Eligibility & Rates
Employee Eligibility
Eligibility will be determined annually in accordance with applicable plan documents and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). In general, 0.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) faculty and staff are eligible for Mines sponsored health benefit plans and fringe benefits.
Temporary employees, including Adjuncts, may be eligible for Mines sponsored health benefits plans dependent upon the ACA.
Details on eligibility by employee group may be found below. This eligibility is contingent upon meeting the specific criteria outlined in the plan documents and ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Eligibility details may vary based on institutional policies and plan specifics, so it’s important for employees to review the actual plan documents or consult with their institution’s human resources department for precise information.
If you obtain a J1 Visa, Mines currently offers one medical plan that meets the required eligibility. Please refer to the FAQ page for more specifics.
Continuing Health Coverage Under COBRA
Under COBRA (the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985), you and your covered dependents are eligible to continue coverage in some benefit plans that you were enrolled in at Mines.
Events that qualify for COBRA eligibility include:
- Loss of coverage because of reduced work hours or taking unpaid leave, other than leave under FMLA
- Termination of employment
- A child no longer qualifies as a dependent
- Divorce or legal separation
- Death
If you or a family member is eligible for COBRA, you will receive a COBRA notice via mail, from Alerus, with instructions about how to make your COBRA elections and how to submit them. You’ll have 60 days from the qualifying event date to elect COBRA coverage, which will be retroactive to the day following a loss of coverage. Once you have elected COBRA, Alerus will be your plan administrator. If you have any further questions, reach out to Alerus directly at (800) 761-1934 or cobra@alerus.com.
Change effective 1/1/2026 to COBRA if you or your dependents are eligible for Medicare and elect COBRA through Mines’ Anthem Plan. Anthem will process any claims as if you have enrolled in Medicare, whether you did or not. This means Anthem would pay the claim as the secondary, possibly resulting in higher out of pocket expenses.
If you need to discuss Medicare eligibility you would contact the Social Security Administration at 1.800.72.1213. If you need assistance understanding your Medicare options and navigating the process, you may contact Jennifer Gerhardt, CHEIBA Medicare VIP Concierge, at 818.254.5381 or Jennifer.gerhardt@anthem.com.
Contact
Mines Benefits
Guggenheim Hall, Suite #110
Need Assistance?
Email us: Benefits@Mines.edu
In Person Office Hours M-Th 11am-1pm
Virtual Office Hours M-F 11am-1pm