benefits

Copies of member handbooks for the following state employee health plans are available online at http://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/healthcoverage/planhandbooks: COVA Care (Anthem) COVA HealthAware (Aetna) COVA High Deductible Health Plan (Anthem) To request a printed copy, contact VCU Benefits at 827-1723 or benefits@vcu.edu.

For COVA Care and COVA HDHP participants: Important information about the cyberattack against Anthem is posted at www.hr.vcu.edu/benefits.html. Beware of phishing scams from parties attempting to take advantage of the security breach. Anthem will not contact affected members by email or telephone, only by U.S. postal mail.  Do not click on any links in emails […]

COVA Care and COVA HDHP participants seeking information about the cyberattack against Anthem can visit www.anthemfacts.com for information about the investigation. Anthem’s phone number for participant questions is 1-877-263-7995. See also the letter to employees from the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management (which operates the state employee health plan) posted at http://www.hr.vcu.edu/media/hr/documents/DHRM_Update_on_Anthem_Data_Breach.pdf For updates keep an eye […]

The IRS has increased the retirement savings limits for calendar year 2015. For the VCU 403(b) Tax Deferred Annuity retirement savings plan (“TDA”) with TIAA-CREF and/or Fidelity Investments, participating employees may save up to $18,000.00 in calendar year 2015 (increased from $17,500 in 2014).  Participants eligible for the age 50+ catch-up may save up to […]

Faculty members and classified staff in the Virginia Retirement System Hybrid Retirement Plan may make changes to their voluntary defined contribution amount once per calendar quarter.  Higher voluntary contributions result in increased matching by VCU!  Participants can make changes online at www.varetirement.org/hybrid.html or by telephone at 1-855-291-2285. For online access instructions, see “Quick and Easy Access to Your […]

The Commonwealth of Virginia’s benefits programs for state employees were written with the stipulation that in order for spouses to be eligible the marriages must be recognized as legal in the Commonwealth.  The Commonwealth of Virginia began recognizing same-sex marriages on October 6, 2014.  From that date forward, the eligibility for spouse benefits in the […]

VCU Benefits has lined up a series of financial education sessions for faculty and staff this semester.  Take advantage of these free learning opportunities by registering now!   September 19th, 12:00 – 2:00 P.M.: Woman to Woman Financial Empowerment Series:  “Start to Finish: The Early Career Woman’s Guide to Financial Wisdom” Register at:  http://www1.tiaa-cref.org/public/land/women_rsvp/index.html   […]

Faculty members at VCU and all other Commonwealth of Virginia public institutions of higher education are required to participate in an employer-sponsored retirement program as a condition of employment.  New state faculty members at VCU have 60 days from their hire dates to elect participation in either the Virginia Retirement System (which we will refer to for the rest of […]

The Virginia Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM), which administers the state health benefits program, announced yesterday that, beginning June 25, 2014, part-time salaried faculty and classified staff who work 30 hours or more per week will be considered full-time for the purpose of health benefits and, thereby, eligible for the employer contribution to health […]

The VCU Cash Match Plan provides eligible faculty and staff with matching cash contributions from VCU when they save for retirement in: the VCU 403(b) Tax Deferred Annuity Plan (“TDA/403b”), and/or the Commonwealth of Virginia Deferred Compensation Plan (“DCP/457”) When an eligible participant saves a minimum of $10 per pay period from his or her own paycheck, VCU […]