This description of the University's benefit programs is only a summary and is not meant to be a controlling legal document or contract of employment between the employee and the University.  If any questions should arise, the legal plan documents, contracts and insurance policies will always govern.  Villanova University reserves the right to terminate, suspend, withdraw, amend or modify any benefit plan at any time, for any reason with or without notice.

The University offers various benefit programs as part of the full-time employees’ total compensation package, including: medical, dental and life insurance, flexible spending accounts, an employee resource program, paid and unpaid time off, Worker’s Compensation Insurance and Travel Accident insurance.

All full-time employees are eligible for coverage under the University’s medical, dental and life insurance programs beginning on the first day of the month following the first day of work. Registration in these plans is NOT automatic. No participation can begin without completion of the required enrollment materials, either during your New Employee Orientation, during the annual Open Enrollment Period (generally in April with choices in effect June 1-May 31) or within 31 days of a Life Status Change. Once enrolled, the Open Enrollment period is the only time you can change from one medical plan to another, or add dependents to your coverage without having to demonstrate a Life Status Change. There is no restriction on making changes during Open Enrollment.

Life Status Change

The Internal Revenue Service defines a Life Status Change as a change in coverage due to the following:

• Marriage or divorce
  
• Birth or adoption of a child
  
• Death of a spouse or child
  
• Change in employment status of you or your spouse
  
• Change in full-time student status of your unmarried dependent child
  
• Judgment, decree or order
  
• Medicare entitlement
  

Any benefit change must be consistent with a life status change. You must notify Human Resources within 31 days of the life status change. After this grace period, you will not be able to make any changes in your coverage until the next Annual Open Enrollment.

However, if at any time in the year outside of the Annual Open Enrollment Period you become covered by a spouse’s benefits plan, you can elect to terminate medical and/or dental coverage for you, your spouse or your eligible children.

Dependent children are covered until the age of 19, unless they are full-time students. Full-time students are covered until the age of 23, or when the full-time student status ends. When a child graduates from college, or when a dependent is no longer eligible for benefits, it is the employee’s responsibility to contact Human Resources for continuation of coverage for dependents under COBRA provisions.