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On December 31, 2020, the additional leave programs provided in the federal Family First Coronavirus Recovery Act (FFCRA) ended. In support of employees in the continuing COVID-19 pandemic period, effective January 1, 2021, the University will extend the opportunity for up to 80 total combined hours of paid leave for employees affected by COVID-19. The leave program is not a continuation of the FFCRA leave.
For such paid leave to be granted, the following requirements must be met:
Employees who used a portion of the available FFCRA 80 hours in 2020 may use the remainder as COVID-19 leave in 2021 but in no case may use a combined total of more than 80 hours.
Including leave previously used under FFCRA, COVID-19 leave is limited to no more than total of 80 hours for any combination of quarantine, illness or child care leave eligibility.
The 80-hour maximum will be prorated for less than full-time employees.
Employees using COVID-19 leave will be eligible to receive full pay but not to exceed $511 per day or approximately $133,000 annualized.
Whenever possible, work from home rather than paid or unpaid leave should be used.
Failure to provide appropriate documentation for COVID leave will result in recharacterization of the leave taken as sick, vacation or leave-without-pay within the established leave use guidelines. (Sick leave may not be used for child care purposes due to school closure.)
Qualified leave may be applied retroactively to January 1, 2021.
COVID-19 leave guidelines will be modified, suspended or ended as necessary to meet changing needs and regulations of the current pandemic environment.
Pandemic…upcoming election…economy…social unrest. With all that’s going on in the world right now, it’s understandable if your mental health is taking a hit. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, “nearly half of Americans report the coronavirus crisis is harming their mental health.” If you need help during this time—or at any time—know that your University benefits can help.
For 2020 only, the IRS has announced an easing of the restrictions on the ability to change the 2020 flexible spending account elections. In accordance with the IRS announcement, effective immediately, a participant who has a medical flexible spending account or a dependent care flexible spending account under the University of Arkansas System Cafeteria Plan may:
Learn more about this change.
The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) has issued guidance addressing how it will monitor retirement plan distributions. Learn more on the IRS website.
When do I have to pay taxes on coronavirus-related distributions?
How do qualified individuals report coronavirus-related distributions?
UAMS HealthNow telehealth services is available if you need to speak with a provider about a health concern. You do not need to be enrolled in a University medical plan to use HealthNow.
Learn more about HealthNow in UAMS's letter about the service.
New Federal CARES Act Offers Expanded Retirement Plan Loan and Withdrawal Options
CAUTION: Taking a loan or distribution from your University 403(b)/457(b) Retirement Plan account can reduce your future retirement income significantly. While the CARES Act (described below) offers more flexibility for retirement plan loans and withdrawals, beware of the financial consequences. Consider carefully your financial needs and all options—and speak with a professional tax advisor—to meet those needs before taking a loan or withdrawal from your University Retirement Plan account.
(Note: Your campus HR Office does not process, review, or approve loan and withdrawal applications.)
The information provided herein is an overview of benefits for University of Arkansas employees participating in the 403(b)/457(b) Retirement Plan. See the Summary Plan Description (SPD) and Summaries of Material Modifications for a full description of Plan benefits. If there is a discrepancy between the information provided herein and the official plan documents, the information provided in the official plan documents will govern. Please contact TIAA or Fidelity, as applicable, to discuss specific loan and withdrawal regulations, eligibility, and availability of money from your Plan account.
The qualified wellness visit requirement for 2021 Wellness Program incentives will be waived this year. You must complete the Tobacco Pledge and Notice during open enrollment to qualify for the 2021 Wellness Program incentives.
With most day cares and schools closed, and many employees required to work from home, you may have excess funds in your Dependent Care FSA.
You can change your 2020 Dependent Care FSA election. Documentation is not required to make a change.
Contact your campus Human Resources to make a change to your election.
The 2019 claims submission deadline for both the Health Care FSA and the Dependent Care FSA was extended to April 30, 2020 (from March 31, 2020).
For this year only, you can submit eligible 2019 expenses through April 30, 2020. For the Dependent Care FSA, the expenses must have occurred on or before March 15, 2020. After April 30, 2020, any amount remaining in your Health Care FSA (over $500) and Dependent Care FSA will be forfeited.
You can now submit over the counter medications (without a prescription) and menstrual care products for reimbursement from your Health Care FSA and Health Savings Account.
This change is effective for all expenses incurred as of January 1, 2020.
Items that previously required a letter of medical necessity (LOMN), like vitamins and supplements, still require a LOMN.
UMR will reprocess any newly qualifying expenses that were denied prior to these new guidelines.
