Building partnerships through collaboration.
RF Graduate Student Employee Benefits
The Research Foundation for SUNY (RF) offers an array of benefits to eligible employees. These benefits can add an exceptional value to your employment.
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Not an RF Employee?
Return to My Benefits and the Employee Profile.
How to Enroll in Your Benefits
When your department has submitted your appointment information to Human Resources you will receive notification from Human Resources about your benefits eligibility and upcoming benefit orientation sessions.
Enrollment is voluntary — you will not be automatically enrolled in the GSEHP. You will need to attend a benefits orientation session to enroll. Once you have attended a benefits orientation you will be able to enroll online at the RF SUNY website.
Newly eligible employees must enroll within 45 days of their appointment begin date. If you do not attend a session and do not enroll within 45 days of your appointment begin date, you may be subject to a late enrollment period, which would delay your benefits.
To enroll a fellow into the health insurance plan, we require a completed enrollment form along with a letter from the Principle Investigator on department stationary giving us authorization to charge the cost of the health insurance to the specific grant.
In the letter we require the fellow’s name, person number, social security number period of time for the fellow to be covered. Please include the project, task and award to be charged, and if the project will be paying for individual, individual plus one, or family coverage.
Health Insurance is charged to the grant for the full cost, it is not charged to the fellowships paycheck.
Welcome back to the RF. If you are a graduate Research Assistant returning after a break in service longer than 28 days you will need to re-enroll in benefits within 45 days of your return date. You may enroll in your benefits at the RF SUNY website.
If you are a returning Fellow please contact the benefits office.
RF SUNY Self Service
The RF Employee Self Service portal is where you can manage most of your employment tasks online. Start by setting up your account:
- Go to account set up
- Using the RF ID Number you were given when you were employed, create a password
The Research Foundation Employee Self Service portal offers many features:
- Ability to quickly and accurately do tasks online, such as:
- Enroll for benefits
- Enter dependents and beneficiaries
- Update your contact information
- Easy access to your direct deposit payslips, paycheck stubs, tax forms and current benefits enrollment
Your Benefits
Medical
The RF’s Graduate Student Employee Health Plan (GSEHP) provides hospital, medical, and prescription drug benefits to eligible fellows and graduate student employees. When you enroll in the GSEHP, you are automatically enrolled in the Dental Care and Vision Care plans.
The GSEHP is a preferred provider organization, or PPO, plan. In a PPO plan, hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare providers agree to join the plan’s provider network. These in-network providers, which include SUNY Student Health Centers, agree to charge reduced fees to plan participants, and the plan pays a higher percentage of the cost of care received from these providers. The plan allows you to visit any providers you choose, but visiting in-network providers can save you money and the time associated with filing claims for reimbursement. For most types of care received in-network, you pay only a copayment when you receive services (within plan limits).
When Your Coverage Begins and Ends
Coverage will begin on the first day of your appointment if you enroll during Open Enrollment. If you are appointed after the Open Enrollment period, coverage will begin on the first day of appointment as long as you enroll within 45 days of your appointment. Coverage is termed after the 28 day health extension under the POMCO plan.
Coverage Change from TA/GA to Research
If you are transferring to the Research Foundation payroll from the State payroll, making us aware of this change will help us prevent a lapse in your coverage.
Open Enrollment
Each year Research Foundation has an open enrollment period. During this time you may enroll if you have not previously done so, cancel your coverage or change your individual coverage to family coverage without a qualifying event.
| 2024 Biweekly Cost for the RF GSEHP | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage Level | Cost for Graduate Student Employees | Cost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Fellows |
| Individual | $18.57 | $185.68 |
| Individual + 1 Dependent | $72.87 | $402.89 |
| Individual + 2 or more Dependents | $104.92 | $531.07 |
Eligibility Requirements
The Research Foundation Graduate Student Health Plan (GSEHP) will be available to graduate students who meet the following eligibility criteria:
- They are enrolled as a full-time graduate student
- They are paid on a biweekly basis with a projected annual salary of at least $4,293 ($165.12 biweekly)
- Appointed to a position with the Research Foundation where it is anticipated that funds will be available for an appointment period of at least one semester
J-1 Visa holders are eligible to enroll in the GSEHP, but must also purchase medical evacuation and repatriation insurance through SUNY Health Plan for International Students.
Summer Continuation of Health Insurance
Graduate student employees whose appointment will terminate between May 1 and May 31, 2024, and who are being reappointed to the RF payroll in the fall 2024 semester are eligible to continue their health insurance coverage through the summer by having advance health deductions taken from their paychecks prior to academic year termination.
Eligible and interested graduate students should:
- Obtain written confirmation from their Principal Investigator stating that they will be appointed in the fall semester.
- Submit the PI’s confirmation and written request for summer continuation of insurance by Friday, April 19, 2024, to:
RF Benefits Services
Townsend Hall
205 Hayes Road
South Campus
A detailed letter will be sent to all active graduate student employees in March of 2024.
Contact An Expert
Zachary Jenney
Manager
Research Foundation Benefit Services
Phone: 716-645-4439
Email: zjenney@buffalo.edu