Summary of Employee Benefits

As of January 1, 2012

Health Plan

Healthcare coverage is provided through Humana. Three plans are available: a Base Plan, a Buy-up Plan and a High-Deductible Plan. All plans allow the freedom to choose any physician, hospital or medical service provider or to utilize the network of service providers.

Base PPO Plan—National POS 80/50
 Deductible $1,000 individual
$2,000 family 		 $2,000 individual
$4,000 family 
 Coinsurance  80% after deductible  50% after deductible
 Out-of-Pocket $3,000 individual
$6,000 family
 $6,000 individual
$12,000 family
 Preventive Care  100% (deductible waived)  50% after deductible
 Hospital Services  80% after deductible  50% after deductible
and $500 
copay per visit
 Office Visit Primary $20 copay
Specialist $40 copay		  50% after deductible
 Urgent Care Center  100% after $50 copay  50% after deductible
Emergency-Facility
Emergency-Physician
100% after $150 copay
 80%		 100% after $150 copay
50% 
     
Lab, X-Ray and
Major Diagnostics		 80% after deductible  50% after deductible 
 Mental Health and
Substance Abuse
Outpatient		 80% after deductible  50% after deductible and
$500 copayment per visit 
Prescription Drug

 Tier 1—$10
Tier 2—$25
Tier 3—$45		 Tier 1—$10
Tier 2—$25
Tier 3—$45 

National POS-HDHP
Deductible $3,000 individual
$6,000 family		 $6,000 individual
$12,000 family 
Coinsurance 100% after deductible  80% after deductible
Out-of-Pocket $3,000 individual
$6,000 family
 $12,000 individual
$24,000 family 
Preventive Care 100% deductible waived  80% after deductible
Hospital Services 100% after deductible  80% after deductible
Emergency Facility
Emergency Physician		 100% after deductible
100% after deductible		 100% after participating
deductible
Office Visit 100% after deductible
  80% after deductible
Urgent Care Center 100% after deductible  80% after deductible
Lab, X-Ray and
Major Diagnostics		 100% after deductible  80% after deductible
Mental Health and
Substance Abuse
Outpatient		 100% after deductible   80% after deductible
 Prescription drugs  100% after deductible  80% after deductible
Buy-up PPO Plan—National POS 90/70
 Deductible $500 individual
$1,000 family 		 $1,000 individual
$2,000 family 
 Coinsurance  90% after deductible  70% after deductible
 Out-of-Pocket $2,500 individual
$5,000 family
 $5,000 individual
$10,000 family
 Preventive Care  100% (deductible waived)  70% after deductible
 Hospital Services  90% after deductible  70% after deductible
and $500 
copay per visit
 Office Visit Primary $20 copay
Specialist $40 copay		  70% after deductible
Emergency-Facility
Emergency-Physician
100% after $150 copay
100%		 100% after $150 copay
100% 
Lab, X-Ray and
Major Diagnostics		 90% after deductible  70% after deductible 
 Mental Health and
Substance Abuse
Outpatient		 90% after deductible  70% after deductible and
$500 copayment per visit 
Prescription Drug

 Tier 1—$10
Tier 2—$25
Tier 3—$45		 Tier 1—$10
Tier 2—$25
Tier 3—$45 

Vision Care Plan

Vision care coverage is provided through Avesis Vision Care. Employee and eligible dependents can receive an eye examination ($10 co-pay) and standard lenses ($25 co-pay) annually and frames at a discount every two years. Other services and out of network benefits are also available.

Dental Plan

Coverage is provided by Guardian. The plan allows the freedom to choose any dentist or to use a network dentist. In either case the plan benefits are the same. There is a $50 per person deductible (3 deductibles per family) for basic and major services and a $1,750 annual maximum benefit per person for all but orthodontia services, which have a separate $2,000 lifetime maximum benefit.

Orthodontia services cover children up to 19 years old at 50% with no deductible. Preventive services such as cleaning, x-rays, examinations, fluoride treatment for children, and emergencies are covered at 100% with no deductible.

