With the fluctuation in weather from warmth to snow, Northstar EAP has provided us with some helpful tips in dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Please keep in mind that Northstart EAP offers eligible faculty and staff, and their spouses and dependents, eight free counseling sessions per person. Please contact Benefit Services at 906-487-2517should you have any questions about Northstar EAP.
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), employers are required to offer affordable health coverage to employees classified as full-time under IRS regulations. This includes employees such as faculty, staff, students, and temporary employees. For 2016, Michigan Tech is required to report on all employees who received an offer of health insurance coverage for 2015 to the IRS. This includes the previously mentioned employees as well as retirees enrolled in Michigan Tech’s health insurance and offers of COBRA. Anyone who received an offer of coverage will be receiving an IRS form 1095C. The forms were mailed on Thursday, March 31, 2016. Please note that these forms are not required to file your 2015 taxes however, you should keep it with your 2015 tax records in case of an audit.
If you have any questions regarding your form 1095C, please contact Benefit Services at benefits@mtu.edu or 906-487-2517.
The deadline for employees to submit claims against the 2015 Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is Thursday, March 31. Health care and dependent care claims during the 2015 calendar year are eligible. The claim form can be found at FSA claims.
All medical, dental and optical claims should be processed through your insurance plans before submitting them to your health care reimbursement account. Attach the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) or a claim summary from your insurance plan to the claim form when submitting a claim.
For expenses not processed through insurance, submit the itemized receipt. Over the counter medications require a prescription from a health care provider. Dependent care claims require an invoice or receipt from the provider.
For questions, contact Benefit Services at 7-2517 or benefits@mtu.edu.
Benefit Services invites you to participate in a new wellness initiative between Michigan Tech and Aspirus Keweenaw. This is an 8 week program that gives employees access to a registered dietician. The program includes:
The program is divided into two groups Nutrition Basics and Nutrition Enhanced. Nutrition Basics is designed for employees interested in paying more attention to foods they eat or employees that need guidance on where to start. Nutrition Enhanced is designed for those who have already made changes to their eating habits but need additional support. Employees may choose the plan that best meets their needs. For additional program information, please visit the wellness website.
This is a pilot program for active, benefits eligible employees that will begin on March 14, 2016 and run through May 9, 2016. Space is limited to 15 employees in each group. You may register for the program here. Enrollment is based on a first-come first-served basis. Enrollment into the program will close at 8:00AM on Monday, February 29, 2016.
Please contact Benefit Services at 487-2517 or email benefits@mtu.edu if you have any questions.
Check out Northstar EAP’s February Newsletter. In this edition, Northstar EAP offers employees tips on how to be “Happier Today”. They also offer a monthly challenge that we encourage you to try. As a reminder, Northstar EAP offers eligible faculty and staff, and their spouses and dependents, eight free counseling sessions per person. 
Payroll Services will be hosting training sessions on January 25 and January 27 to review the Payroll Services Standard Practice Guide. The guide was developed to assist supervisors, time keepers and department administrators by outlining time and reporting procedures. The guide is located here.
Please e-mail llthoune@mtu.edu for registration information.
If you have any questions prior to the trainings, please contact Payroll Services at 487-2130 or payroll@mtu.edu.
The holidays can be a very stressful time of year which can be taxing on our mental health. To try and alleviate some stress, our friends at Northstar EAP would like to remind us of our “Holiday Bill of Rights”. For example, “You have the right to say TIME OUT, anytime you need to” or “You have the right to DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY”. Check out your Holiday Bill of Rights and their tips for “24 Random Acts of Holiday Kindness”, and remember to have a Happand Relaxing Holiday Season!!
REMINDER: HOLIDAY PAYROLL PROCESSING SCHEDULE
The University will be closed December 24, 25, 31 and January 1 due to the observance of Christmas and New Year’s. Below are the adjusted deadlines for the pay periods ending 12/19/2015 and 1/2/2016.
BW 26 Deadlines (12/6/2015 – 12/19/2015)
Paper and Electronic Time Sheets Due to Payroll by Tuesday, 12/15/15 at Noon.
Web Time Entry Approval due to Payroll by Tuesday, 12/15/15 at 5 pm.
Paychecks and Direct Deposits will be dated 12/24/15.
BW 1 Deadlines (12/20/2015 – 1/2/2016)
Status Forms & EPAFs due to Payroll by Tuesday, 12/22/15 at Noon.
Time Sheets Sent to Departments on Tuesday, 12/29/15.
All deadlines return to their regular schedule beginning Monday, January 4, 2016.
Please be sure that all web time approvers have a designated PROXY set up.
For instructions on how to set up a proxy, please visit: https://www.mtu.edu/hr/supervisors-admins/payroll/docs/web-time-approver.pdf
The Payroll Services staff wishes everyone a safe, and happy Holiday Season!
2016 Open Enrollment will be closing at midnight on Friday, November 27, 2015.
Open enrollment is your opportunity to assess your individual and family needs and make changes to your benefit package selections. This would include changing health plans, adding/removing a dependent, electing to contribute to a health savings account or flexible spending account or changing any other benefits such as life or disability benefits. If you want to continue your current elections in 2016, you do not need to take any action unless you have a health savings account or flexible spending account. Contributions must be re-elected each year for a health savings account and flexible spending account.
For Open Enrollment information, please visit the open enrollment website.
For any questions or concerns regarding Open Enrollment, please contact Benefit Services at benefits@mtu.edu or 487-2517.