Health Insurance Information
The annual Open Enrollment Period for insurance benefit changes typically takes place during the month of November. This is the only period during which you can enroll in the Medical plan, cancel your enrollment, enroll in the Dental plan, or enroll previously unenrolled eligible dependents for an effective date of January 1. Please contact the Human Resources Office during Open Enrollment to secure the necessary enrollment or change forms.
The Institute’s 2025 Benefits Open Enrollment will begin on November 8 and will run through November 15, 2024. This is the time to review your current benefit elections and make changes if needed. The benefits you elect during Open Enrollment will be effective January 1, 2025.
All 2025 benefits information including plan coverage and rates can be found in the benefits guide below:
2025 Open enrollment presentation:
The 2025 Information Session has been recorded and below is the link:
Information session on Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024.
Passcode: 0H6=qK99
2025 Aetna medical plan documents
RX Benefits Online Pharmacy Benefits Access - NEW
By registering for My RXBenefits, you can gain access to robust information related to your pharmacy benefits. See below for more details.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to reach out to Human Resources by email at hr@ias.edu.
The Institute for Advanced Study requires that all incoming scholars have health insurance coverage for themselves and the dependents who accompany them. On your onboarding form, you are required to complete a section indicating that you have adequate medical coverage for the duration of your stay or plan to enroll in the plan offered by IAS.
The Institute's minimum requirement for health insurance coverage is:
· $100,000 for medical benefits per accident or illness
· $500 deductible per accident or illness
· $50,000 for medical evacuation
· $25,000 for repatriation of remains
This is the same as the minimum required by federal regulations governing the Exchange Visitor program for any Member here on a J-1 visa, and any J-2 dependents, for their visas to be in correct status. These are minimum requirements and we encourage you to consider enrolling in a plan that provides more coverage than the minimum.
This requirement can be satisfied in one of three ways:
1. By continuing the health insurance coverage provided through your home institution, your granting agency, or your government (if applicable), or
2. By enrolling in the health insurance plan offered through the Human Resources Office at the Institute. Coverage in the Institute plan typically begins the first day of arrival. Please contact Human Resources upon arrival to enroll so that your coverage begins immediately, or
3. If you are a resident of another country, by enrolling in foreign scholar insurance on your own. Individuals on a J visa are required to carry insurance for themselves and their dependents that will provide at minimum, $50,000 per person. There are plans available from HTH Worldwide Insurance and Marsh (Gateway) as well as others. This link Alternate Health Insurance Options for Foreign Scholars has information on several companies that offer this type of insurance. The Institute does not deal directly with these organizations nor has any connections with them. This information is provided simply to present other insurance options available. Please be careful in reading these plans as many provide only urgent and emergency coverage and no coverage for routine medical. Also, some plans specify that they have the option to return you to your home country for treatment once you are stabilized if that is determined to be the most cost-effective alternative.
If you have the opportunity to continue your health insurance through your home institution directly or under a COBRA provision, that may be the most advantageous way for you to carry insurance. If you do decide to maintain your current health plan, we strongly encourage you to review the provisions of your plan to insure that you will have adequate coverage while residing in New Jersey. Some plans do not work well outside of the home region.
By enrolling in either HTH, etc., or the Institute plans, repatriation, and medical evacuation charges, as required for "J" scholars, will be covered. If you are interested in enrolling in one of the plans offered through HTH, etc., please note the limitations of their plans, including some exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
The Institute currently offers a subsidy to assist with the cost of health insurance to Members who meet certain criteria. Please see the link at IAS Health Insurance Subsidy Program for the application and to review the criteria for eligibility.
Should you have any questions regarding health insurance, please feel free to call (609) 951-4436, or e-mail hr@ias.edu
Please find the Aetna medical plan documents below.
2024 Plan Documents
Prescription coverage:
The Institute for Advanced Study requires that all incoming scholars have health insurance coverage for themselves and the dependents who accompany them. On your onboarding form, you are required to complete a section indicating that you have adequate medical coverage for the duration of your stay or plan to enroll in one of the plans offered by IAS.
The Institute's minimum requirement for health insurance coverage is:
· $100,000 for medical benefits per accident or illness
· $500 deductible per accident or illness
· $50,000 for medical evacuation
· $25,000 for repatriation of remains
This is the same as the minimum required by federal regulations governing the Exchange Visitor program for any Member here on a J-1 visa, and any J-2 dependents, for their visas to be in correct status. These are minimum requirements and we encourage you to consider enrolling in a plan that provides more coverage than the minimum.
This requirement can be satisfied in one of three ways:
1. By continuing the health insurance coverage provided through your home institution, your granting agency or your government (if applicable), or
2. By enrolling in one of the two group health insurance plans offered through the Human Resources Office at the Institute. Coverage in either of the Institute plans typically begins the first day of arrival. Please contact Human Resources upon arrival to enroll so that your coverage begins immediately.
or
3. If you are a resident of another country, by enrolling in foreign scholar insurance on your own. Individuals on a J visa are required to carry insurance for themselves and their dependents that will provide at minimum, $50,000 per person. There are plans available from HTH Worldwide Insurance and Marsh (Gateway) as well as others. This link Alternate Health Insurance Options for Foreign Scholars has information on several different companies offering this type of insurance. The Institute does not deal directly with these organizations nor have any connections with them. This information is provided simply to present other insurance options available. Please be careful in reading these plans as many provide only urgent and emergency coverage and no coverage for routine medical. Also, some plans specify that they have the option to return you to your home country for treatment once you are stabilized if that is determined to be the most cost effective alternative.
If you have the opportunity to continue your health insurance through your home institution directly or under a COBRA provision, that may be an advantageous way for you to carry insurance. If you do decide to maintain your current health plan, we strongly encourage you to review the provisions of your plan to ensure that you will have adequate coverage while residing in New Jersey. Some plans do not work well outside of the home region.
You should make certain that you have valid insurance coverage until your new coverage becomes effective. If you decide not to enroll in our plan upon initial hire, you may have the option of enrolling during the open enrollment period in every November.
By enrolling in either HTH, etc., or one of the Institute plans, repatriation, and medical evacuation charges, as required for "J" scholars, will be covered. If you are interested in enrolling in one of the plans offered through HTH, etc., please note the limitations of their plans, including some exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
Should you have any questions regarding health insurance, please feel free to call (609) 951-4436, or e-mail HR@ias.edu
Qualified Domestic Partners may be enrolled as a dependent on your IAS health insurance. In order to enroll a Domestic Partner on an IAS Health insurance plan, you will need to complete the Domestic Partnership Agreement and supply the required documentation.
The Institute has established a partnership with the Princeton Healthcare System to provide Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services for visiting scholars and their adult household members. Qualifying participants are eligible for three sessions per incident of short-term counseling with an EAP clinician. These sessions are designed to resolve personal, family, and work-related problems, and will be provided at no cost.
For more information, please see the attached announcement that provides details about the EAP.