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Benefits for Employees Funded Through UBF
The benefits available through UB Foundation (UBF) are designed to meet the needs of today's workforce. You have a choice of benefits that will enable you to design a benefits package specifically for you and your family.
How Do Flexible Benefits Work?
When you are initially hired and/or become eligible, you will enroll for most benefits through the Benefit System, which allows you to choose the benefits you and your family need.
The Benefit System provides a summary of your current benefit elections and general information on all UBF benefits, including plan descriptions. You can also use the library section of the Benefit System to find:
- Summary Plan Descriptions (SPD)
- Provider website links
- Benefit forms
Benefit Elections
Benefit elections for medical, dental, vision, and flexible spending accounts are effective until December 31 of the calendar year that you enrolled, provided you continue to meet eligibility requirements. Because these are section 125 benefits, you cannot change these options (medical, dental, vision, health FSA) any time during the calendar year unless there is an IRS qualified “life event”.
While you are generally only allowed to change your benefits elections during the open enrollment period each year, certain life events provide an exception. Those life events allow you to change your benefits elections in the middle of the plan year if certain requirements are met.
The following are examples of types of life events that may allow you to change your benefit elections during a plan year:
- Birth/Adoption
- Change in Insurance Coverage
- Change of Address (which affects plan eligibility)
- Change in Employment Status
- Death in the Family
- Dependent Child Reaches Limiting Age
- Divorce/Annulment
- Domestic Partnership
- FMLA-related Leave
- Legal Separation
- Loss / Gain of Other Coverage
- Marriage
- Medicare / Medicaid Eligibility
- Significant Coverage Reduction or Cost Increase
Please notify the UBF Benefits Department immediately if you experience any life event changes so that we can ensure there is no interruption or error in your benefits. You will have 30 days from the date of the life event to make the change.
Open Enrollment
UBF annual open enrollment is offered in late fall of each year and gives you the opportunity to review and select the same or different benefits using the Benefit System. You will be notified in advance of the Open Enrollment period.
Frequently Asked Questions About Benefits
UBF conducts a benefits orientation the second Tuesday of every month starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Center for Tomorrow, North Campus. This orientation would be most beneficial for newly eligible participants, however, all participants are welcome to attend.
Preregistration is appreciated, but not required, by calling 716-645-8731 or sending email to Joyce Weeman.
![Lisa Adamshick.]()
Lisa Adamshick
Benefits and Human Resources Manager
UB Foundation
Phone: 716-645-8726
Email: ladamshi@buffalo.edu
Benefit Types
Short Term Disability Insurance
Short term disability is required by New York State (NYS) and is provided to all individuals at no cost, effective on their hire date. NYS disability coverage provides 50% of your salary to a maximum of $170/week.
Supplemental Short Term Disability Insurance
All individuals also have the opportunity to purchase additional disability income coverage for an off-the-job accident or sickness, as a supplement to New York State disability.
Long Term Disability Insurance
All individuals who become eligible for the employer contribution into the Retirement Plan also receive Long Term Disability (LTD) Insurance at no cost. This insurance becomes effective when the participant becomes totally disabled for a continuous period of 180 days, and will pay 60% of the individual's base monthly earnings to a maximum of $10,000 per month. The waiting period is waived if upon hire the individual has a previous TIAA-CREF account with employer contributions.
Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
Basic group term life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance of $15,000 is provided at no cost to all individuals who hold a full-time appointment (37.5 hours per week or more). Coverage is effective on the first day of the month following date of hire or eligibility date.
Supplemental Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
The option to purchase supplemental life insurance coverage is available to eligible individuals. Up to five (5) times salary in increments of $10,000 may be purchased (not to exceed $500,000). If not purchased with initial eligibility you will be required to complete and provide an “Evidence of Insurability” form for underwriting review.
Spousal Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
Optional spousal life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage is also available to eligible individuals. Up to 100% of employee amount in increments of $5,000 may be purchased (not to exceed $500,000).
In order to participate, the individual must elect supplemental life or AD&D coverage. If not purchased with initial eligibility you will be required to complete and provide an “Evidence of Insurability” form for underwriting review.
Child Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
Optional child life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage is also available to eligible individuals. Coverage amounts must be in $2,000 increments between $2,000 to $10,000. In order to participate, the individual must elect supplemental life or AD&D coverage.
How to Enroll
Contact an Expert
Lisa Adamshick
Benefits and Human Resources Manager
UB Foundation
Phone: 716-645-8726
Email: ladamshi@buffalo.edu