Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

Medical Insurance Options for Regular RF Employees

The Research Foundation offers three health insurance plans that provide hospital, medical, and prescription drug benefits for regular employees and their eligible dependents. The plan allows you to choose between two Empire Blue Cross Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plans and an HMO plan through Independent Health. Regardless of your health insurance plan, your unmarried dependent children are covered until age 26, and all preexisting conditions are covered. The Research Foundation pays 85% of your employee premium and 70% of your dependents' premium.

Contacts

Traditional and Deductible PPO
800-342-9816
www.empireblue.com

Independent Health
716-631-8072
www.independenthealth.com

Empire Postdoctoral PPO
800-342-9816
www.empireblue.com

Learn More About the Health Insurance Plans

Insurance Costs 2023
Plan	2023 Biweekly Cost
Plan	Employee Only	Employee & Child(ren)	Employee & Spouse	Employee & Family
Empire Traditional PPO	$87.29	$222.90	$273.88	$435.42
Empire Deductible PPO	$37.08	$132.52	$173.45	$284.95
Independent Health	$58.37	$151.75	$221.79	$268.48
	Employee Only	Employee + 1 dependent	Employee + 2 or more dependents
Empire Postdoctoral PPO	$22.29	$76.71	$104.54

Eligible Dependents

The dependents listed below are eligible to be included in your RF Health Care coverage if you choose employee and spouse, employee and child(ren), or family coverage.

Your spouse, including a legally-married, same-sex spouse
Your children up to 26 years of age as follows:
- Biological children
- Stepchildren
- Children for whom you are the legal guardian and
- Children legally adopted by or placed for adoption with you or your spouse
Your unmarried children of any age incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical disability who become disabled before reaching the limiting age (Plan requires periodic medical documentation)
Your domestic partner who is:
- Age 18 or older
- Unmarried and not related to you by marriage or blood in any way that would bar marriage
- Residing with you
- Financially interdependent with you
- Involved in the domestic partnership for a period of not less than one year (Documentation of the above must be approved by the RF)
A child of your domestic partner who:
- Meets the plans’ eligibility requirements
- Resides in your household
- Whose gross income for the calendar year is less than the personal exemption amount ($3,900 in 2013)
- Receives 51 percent or more of their support from you and who is not a qualifying child dependent of any other taxpayer

Dental

The Research Foundation provides a dental plan through Delta Dental for you and your eligible dependents. It covers preventive services (exams, cleanings, X-rays), basic services (fillings, oral surgery, gum treatment), major services (crowns, dentures, bridges), and orthodontics for children (under age 19).

Contact

Delta Dental
800-932-0783
www.deltadental.com

Dental Coverage Costs
Plan	Biweekly Cost
Plan	Individual	Individual & Spouse	Individual & Children	Family
Delta Dental	$1.59	$7.03	$7.03	$7.03

Learn About Your Delta Dental Plan

Vision

Starting Jan. 1, 2018, the Research Foundation will provide two vision plan options through Davis Vision for you and your eligible dependents that covers the total cost of an eye examination, lenses, and frames from the provided selection once on a 12-month or 24-month period, depending on the plan you choose. Contact lenses are also available with a copayment. You can enroll in the Regular Vision Plan or the Vision Plan Plus.

Coverage

Coverage begins six months from the date you are hired or from your eligibility date.

Eligibility

If you work at least 50% or greater, then you are eligible to enroll in a vision plan.

Covered dependents include a spouse, domestic partner, or child up to the age of 26.

Biweekly Rates

Regular Vision Plan

The RF pays the full cost of individual and/or family vision coverage for the Regular Vision Plan.

Vision Plan Plus

For the Vision Plan Plus, the employee shares the cost of the plan with RF by paying a biweekly premium.

Vision Coverage Costs
Biweekly Cost for Vision Plan Plus
Plan	Rate
Single	$4.85
Family	$11.31

Contact

Davis Vision
800-828-6100
davisvision.com

Learn About Your Davis Vision Plan

Contact an Expert

Sean O'Brien

RF Benefit Services

Phone: 716-645-4485

Email: sobrien2@buffalo.edu

Zachary Jenney

Manager

Research Foundation Benefit Services

Phone: 716-645-4439

Email: zjenney@buffalo.edu