President’s Community Message
August 19, 2008
Student Health Insurance

Dear Friends,
 
I am writing to provide another update on our efforts to secure health insurance for doctoral students employed at CUNY.  As you will recall from my last communication on this subject, at its Executive Committee meeting on July 21, the Board of Trustees approved our participation in the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP). The Chancellery advanced and the Professional Staff Congress supported that resolution. Their accord was commemorated in a formal agreement.  I expressed my gratitude to those three entities in my prior message. I do so again now. It is not surprising, but heartening nonetheless, that in a very difficult fiscal environment the university has maintained its commitment to this initiative.
 
With the passage of the Board resolution, I had hoped that we would be able to offer insurance at some point during the fall semester. That has not proved possible. We’ve enjoyed the full support of both the Chancellery and the PSC in our efforts, but the state agency that administers the plan has held fast to its position that they require the fall semester to program our inclusion in NYSHIP.  We will, therefore, enroll students in the fall for coverage that will become effective at the beginning of the Spring 2009 semester.
 
As I’ve previously reported, the plan will be available to registered doctoral students who earn at least $4,122 a year working as graduate assistants (Grads A, B, or C) or as adjuncts (either teaching- or non-teaching) at CUNY.  Because the plan will become effective midway through the academic year, students must, in the Spring 2009 semester, earn half the annual minimum ($2,061) to be eligible. Students on the Research Foundation payroll are not eligible for this insurance, although they may be eligible for other coverage through the RF.
 
The current bi-weekly premium for this insurance is $5.44 for individual students and $46.25 for those enrolled in the family plan (with coverage available for a spouse, domestic partner, and/or children). Premiums are expected to rise modestly in the next calendar year; NYSHIP will announce the new rates in the late fall.  The plan will be subsidized by The Graduate Center and by the Chancellery, with the bi-weekly student rate representing ten percent of the total cost of an individual policy and 25% percent of the total cost of family coverage.
 
During the fall we will distribute detailed information on eligibility and plan features. An open enrollment period will be announced, and eligible students will be invited to subscribe. Students may also enroll during the spring semester itself, but it will take roughly 30 days for coverage to take effect.
 
We will make the enrollment process as simple and straightforward as possible. Students who are on the Graduate Center payroll will not need to present proof of employment. Those who are on campus payrolls (primarily adjuncts) must present their appointment letters.  Enrollment will take place at the Graduate Center and will be managed by the Office of Human Resources.  A health benefits coordinator will be available to answer any questions you might have about plan coverage or eligibility.
 
I am disappointed that we are not able to provide coverage this fall, but I am very pleased that in the spring we will be able to offer, for the first time, an affordable health insurance plan to doctoral students employed at the university.
 
With best wishes,
 
Bill Kelly