UIW Benefits Information

Employee Benefit Overview Booklet 2025-2026 (pdf)

Safe Harbor List (Insurance Accepting Providers)

The Bronze and Silver RBP plans does not use a network. You can see any provider of your choosing. However, to assist employees, UIW has developed a list of providers that have agreed to accept our RBP plans as payment in full, called the “Safe Harbor List.”

Safe Harbor List

If you do not see your doctor on the "Safe Harbor List" you can contact Patient Advocates who will reach out to your medical provider to gain acceptance (prior to services) of the plan’s reimbursement as payment in full.

Personify Health - Third Party Administrator (TPA)

Personify Website

Contact Information

Medical Claims

Zelis

PO Box 247
Alpharetta, GA 30009-0247

Customer Service Number: (877) 301-2988

Email: customerserve@personifyhealth.com

• What is Reference-Based Pricing (pdf)
• Reference-Based Pricing FAQs (pdf)
• Personify Mobile App (pdf)
• How to read your EOB (pdf)
• Activate your Personify account online (pdf)
• Personify Advocacy care guide (pdf)
• Claim Form (pdf)

Summary of Benefits and Coverage

• UIW Bronze Plan
• UIW Silver Plan

Medical Plan Document

UIW Medical Plan Document (pdf)

RxBenefits

RXBenefits Website

How to Access your Pharmacy Benefits Online (pdf)

My RXBenefits (pdf)

Prior Authorization Process (pdf)

 Contact Information

Customer Service Number: (800) 334 8134

Maximum Cost Limit

Medication over $1,250 is not covered. For more information, please contact Human Resources at hrbenefits@uiwtx.edu or (210) 829-6019

 Mail Order

To enroll online, please visit Express Scripts Pharmacy.

Mail order how it works

Mobile App

Specialty Pharmacy

Specialty medicine is used to treat complex and long-term conditions such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, etc., and usually has to be stored or handled in special ways.  If you're taking a specialty medication you can find services through our specialty pharmacy Accredo. 

Christus Virtual Care On Demand

Christus Virtual Care

CHRISTUS On Demand Care is available FREE of cost. Access trusted virtual care wherever you need it between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. every day, right at your fingertips. Find care for common health issues like allergies, cough, urinary tract infections, fever, sinus infections and more.

Services are available to patients aged five and up located in Texas or Louisiana.

Customer Service: (855) 528-2222

Customer Service Email: customercare@assertahealth.com

Asserta Health is a free concierge service to all employees who are enrolled in UIW's medical plans. Asserta Health will help you navigate complex procedures, such as General Surgery, Spinal Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery and Women's procedures. Many of these can be planned in advance and Asserta will be there every step of the way. Your costs will be waived and you can receive an incentive of up to $500 for working with Asserta Health.

All members of the UIW medical plans are eligible to use this FREE service with no obligation.

• Asserta FAQ (pdf)
• Asserta Case Study (pdf)
• Law regarding patients right to not use their insurance (see page 39 and 40) (pdf)

Personify Website

• Plan Document (pdf)
• Benefit Summary (pdf)

The Dental Plan is an Open Network, it accepts any provider. This dental plan reimburses at a percentile for all Usual, Customary, and Reasonable or UCR.

Contact Information

Personify Dental Customer Service: (877) 301-2988 option 2

Dental Claims Mailing Address:
Personify Health
P.O. Box 660091
Dallas, TX 75266-0091

MetLife Vision Information

MetLife Vision Website

Group number 5927675

Customer service: (855) 638-3931

Metlife Claims Processing
P.O. Box 997565
Sacramento, CA 95899

• Vision Plan Detail (pdf)

UIW Eye Institute

Customer Service: (210) 283-6800

The Eye and Vision Care Clinic is part of the Rosenberg School of Optometry, University of the Incarnate Word and offers discounts on eye exams, glasses, and contacts to the employees of the University.

• Eye and Vision Care Clinic (pdf)

Proficient Benefit Solutions (SBS #SASUICW)
Customer Service: (888) 659-8151
Email: ask@proficientbenefits.com

Proficient Website

An FSA provides an important tax advantage that can help you pay health care and dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis. By anticipating your family's health care and dependent care costs for the next year, you can lower your taxable income.

