Benefits for University Faculty & Staff

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Benefits Overview

The MUSC University Benefits Team is available to assist you by phone at 843-792-2071, Option 4; via email at benefits@musc.edu or at our in person office location, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. The University HR Office is located at 1 SouthPark Plaza Suite 100, Charleston, SC 29407. Please note, this location is by appointment only.

We encourage you to request a benefits appointment online or email us at benefits@musc.edu for the quickest response. The MUSC University Benefits Department team strives each day to better serve you. Help us do that by answering a few questions about your experience or recognize one of our HR professionals for their great work. If you have a few minutes, please complete our online customer service rounding form.

If you work for the MUSC Hospital Authority (MUHA), please call 843-792-0819 or visit MUHA HR's webpage. If you work for MUSC Physicians, please call 843-876-5800 or visit MUSCP HR's webpage.

Benefits Resources

Care.com Premium Membership & Backup Care Benefit

MUSC is partnering with Care.com, the world's largest platform for finding and managing care for children and adults, to provide benefits-eligible employees with a complimentary Care.com Premium Membership.

Visit the FAQ page on the MUSC intranet for more details. (NetID login required)

Changing Benefits

Insurance: An employee may not make changes to their benefits if they change to another benefits eligible position. They may enroll in benefits if their FTE percent increases to at least 50% or higher.
Retirement: An employee may not make changes to their retirement plan due to a position change unless they have opted out and are now employed in a position that requires their participation.

Enrollment Periods occur every year from Oct. 1 through Oct. 31. Employees may make changes to their benefits based on the type of enrollment period. All changes and any applicable premium changes are effective January 1st of the following year. Annual Enrollment changes are allowed every year, while Open Enrollment changes are permitted in October of the odd-numbered years only.

You can review the changes permitted each year on the Enrolling and Changing Benefits page.

To be eligible for insurance benefits, MUSC employees must work at least 50% (20 hours per week).

Retirement eligibility is not based on FTE percent, it is based on position. A classified employee or faculty member is required to participate in the one of the SC Retirement Systems plans. Resident, research grant, temporary and postdoctoral scholars have the opportunity to participate, but it is not mandatory unless they have an active account or are retired from the SC Retirement Systems.

Insurance Questions

If you participate in the pre-tax premium feature, you may enroll/add/drop/decrease during guaranteed increases and apply with medical evidence during Annual Enrollment (every year).

If you do not participate in the pre-tax premium feature, you may enroll/add/drop/decrease during guaranteed increases and apply with medical evidence at any time throughout the year.

The life insurance is a set amount of $15,000. The Hartford may increase this amount in the future. Each child is insured with $15,000 and the cost is $1.24 total per month, not per child.

Is it true that I lose any money that has not been reimbursed from my Dependent Care and Medical Spending Accounts at the end of the year?

Expenses must be incurred by the calendar year end. All remaining funds not used by March 31 of the following year are forfeited.

If you participate in the pre-tax premium feature, then your entire premium is deducted from your check before taxes. The pre-tax portion is noted with an asterisk* under "Taxes and Deductions" on your paystub. Any coverage amount over $50,000 is multiplied by an IRS imputed rate. This amount is added back to your earnings listed as OTL Imputed NC under "Earnings" on your paystub.

Additional Resources:

Please review the Reduction in Hours Checklist (PDF) for important information regarding the impact to your benefits when your FTE percentage decreases.
Please visit the COBRA and Leaving Employment webpage for Leaving Employment FAQs.
Please visit the Retirement webpage to review Retirement FAQs, the Supplemental Retirement webpage for FAQs and the Short Term and Long Term Disability webpage for FAQs.

Benefit Contacts

MUSC University Benefits Team

Patrice Gordon - Benefits Manager gordonp@musc.edu
Rachel Gittens - Senior Benefits Administrator (Insurance U-Z, Retirement C-D, S-Z) gittens@musc.edu
Monique Robinson - HR Administrator, FMLA, Leave, Events, and Employment Verification robinsmo@musc.edu
Yolanda Whitehead - Benefits Administrator (Insurance Q-T, Retirement A, B, M-R) whitehey@musc.edu
Jacqueline Beasley - Benefits Specialist (Insurance G-K, Retirement E-L) beasleja@musc.edu
Kendall Polite - Benefits Specialist (Insurance A-F) politeke@musc.edu
Tanisha Gilmore - Benefits Administrator (Insurance L-P) gilmoret@musc.edu
Visit the Main HR Contact page for more information.