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Benefits at Rice

Rice benefits help cover many of those experiences that are essential for the employees' personal health, security and peace of mind: medical care, dental care, reimbursement accounts, life insurance and long-term disability coverage.

Eligibility

Employees are eligible for Benefits if they are scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week on a regular basis. Coverage begins on the first day of the month following a 30-day waiting period. Dependents may be covered under the medical, dental and life insurance coverage.

Rice also provides a way to reduce the employees' taxes. Rice lets the employee pay for dependent medical and dependent dental premiums before income tax and social security taxes are withheld from the paycheck. This decreases the employees' taxable income and therefore decreases taxes paid. Additional ways Rice works with before-tax dollars are flexible spending accounts and deferred compensation.

Medical Insurance

Rice offers each eligible employee a Blue Cross Blue Shield medical plan which covers physician services, hospitalization, laboratory charges, prescriptions and other medical needs.

Dental Insurance

The Rice dental plan is administered by Delta USA. It provides coverage for 100% of preventive care and a portion of expenses for other dental work.

Reimbursement Accounts

Two reimbursement accounts are available for benefit eligible employees to set aside tax-free dollars for medical expenses not covered by insurance and dependent care expenses.

Life Insurance

The Rice life insurance plan through Reliastar, provides basic term life insurance coverage of $10,000. Additional coverage of up to $100,000 can be purchased through the supplemental plans. Coverage is also available for spouses and dependent children.

Long-Term Disability Insurance

Rice's long term disability plan will help to replace lost income if an injury or illness prevents an employee from working 90 days or longer. This plan provides a basic benefit equal to 60% of one's income to a maximum of $5,000 per month.

Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA)

As a city-owned hospital, Rice participates in Public Employees Retirement Association. Both Rice and the employee contribute to PERA with Rice contributing the larger share. PERA provides a monthly income at retirement age based on the number of years of participation in the plan and salary earned.

Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP)

The DCP program offers an avenue for retirement savings on a tax-deferred basis through payroll deduction.

Paid Time Off (PTO)

A minimum of 26 days to a maximum of 41 days earned per year for full time employees; pro-rated for part time, is used to cover time off for vacations, short-term illness and holidays.

Holidays

Defined holidays are New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Extended Sick Leave

6 days accrued per year for full time regular staff to a maximum of 800 hours; pro-rated for part time employees.