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Benefits Eligibility

Learn more about employee benefits eligibility at Cal State Monterey Bay.

Benefits and Wellness

Initial Benefit Eligibility 

Three main factors determine your eligibility for employee benefits at Cal State Monterey Bay:

  • Job classification/employee group or bargaining unit
  • Time base (full-time or part-time)
  • Length of appointment

This page explains CSUMB benefits eligibility criteria in more detail by employee types and situations:

Note that special consultants, hourly and intermittent employees are not eligible for most benefit plans, including health, dental and vision.

Full Benefits Program Summary

Staff Benefit Eligibility

Employees appointed to work half-time or more for six months and a day are eligible to enroll in CSUMB's health, dental, vision, Flex Cash, and flexible spending health and dependent care plans. Eligibility is subject to collective bargaining and policy.

The earliest date benefits can be effective is the first of the month following the employee's hire date, depending on the type of benefit and when the enrollment forms are received.

Tenure-Track Faculty Benefit Eligibility

Tenure-track faculty with a 12-month or one academic year appointment teaching a minimum of 7.5 weighted teaching units (WTUs) are eligible to enroll in CSUMB's health, dental, vision, Flex Cash, and flexible spending health and dependent care plans. Eligibility is subject to collective bargaining and policy.

The earliest date benefits can be effective is the first pay period of the academic semester (October 1 for fall semester or March 1 for spring semester), depending on the type of benefit and when the enrollment forms are received.

For more information on specific faculty benefits, enrollment deadlines, the academic year pay plan and how to schedule a benefits orientation, please refer to your benefit eligibility letter.

Lecturers and Coaches Benefit Eligibility

Employees appointed for at least 6 weighted teaching units (WTUs) or a 0.4 timebase (FTE) for at least one semester are eligible to enroll in CSUMB's health, dental, vision, Flex Cash, and flexible spending health and dependent care plans.

Eligibility is subject to collective bargaining and policy. The earliest date benefits can be effective is generally October 1 for fall appointments and March 1 for spring appointments.

For more information on specific lecturer and coach benefits, enrollment deadlines, the academic year pay plan and how to schedule a benefits orientation, please refer to your benefit eligibility letter.

Dependent Eligibility

Dependents of an eligible CSUMB employee include:

  • Spouse (unless legally separated or divorced)
  • Domestic partner 
  • Dependent children from birth to the end of the month in which the child reaches 26

A dependent child includes a step, natural, adopted, domestic partner’s, a child certified disabled prior to age 26 or a child living with the employee in a parent-child relationship who is economically dependent upon the employee.

For a list of required supporting documentation, please contact our benefits office at 831-582-4426.

Life Changes/Permitting Events

A permitting event is a life change that happens to the employee and/or their dependents, allowing the employee to make changes to their benefits.

Permitting events include, but are not limited to:

  • Marriage/Domestic Partnership
  • Separation/Divorce
  • Birth/Adoption/Custody
  • Move
  • Dependents move out of the household
  • Employee or dependents obtain other insurance
  • Loss of alternate insurance coverage

To make a relevant change, complete and submit an Add/Delete Worksheet and other applicable forms within 60 days of the permitting event date. 

Forms received after the 60-day deadline will be subject to a 90-day waiting period set forth by CalPERS. Failure to report a permitting event within the specified time may result in delays and/or penalties.

Maintaining Benefit Eligibility

Upon establishing initial benefit eligibility, a CSUMB employee remains eligible as long as they maintain at least a 0.5 timebase for staff and 0.4 timebase for temporary faculty (lecturers), regardless of the length of succeeding appointments. Appointments must be consecutive with no breaks in service.