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Benefits

Benefit Portal

OKHEEI

The Oklahoma Higher Education Employee Interlocal Group (OKHEEI) consists of 12 colleges and universities across the State of Oklahoma, as well as the Administrative Office of the Regional University System of Oklahoma. These institutions joined forces to more effectively and economically provide competitive benefits for their employees.

Holidays Open Close

Holidays

Southeastern Oklahoma State University is pleased to support a benefits package which recognizes a total of 23 paid holidays for the new FY 2023 year. Following is a list of dates that our offices will be closed:

 

 

FY 2024 Holiday Schedule (pdf)

Flexible Benefits (Cafe Plan, URM, DDC, Grace Period) Open Close

Flexible Benefits

FlexibleBenefitsAdministrator

Follow the link to our provider’s website to learn about Savings and Spending Accounts and information about the mobile app.

Prescription Drug Coverage Open Close

Prescription Drug Coverage Notice

This notice has information about your current prescription drug coverage with Southeastern Oklahoma State University and about your options under Medicare’s prescription drug coverage. This information can help you decide whether or not you want to join a Medicare drug plan. If you are considering joining, you should compare your current coverage, including which drugs are covered at what cost, with the coverage and costs of the plans offering Medicare prescription drug coverage in your area. Information about where you can get help to make decisions about your prescription drug coverage is at the end of this notice.

There are two important things you need to know about your current coverage and Medicare’s prescription drug coverage:

  1. Medicare prescription drug coverage became available in 2006 to everyone with Medicare. You can get this coverage if you join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or join a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) that offers prescription drug coverage. All Medicare drug plans provide at least a standard level of coverage set by Medicare. Some plans may also offer more coverage for a higher monthly premium.
  2. Southeastern Oklahoma State University has determined that the prescription drug coverage offered by the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Oklahoma (BCBS) is, on average for all plan participants, expected to pay out as much as standard Medicare prescription drug coverage pays and is therefore considered Creditable Coverage. Because your existing coverage is Creditable Coverage, you can keep this coverage and not pay a higher premium (a penalty) if you later decide to join a Medicare drug plan.

When Can You Join A Medicare Drug Plan?

You can join a Medicare drug plan when you first become eligible for Medicare and each year from October 15 to December 7. However, if you lose your current creditable prescription drug coverage, through no fault of your own, you will also be eligible for a two (2) month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to join a Medicare drug plan. What Happens To Your Current Coverage If You Decide to Join A Medicare Drug Plan? If you decide to join a Medicare drug plan, your current coverage will not be affected. Your current coverage pays for other health expenses in addition to prescription drugs. For those individuals who elect Part D coverage, you may keep this coverage and this plan will coordinate with Part D coverage.

If you do decide to join a Medicare drug plan and drop your current coverage, be aware that you and your dependents will be able to get this coverage back during open enrollment or following a qualifying event.

When Will You Pay A Higher Premium (Penalty) To Join A Medicare Drug Plan?

You should also know that if you drop or lose your current coverage with BCBS and don’t join a Medicare drug plan within 63 continuous days after your current coverage ends, you may pay a higher premium (a penalty) to join a Medicare drug plan later.

If you go 63 continuous days or longer without creditable prescription drug coverage, your monthly premium may go up by at least 1% of the Medicare base beneficiary premium per month for every month that you did not have that coverage. For example, if you go nineteen months without creditable coverage, your premium may consistently be at least 19% higher than the Medicare base beneficiary premium. You may have to pay this higher premium (a penalty) as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage. In addition, you may have to wait until the following October to join.

For more information about Medicare prescription drug coverage:

  • Visit www.medicare.gov
  • Call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (see the inside back cover of your copy of the “Medicare & You” handbook for their telephone number) for personalized help
  • Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

If you have limited income and resources, extra help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage is available. For information about this extra help, visit Social Security on the web at www.socialsecurity.gov, or call them at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

Retirement Open Close

Teachers Retirement System of Oklahoma (OTRS)

Southeastern will pay all contributions on employee’s behalf, 7% of all wages + fringe benefits for all full-time benefits eligible employees to the Teachers Retirement System of Oklahoma.

The defined benefit plan requires seven years of contributions for Oklahoma service in public education to become vested.  Vesting allows the option to have lifetime annuity income.  Ten years of OTRS contributory service required to receive a $100-$105/mo. subsidy from OTRS toward group health plan premiums at retirement.

Visit https://oklahoma.gov/trs/active-members.html for more information, member handbook, retirement process and more.

Employees are strongly encouraged to enroll in the OTRS member portal to view contributions, retirement projections, beneficiary, etc.

Supplemental Retirement Plans

University employees (excluding student employees) may make voluntary contributions to supplemental retirement plans.  The current options include Voya tax deferred and Roth account.

2023 Annual Retirement Benefits Guide

2023 Meaningful Notice / Plan Summary Information 2023

New contribution accounts need to be set up with Voya at https://www.voya.com.  After the initial Voya set up, visit https://sra.tsacg.com to complete the annuity account set up, with our third party administrator, TSA.   New users may find the TSA Employee Online SRA Tutorial helpful.

After the initial Voya set up, all activity will take place through TSA.  Employees may change the contribution amount, stop or start annuities at any time through the TSA site.

 

Workers Compensation Open Close

Worker’s Compensation

Southeastern employee’s are entitled to worker’s compensation and can find procedural instructions and fillable forms here.