Postdoc Health Benefits

How to Enroll in the Postdoctoral Scholars Benefits Plan (PSBP)

1. All UC Postdocs, their spouse/partner and dependents are eligible to enroll in the PSBP, which includes medical, dental and vision coverage, short- term disability coverage, and life and AD&D insurance.
2. You must enroll within 31 days of your appointment date to avoid a delay in coverage. Click here for instructions on how to enroll.
3. If you have any questions about enrolling in benefits, contact the union at uaw5810@uaw5810.org or contact Gallagher Benefits Services (the benefits plan administrator) at UniversityServices.GBS.psbp@ajg.com

Making Plan Choices: Medical, Dental, Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance

Selecting a Medical Plan
You can choose between the Health Net HMO plan and the Health Net PPO plan. Click here for a summary of the benefits included in each plan and the differences between HMO and PPO plans. More detailed information on the medical plans is available here. If you are living outside of California, you should enroll in the Out-of-State PPO plan, here is general information and here’s a provider search.

Selecting a Dental Plan
You can choose between the Health Net HMO plan and the Principal POS plan. Click here for a summary of the benefits included in each plan and the differences between HMO and POS plans. More detailed information on the dental plans is available here.

Vision, Short- and Long-Term Disability and Life/AD&D Coverage
You can elect to enroll in the Vision Plan at no extra cost. You are automatically enrolled in Short-Term Disability Coverage and Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance and plans, also at no extra cost. For the Long-Term Disability coverage (LTD), you can elect to enroll when first hired as a Postdoc) for $10.93 per month. More detailed information about these plans is available here.

Monthly Premium Rates (effective 1/1/2024)

Using Your Benefits

Within a few weeks of enrolling you will receive your insurance cards in the mail. Even if you haven’t received your cards, your coverage starts on your appointment date. If you need to access care before you receive your insurance cards, contact Gallagher Benefits Services at 1-800-254-1758 or at UniversityServices.GBS.psbp@ajg.com

HMO Plans: If you select the Medical or Dental HMO plan, for treatment you must first see your Primary Care Provider, who acts as a gatekeeper for all of your care. Typical procedures tend to be less expensive than the PPO/POS plans; a summary of benefits and costs is available here for the HMO Medical plan and here for the HMO Dental plan. Except for emergencies, you can only see doctors or dentists that are included in the plan (also known as in-network), and you must obtain a referral from your PCP prior to any type of consultation or treatment with a Specialist.

PPO and POS Plans: PPO and POS offer more flexibility in provider choice than HMO plans but costs can be higher. Under these plans, there is no need to be assigned a Primary Care Provider and you may see both in-network and out-of-network providers without a referral. The in-network benefits are generally less expensive than out-of-network benefits. You can read cost and benefit summaries here for the Medical PPO plan and here for the Dental POS plan.

Selecting a Doctor or Dentist: Click here for provider directories for the Medical, Dental and Vision Plans. For the Medical and Dental HMO plans, you will be assigned a Primary Care Provider (PCP) at enrollment but you can change your PCP as frequently as once per month. To change your PCP, either register for an online account or call Health Net at 1-800-522-0088 (Medical HMO) or 1-800-445-9090 (Dental HMO).

Additional Benefits

• Childcare support
  • • Sittercity: Child Care Referral Service
    • Bright Horizons
• Chiropractic Benefits (HMO plan)
  • • For PPO plan chiropractic benefits, see page 36 here)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
  • • Dependent Care FSA
    • Health Care FSA
• Mental Health Coverage
• Telehealth (Babylon): 24/7 access to doctors via phone or secure video
• Transgender Health Benefits

Problems/Questions Regarding Your Benefits?

If you have any problems with your benefits or questions, contact your union at uaw5810@uaw5810.org or 510-845-5726