If you are a new employee or transitioning to a position that makes you newly eligible for benefits, you have 30 days from when you start the position to sign up for benefits.
Your benefits go into effect the first day of the month following your start date. For example:
- If you are hired on March 15, your benefits become effective on April 1.
- If you transition or get reclassified into a newly benefits-eligible position on September 2, your benefits become effective on October 1.
Enrolling in Benefits
- Determine eligibility for any dependents. Review the eligibility information on the Enrollment Overview page to find out if your dependents are eligible for benefits.
- Make your choices. Using the Benefits Enrollment Guide (pdf) as your resource, review the options and plan comparisons, and check the rates. Decide which benefits you’d like before you enroll.
- Enroll online within your first 30 days. You must complete your enrollment online within the first 30 days of employment or newly benefits-eligible position. If you change your mind about your options during this 30-day timeframe, you can make changes that will be retroactive to your coverage effective date. Go to MyU to enroll in your benefits. A step-by-step walkthrough of benefits enrollment is available on the How to Enroll web page.
Get to know your benefits. The Office of Human Resources also offers various events and workshops throughout the year to provide more information about your benefits, including retirement plans and investment options.
About Your Benefits
As a new employee or newly benefits-eligible employee, you and your dependents may be eligible to participate in the health program offered by the University of Minnesota. You are not required to elect medical and dental coverage. You have the option to choose any, all, or none of the benefits offered.
If you waive coverage, your next chance to elect medical and dental coverage will be either during open enrollment in November or if you and your dependents experience an eligible family status change.
You also have an automatic retirement savings plan provided by the University.
For full details on all of your benefit options, visit the Benefits page.