On July 1, 2020, your annual dental benefit maximum will increase to $1,750 per person (from $1,500). Additional coverage is not retroactive.
Note: There are no dental rate increases on July 1, 2020.
Within the next 10-14 days you will receive a new medical ID card that includes Teladoc information. With your new ID card, you will receive a Welcome Packet from Teladoc. Replace your current medical ID card with this new ID card.
Note: If you are in the Premier or Classic Plan, your copays are printed on the front of your ID card. There is no need to contact UMR or your campus Human Resources for copay information.
The qualified wellness visit requirement for 2021 Wellness Program incentives will be waived this year. You must complete the Tobacco Pledge and Notice during open enrollment to qualify for the 2021 Wellness Program incentives.
With most day cares and schools closed, and many employees required to work from home, you may have excess funds in your Dependent Care FSA.
You can change your 2020 Dependent Care FSA election. Documentation is not required to make a change.
Contact your campus Human Resources to make a change to your election.
The 2019 claims submission deadline for both the Health Care FSA and the Dependent Care FSA was extended to April 30, 2020 (from March 31, 2020).
For this year only, you can submit eligible 2019 expenses through April 30, 2020. For the Dependent Care FSA, the expenses must have occurred on or before March 15, 2020. After April 30, 2020, any amount remaining in your Health Care FSA (over $500) and Dependent Care FSA will be forfeited.
You can now submit over the counter medications (without a prescription) and menstrual care products for reimbursement from your Health Care FSA and Health Savings Account.
This change is effective for all expenses incurred as of January 1, 2020.
Items that previously required a letter of medical necessity (LOMN), like vitamins and supplements, still require a LOMN.
UMR will reprocess any newly qualifying expenses that were denied prior to these new guidelines.
On July 1, 2020, your annual dental benefit maximum will increase to $1,750 per person (from $1,500). Additional coverage is not retroactive.
Note: There are no dental rate increases on July 1, 2020.
Learn about the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and how it could impact you.
During this time of uncertainty, we want you to know that your health remains our top priority. You may be receiving messages from your dentist about their office closing for routine services. In-network (Arkansas BlueCross) providers will now able to provide emergency dental assistance telephonically (teledental). If you have a dental emergency, please contact your dentist. All of our participating dentists are required to provide emergency services to patients.
Q: Is there a cost to me for assistance from my dentist over the phone?
A: No, there is no cost when seeing a participating provider for real-time telephonic assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Q: What qualifies as real-time telephonic assistance?
A: Phone or face-to-face video communication (e.g., Skype, FaceTime) with your dentist. Email and text messaging are not considered real-time.
Q: What does real-time telephonic assistance cover?
A: It covers your dentist assessing your situation and providing direction on appropriate management.
Q: Does this apply to dentists outside of Arkansas?
A: Yes, this applies to all dentists.
As always, the Arkansas BlueCross Customer Service team is available to help. If you have questions or concerns, call the number on the back of your ID card, and a representative will be with you shortly. If you don’t currently have a dentist, you can quickly find one near you in our online directory.
Use TIAA's resources for help navigating your Retirement Plan investments during market fluctuation:
Visit Fidelity's COVID-19 participant hub for helpful resources on COVID-19 and what it means for your Retirement Plan.
In response to current health care needs and concerns, the University health plan (in coordination with UMR and MedImpact) has taken the following steps to assist employees and plan members with access to testing and medical care and support:
COVID-19, a novel (new strain) coronavirus, is an illness that affects your breathing and lungs. In most cases the symptoms are similar to the flu. In more serious cases, it can cause pneumonia and other severe respiratory problems.
COVID-19 symptoms are similar to those of the flu. Common symptoms include:
For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) website.
If you are experiencing symptoms, anyone enrolled in a University medical plan can get a no-cost ($0 copay) COVID-19 test from a provider offering testing. No-cost testing is also available to your enrolled dependents. If you have to pay for the test at the time of service, submit a claim and UMR will reimburse you for the cost.
Each campus of the University of Arkansas System is prepared to move fully online if COVID-19 results in a campus shut down.
In addition, all COVID-19 testing will be paid 100% (no copay) for anyone enrolled in a University medical plan. No-cost testing is also available to your covered dependents. That means you’ll pay nothing if you need to be tested for the virus.
Currently, decisions are being made about whether and how to hold upcoming athletic events and other large-group gatherings on our campuses. We will continue to monitor the situation and make decisions as necessary to keep students, faculty, and staff safe.
The University also provides these resources to assist you and your family:
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