Basic services such as lab tests, root canals, periodontics, fillings (other than gold or porcelain), extractions, and other oral surgery and anesthesia are covered at 80% after the deductible. Major services such as gold or porcelain fillings and crowns and installation of crowns and bridgework are covered at 50% after the deductible.

Life and Disability Plan

Coverage is provided by Guardian. Employer pays full cost. Plan provides:

  1. Life insurance on employee equal to twice annual salary (maximum $500,000).
  2. Accidental death and dismemberment insurance on employee equal to twice annual salary (maximum $500,000).
  3. Long-term disability income insurance on employee equal to 2/3 monthly salary beginning the 4th month of disability (maximum $13,000 monthly, until age 65).
  4. Additional optional life is available.

Supplemental Insurance Plans for Employee and Dependents

Optional with employee paying full premium.

  • Supplemental (AD&D) plan through INA.
  • Supplemental Longterm Care Plan.
  • Plans through Colonial Life:
    • Cancer
    • Accident
    • Critical Illness
    • Term Life
    • Universal Life

Educational Assistance

Educational benefits for employees who desire to obtain a high school diploma or GED, a college degree, or vocational or skills training are provided through our education assistance program. 100% of the cost of tuition, fees, and books (up to $1000 for each full semester or trimester with a maximum of $3000 for a calendar year for full-time employees) for pre-approved courses is reimbursed upon satisfactory completion.

Credit Union

Employees of the Institute, their dependents, and other family members may open accounts at the Southwest Research Center Federal Credit Union. It provides financial services including savings accounts, loans, checking accounts, PULSE automatic teller access nationwide, and MasterCard service at low interest rates and no annual fees.

RRA

As members of the staff at the Institute, employees and their dependents are eligible to participate in all activities of the Research Recreation Association. Activities include intramural sports, hobby clubs, low-cost social functions, and community involvement.

Direct Deposit

Employees will be paid by direct deposit to their financial institution(s).

Time Off With Pay

Holidays

Our traditional holidays each year include:

  • New Year's Day
  • Friday of Fiesta week
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Eve or day after Christmas 
  • Christmas Day 

Vacation

Prorated during first calendar year of employment and thereafter earned based on the following schedule:

  • 2 weeks per year during first 3 years
  • 3 weeks per year during 4-15 years
  • 4 weeks per year during 16 plus years

1/24 of annual vacation accrual will be earned each pay period.

Sick/Emergency Leave

Used to provide compensation when employee has non-job-related illness or injury or when a bona fide emergency occurs necessitating employee's absence from work:

  • 1 day earned each month
  • No maximum accumulation

1/24 of annual accrual will be earned each pay period.

Section 125 Plan

Employees can elect to pay their medical and dental premiums on a pretax, tax exempt basis. Employees may also elect to set aside additional money on a tax exempt basis to pay out of pocket medical, dental and vision expenses, and dependent care expenses. Maximum contribution for healthcare is $104.16 per paycheck ($2,500 annually). Dependent care cannot exceed $5,000 annually ($2,500 if married, filing separately).

Retirement Plans

Texas Biomedical Research Institute AMENDED RETIREMENT PLAN AND TRUST

Texas Biomed provides a defined contribution through a 403(b) plan. The plan is available to all eligible employees immediately upon employment.

The Institute contributes an amount equal to 7% of the employee’s gross pay each payday. The Institute’s contribution increases to 8% after 5 yearsof service, and 9% after 10 years.

Institute contributions are used to purchase annuities from the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association and/or College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREFF).

Institute contributions and earnings will be 100% vested after 3 years of eligible service.

ANNUITY CONTRACT PURCHASE PLAN (Supplemental Retirement Annuity)

An optional plan through which voluntary contributions are used to purchase fully vested tax-deferred annuities. This plan is available to all eligible employees immediately upon employment. Plan contributions can be a fixed dollar amount or a percentage and are limited only by the amount of salary that can be tax-deferred under IRS regulations. The maximum contribution amount in 2013 is $17,500 plus $5,500 for catch-up contributions for employees who will be 50 during the plan year.

The Institute makes no contributions to the Annuity Contract Purchase Plan.