• Save with Flexible Spending Informational Flyer (pdf)
• Information on how to manage your FSA account (pdf)
• FSA Eligible Expenses (pdf)
• Proficient Benefits FSA (pdf)

Medical Spending Account

This program allows eligible UIW employees to pay for certain IRS-approved medical care expenses not covered by their insurance plan with pre-tax dollars. Some examples include:

• Hearing services, including exams, hearing aids, and batteries
• Vision services, including contact lenses, contact lens solutions, eye examinations, and eyeglasses
• Dental services and orthodontia
• Chiropractic services
• Acupuncture
• Prescription contraceptives

How It Works

You can have pre-tax dollars deducted from your gross wages. Under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code, you save Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) and federal income tax while having tax-free money to pay for services not covered by insurance or out-of-pocket expenses. Consider that this money is “use it or lose it” at the end of the plan year.

When you purchase items not covered by insurance, but eligible under the Flexible Spending Account, you can use your employee flex card to pay for item(s) at the point of service. You can also file for reimbursement of your expenses directly from Proficient Benefit Solutions.

When you participate in a Dependent Care Spending Account you can contribute pre-tax dollars through payroll deduction to pay yourself back for dependent care expenses, such as:

• Daycare
• Nursery
• Before-and-After School Care
• Adult Daycare (person must qualify as a dependent under IRS guidelines)

Eligible Expenses and Conditions

The need for dependent care expenses must be work-related.

You and your spouse must be gainfully employed or a full-time student. A child must be under the age of 13, or a dependent over the age of 13 who is unable to care for himself/herself.

How It Works

To determine how much to fund your Dependent Care Account, check with your daycare center or home care provider to determine if your cost will change during the plan year. Then determine how many weeks you will require day care. Be sure to subtract the time you will spend on vacation, holidays, and other days you will not need daycare. Multiply your weekly cost by the number of weeks you need daycare. Add the total for eligible dependents to get your estimated dependent care expenses. Consider a lower pledge amount to reduce your risk of forfeiture as this money cannot be used for other expenses. 

Spot Pet Insurance

All employees are eligible to enroll in this great benefit and receive up to a 20% discount. Spot gives a 10% discount on the first pet plus another 10% off any additional pet.

Employees can fully customize their plans to fit their budgets. Below is a link to a webinar to help everyone get started. This webinar will give you information about how the insurance works, what it covers, educational material, and how to sign up.

UIW and Spot webinar

Signing up

There are 2 ways to sign up:

1. Visit UIW's Spot Insurance Offer web page
2. Call 1-800-905-1595 and mention you are with: UIW (this is the customer service and general sales line).

Remember, the employee discount is automatically applied at checkout!

Complimentary Benefits

We also have an array of benefits available to you free of charge!

• Will Preparation Brochure (pdf)
• Travel Assistance Brochure (pdf)
• Hearing Discount Brochure (pdf)

MetLife

Customer Service (800) 438-6388

Website: www.metlife.com

Short Term Disability

If you’re suddenly unable to earn a paycheck due to illness or an accident, short-term disability insurance
can replace a portion of your income during the initial weeks of your disability. The Benefit amount
is 60% of your predisability weekly earnings; subject to the plan’s maximum weekly benefit of $2,000.

Accident Plan

An accident can impact your health, but it can also damage your finances and affect how you live.
MetLife Accident Insurance can help with your finances so you can focus on healing. You could suffer
an accidental injury while you are at work, working around the house or driving to get groceries. Your
child may get injured during football or volleyball games, or at basketball practice. Accident insurance
can provide funds to help you pay for unexpected expenses after an accidental injury like a fracture or
concussion.

Hospital Indemnity Plan

If you’re admitted to the hospital for a planned or unexpected visit, MetLife’s Hospital Indemnity Insurance
provides a lump-sum payment to use however you see fit. Hospital Indemnity insurance pays regardless
of what your medical insurance covers, reducing the financial burden of a hospital stay. Even
with medical insurance, a hospital stay can be costly. Plan deductibles, copays, and out-of-network
costs can add up fast, not to mention costs outside of medical needs, like your mortgage, childcare expenses,
transportation and more. Hospital indemnity insurance can help with out-of-pocket costs while
you’re in the hospital and recovering to help reduce the financial impact while you heal.

