and will receive approximately $899.00, through prorated payments throughout the term of your assistantship.