Employees Retirement System of Texas, ERS Benefits

As an employee of Lone Star College (LSC), individuals can take advantage of a variety of benefits and opportunities to add to your quality of your life. The following information is designed to provide individuals with a summary of benefits offered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas, (ERS). The following are available to all regular full-time employees. Some benefits will require evidence of insurability if not selected during the initial new hire period. For additional information on ERS benefits, go to: www.ers.texas.gov or click here for a summary of all ERS benefits.

Medical Coverage

Health Select/BlueCross and BlueShield of Texas is available for all full-time LSC employees.  All newly hired full-time employees and their eligible dependents will have a 60-day waiting period (calendar days), the effective date is the first of the following month for health insurance coverage under Health Select (Point of Service - POS plan). Coverage includes prescription drug plan, vision discount plan and basic life insurance. In-network service requires a primary care physician (PCP) and requires referrals for network specialist. For additional health coverage information, click here. 

Provided that the employee is participating in the medical coverage Health Select, Employee Retirement System (ERS) provides $5000 of Basic Term Life insurance at no cost. The Basic Term Life insurance also includes a $5,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit.

Note: Lone Star College employees in Texas may also be eligible for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or Children's Medicaid. Visit the LSC and Optional Benefits page for more information.

Dental Coverage

ERS offers two dental plan options, two of which are administered by Humana Dental. The State of Texas Dental Discount Plan is administered by Careington. These plans do not run concurrently.

• DeltaCare USA, DHMO provides coverage to employees and participating eligible family members through a network of private practicing dentists. You must choose a primary care dentist (PCD) from a list of approved providers.
• State of Texas Dental Choice Plan gives the employee the freedom to choose his/her own dentist.  For enhanced benefit coverage under State of Texas Dental Choice, the employee and their covered dependents may elect to see a network dentist.

Click here for a comprehensive comparison of your Dental options.

Vision

Your health insurance plan covers some vision and eye health services, including an annual eye exam and treatment for diseases of the eye. Click here for a vision insurance comparison chart.

GBP health plans do not cover the cost of eyeglasses or contact lenses. If you need that kind of coverage, you and your eligible dependents can enroll in State of Texas Vision for an additional monthly premium. For a set copay amount, State of Texas Vision covers an eye exam, contact lens fitting and other eyewear options (such as ultraviolet coating). The plan includes an allowance for eyeglass frames or contact lenses, as well as discounts for LASIK. For a complete list of plan benefits and a list of providers, visit www.stateoftexasvision.com.

Optional Life Insurance

Supplemental life insurance is provided up to twice the employee's annual salary. Employees may purchase up to an additional two times their annual salary (for a total of four times the salary) with a required Evidence Of Insurability (EOI). 

Any premiums paid by the LSC for term life insurance coverage in excess of $50,000 are subject to Federal income tax, and will be shown as taxable income on the W-2.  Additional Voluntary Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) can be purchased through the third party administrator, Minnesota Life.

Voluntary AD&D

Additional Voluntary Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance can be purchased through Minnesota Life and provides a benefit to eligible beneficiaries in the event of accidental deaths. A benefit is also available in the event of certain accidental injuries. Under age 70, an employee may elect coverage between $10,000 and $200,000 in increments of $5,000. Employees may also cover all eligible dependents by selecting family AD&D. Current employees over age 70, see your benefits coordinator for AD&D coverage available to you. Evidence of insurability is not required for Voluntary AD&D coverage.

Dependent Life Insurance

Employees have the option to purchase Dependent Term Life Insurance for each covered dependent:

• $5,000 in Term Life
• $5,000 in Accidental Life and Dismemberment

Short Term Disability (ERS)

Short-term disability can be purchased through Employees Retirement System of Texas, ERS. Short- term disability coverage replaces 66% of your monthly income after a waiting period if illness or injury (including maternity) keeps you from working for up to five months. All sick leave and extended sick leave such as sick leave pool if applicable must be exhausted prior to applying for ERS short-term disability. A doctor’s written notice is required. Employees are allowed to apply for short-term disability one time per year.

Note: Lone Star College offers two Short Term Disability plans. These two plans do not run concurrently.  The Lone Star College Short Term Disability is located under "Lone Star College Benefits"

Long Term Disability

Long-term disability insurance provides protection from loss of income during extended absences due to disability resulting from an accident or illness.  A waiting period of 180 consecutive days must be satisfied before disability benefits become payable.  Accumulated sick and vacation leave may be used to cover all or part of this waiting period. Monthly disability payments are equal to 60 percent of your monthly salary to a maximum monthly benefit of $6,000.

TexFlex Spending Accounts

For more information and guideline information, go to: http://www.ers.state.tx.us/, click TexFlex.

TexFlex offers two flexible spending accounts. FSA(s).  FSA-Day Care is designed to provide pre- tax savings for dependent day care.  A FSA-Day Care eligible dependent is someone you can claim as a federal income tax exemption, and who resides in your household.  

FSA-Health allows individuals to set aside pre-tax savings dollars to cover eligible health care expenses incurred for employees and their dependents during the plan year, September1-August 31 or as specified by IRS guidelines.  Dependents for TexFlex purposes refer to those family members who qualify under IRS guidelines as dependents and they do not have to be enrolled in your health care plan.

Continuation Coverage Notification (COBRA)

This law requires the State of Texas to offer employees and dependents covered under the Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP) the opportunity to temporarily extend their health and dental coverage at the group rates.

Continuation coverage is available only when qualifying events cause coverage under ERS end. Coverage under COBRA is limited to the health and dental coverage in effect at the time of the qualifying event.