Critical Illness

Handling the emotions that come up when experiencing illnesses such as a cancer diagnosis, heart attack,
or stroke is difficult enough. Worrying about your financial stability on top of this can obviously be
overwhelming. With Critical Illness Insurance, MetLife can help you and your family have the financial
stability necessary to completely focus on healing during a difficult time. You will receive a lump sum
benefit upon the first verified diagnosis of a covered condition.

MetLife Interactive Video

Online access to your benefits flyer

TIAA Retirement Planning

TIAA

Instructions to access retirement account online (pdf)

Dedicated UIW TIAA website

Customer Service: (800) 842-2252

Retirement Plans

The University of the Incarnate Word offers a retirement plan available to all regular full-time employees. To participate in the Teachers Insurance Annuity Association (TIAA), eligible employees must complete the Salary Reduction Agreement Form or contact the Human Resources Office.

UIW Retirement Employer Sponsored Plan

Employees may begin participating after one year of eligible service. Enrollment in the program requires employees to contribute a minimum of 3% of their gross salary and UIW will contribute an additional 7% of the gross salary. UIW matching contributions are subject to change. Participation in the plan is voluntary for the first 10 years of employment. After 10 years, all eligible employees are required to participate in the Plan.  

UIW Supplemental Retirement Plans

TIAA also offers a tax-deferred or UIW Supplemental Retirement Annuity (SRA) and an after-tax Roth 403(b). Participation in these funds does not include an employer match. Employees working 20 hours or more a week are eligible to participate after date of hire. Regular part-time employees working less than 20 hours a week can participate after one year of eligible service.

Catch Up Contributions (For Age 50 and over)

For employees who are age 50 or over at the end of the calendar year, catch up contributions are permitted in accordance with, and subject to, the limitations of section 414(v) of the IRS code. These contributions will be made to the UIW Supplemental Retirement Annuity on a monthly basis.

Retirement Health Savings

UIW is proud to provide Retirement Health Plan, which is a practical and comprehensive solution to providing retiree health benefits.

Employer Contributions
UIW will make contributions beginning at age 40 with one year of service. The University will cease making contributions on the earliest of the following: the date UIW made 25 years of contributions to your account, the date you cease employment at the University, or death. The amount of contribution is determined by UIW. Employees are fully vested when they have completed 5 continuous years of service and are a Retiree or are no longer an Employee.

Voluntary Employee Contributions
Employees can make voluntary contributions to the Retirement Health Plan.

Voluntary Retiree Health Savings Enrollment Form

Contact the Human Resources Office for more information.

Retiree Health Savings Plan Summary

Retiree Health Savings Account Flyer

Other Retirement Resources:

• Investing for a lifetime guaranteed brochure (pdf) - offers you insights into products that offer guaranteed lifetime income ^* options on your retirement plan.
• Six rules to ensure comfortable retirement (pdf)
• Outcomes that Matter - website on additional information on guaranteed lifetime income
• Social Security Administration website
• Medicare website
• A, B, C, Ds of Medicare: What you need to know for 2024

Mutual of Omaha

Mutual of Omaha Website

Contact Information

Customer Service: (800) 775-6000

Basic Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) benefits are immediately available to all regular full-time employees. These benefits are paid in full by UIW. The amount of the Life Insurance and AD&D coverage provided to the employee is equal to 1 times the annual salary with a maximum of $250,000. Employees can enroll in supplemental Life and AD&D benefits for an additional cost.

• Voluntary Life Benefit Summary Semi Monthly (pdf)
• Voluntary Life Benefit Summary Monthly (pdf)
• Certificate of Issuance (pdf)
• Basic Life Benefit Summary (pdf)
• How To Submit A Life Claim (pdf)
• Life Claim Form (pdf)
• Life Insurance Enrollment Form
• Life Insurance Beneficiary Change Form (pdf)

Mutual of Omaha Long-Term Disability

Customer Service: 800-877-5176

The University of the Incarnate Word offers Long-Term Disability at no cost to the employee.
Long-Term Disability benefits are available to all regular, full-time employees after 180 days of continuous full-time employment.

Mutual of Omaha Long-Term Disability Summary (pdf)

Long Term Disability Claim Form

Certificate of Coverage

Mutual of Omaha Employee Assistance Program

Problems are just a part of everyday life. In addition to the benefits provided under your MetLife Disability coverage, you and your household members have access to the LifeWorks Employee Assistance Program to help with the everyday challenges of life that may affect your health, family life, and desire to excel at work.

Here are some highlights of the program

• Counseling: Full-time employees and the members of your household are entitled to up to 5 counseling sessions per incident, per individual, per calendar year. Your sessions may be conducted via telephone, in-person, or video consultation.
• Family: Going through a divorce, caring for an elderly family member, returning to work after having a baby
• Work: Job relocation, building relationships with co-workers and managers, navigating through reorganization
• Money: Budgeting, financial guidance, retirement planning, buying or selling a home, tax issues
• Legal Services: Issues relating to civil, personal and family law, financial matters, real estate and estate planning
• Identity Theft Recovery: ID theft prevention tips and help from a financial counselor if you are victimized
• Health: Coping with anxiety or depression, getting the proper amount of sleep, how to kick a bad habit like smoking
• Everyday Life: Moving and adjusting to a new community, grieving over the loss of a loved one, military family matters, training a new pet

Call 800-316-2796 anytime, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit mutualofomaha.com/eap and click the request services for a counselor or click the employee resources tab to access the wonderful resources such as Managing Finances, Emotional well being, and Legal Assistance

• Mutual of Omaha EAP Flyer

Part Time Employee Benefits (pdf)

In 2014, the Affordable Care Act created a new type of online marketplace for purchasing health insurance coverage. This marketplace is referred to as a Health Insurance Marketplace or an Exchange. You are not required to purchase insurance coverage through the Marketplace. The University of the Incarnate Word does offer affordable health coverage.

If you purchase coverage through a Marketplace, you may be eligible for a federal subsidy that lowers your monthly premiums or reduces your cost sharing. However, to receive these federal savings, you cannot be eligible for health plan coverage through the University of the Incarnate Word that is affordable and provides "minimum value." This determination is made beginning January 1, 2014.

The availability of coverage through the Marketplace does not affect your eligibility for coverage through the University of the Incarnate Word's health plan. The notice provides information about the University of the Incarnate Word's health plan as it exists today and the eligibility requirements for coverage.

More information on the healthcare reform law and the marketplaces is available at Healthcare.gov.

• Health Insurance Marketplace Coverage Options English (pdf)
• Health Insurance Marketplace Coverage Options Spanish (pdf)

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) requires most group health plans to provide continuation of group health coverage that otherwise might be terminated at the end of employment or due to a qualifying life event. COBRA requires continuation coverage to be offered to covered employees, their spouses, their former spouses, and their dependent children when group health coverage would otherwise be lost.

The University of the Incarnate Word uses HealthComp to manage the COBRA administration process.

HealthComp

Email: customerserve@healthcomp.com

Customer Service: 985-284-3221 or 985-242-7055

Health Insurance Newsletters

List of Employees serving on the Insurance Benefits Committee

Insurance Benefits Committee Minutes

UIW Employee Wellness Website

The mission of Employee Wellness is to promote the health of spirit, mind, and body across the UIW community, and nurture new models of and leaders in health and wellness.

The UIW Employee Wellness Committee was formed to serve the needs of all UIW staff, faculty, and administrators. The employee wellness committee hosts events such as lunch and learns, cooking classes, seminars, classes, and fairs, and brings resources available to all UIW employees. All events are open to all UIW employees, including employees from all UIW campuses and Brainpower Schools.

Open to all current UIW Employees

We are excited to announce the launch of the UIW Health and Wellness Hub, your new WebMD employee wellness app!

The Health and Wellness Hub is a partnership between UIW and WebMD. It offers free, confidential, easy-to use programs helping you achieve your wellness goals.

Go to Cardinal Apps and login to the UIW Health and Wellness Hub to create a profile.

Visit our dedicated Wellness page to find out more!

UIW Health Services

The Primary Care Clinic provides health services that focus on primary prevention care, health education and counseling, care for illnesses and injuries, the maintenance of health records and assistance with the university insurance plan.

All members of the UIW community are encouraged to take responsibility for their body, mind, and spirit. The community is challenged to examine their own personal wellness plan. Support is given for changes resulting in continued improvement and growth. The smoking cessation program is available to the UIW community.

Privacy Notice: We value the privacy of all members of the community. We will not disclose a patient's care outside of this office without their permission.

Cost: Co-payment or appropriate fee is due at time of visit and is based on the insurance carried by the patient.