Leaving NC State Employment
Health and NCFLEX Benefits
| Coverage Period | Continuation/Conversion/Portability | Action Required/Contact Info | |
| State Health Plan | Termination dates between 1st and 15th of the month, coverage is effective through the last day of the month. Ex: 3/10 term date = covered until 3/31.
Termination dates on or after the 16th of the month, coverage is effective through the last day of the following month. Ex: 3/17 term date = covered until 4/30. |
Coverage can be continued for up to 18 months through COBRA provisions.
State Health Plan COBRA Plan Overview and Rates
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The vendor will mail out COBRA information to the home address once the coverage has ended. |
| Post Doc/House Officer Heath Insurance | Coverage will end the last day of the month in which the postdoc/house officer terminates. (Ex. job ends 3/2, coverage ends 3/31; job ends 3/31, coverage ends 3/31) | Coverage can be continued for up to 18 months through COBRA provisions. | No action is required by the postdoc/house officer.The vendor will mail out COBRA information to the home address once the coverage has ended. To check status of COBRA notification, contact Student Blue at 800-762-8505. |
| NCFlex Dental, Vision, TriCare | NCFlex benefits will end at the end of the month in which employment ends. Ex: 3/17 term date = covered until 3/31. | Coverage can be continued for up to 18 months through COBRA provisions. Coverage continuation options |
The vendor will mail out COBRA information to the home address once the coverage has ended. |
| NCFlex Critical Illness*, Accident Plan*, and Cancer Plan | NCFlex benefits will end at the end of the month in which employment ends. Ex: 3/17 term date = covered until 3/31. | Coverage may be continued through Protability.
*Portability is available prior to age 70 for these plans. |
The vendor will mail out Portability information to the home address once the coverage has ended. |
| UNC System Life Insurance & AD&D (Securian) | Securian benefits will end at the end of the month in which employment ends. Ex: 3/17 term date = covered until 3/31. | Coverage can be continued through portability or convert to an individual policy | For more information and to obtain the necessary portability or conversion forms, call 1-866-365-2374, or email LifeBenefits@securian.com |
| Supplemental Disability |
These benefits will end on the date that employment ends. Ex: 3/17 term date = covered until 3/17. | There are no continuation provisions for this plan. | No action is required. |
| State Provided Disability Plans |
These benefits will end on the date that employment ends. Ex: 3/17 term date = covered until 3/17. | There are no continuation provisions for this plan. | No action is required.
*If already approved to receive disability benefits, contact Leave Administration at ncsuleaveteam@ncsu.edu or 919-515-2151. |
| Hyatt Legal Plan | Hyatt benefits will end at the end of the month in which employment ends. Ex: 3/17 term date = covered until 3/31. | Coverage can be continued, but must be paid in a lump sum for one full year. | Contact Hyatt Legal directly to continue coverage by calling 1-800-821-6400. |
Flexible Spending Plans
| Coverage Period | Continuation/Conversion/Portability | Action Requires/Contact Info | |
| Healthcare Flex Spending |
The use of this benefit ends on the last day of employment. | There is a continuation provision by submitting after-tax payments to the flex spending vendor. | The vendor will mail out COBRA information once coverage has ended. |
| Dependent Care Flex Spending |
The use of this benefit ends on the last day of employment.
If an employee terminates employment or coverage during the plan year, they may submit claims for services incurred on or before the coverage termination date. Services incurred after the termination date will be reimbursed up to the balance available in the account. In accordance with IRS regulations, any unused money in the account is forfeited and remains with the state. |
Cannot be continued.
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Cannot be continued
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Mandatory Retirement Plans
| Vesting | Withdrawal/Rollover | Action Needed/Contact Info | |
| Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS) | Being vested in the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System means that at some point in the future, a participant will be eligible for both a monthly, lifetime retirement benefit as well as health insurance. Depending on the amount of creditable service, leaving contributions in the TSERS account may be a wise choice. There is no minimum account balance requirement and contributions continue to earn interest, currently 4% compounded annually. | You can leave your contributions in TSERS and keep all the creditable service you earned to that date or withdraw/rollover contributions (and interest, if vested).
A withdrawal or rollover of contributions will result in losing accumulated service credit, the death benefit, Disability Income Plan, and *retiree medical coverage eligibility. At the point of withdrawal, state and federal taxes are assessed, as well as a 20% penalty if you are under the age of 59 1/2. Taxes and penalties are avoided if the account is rolled to a qualified plan. If a withdrawal or rollover is processed and you return to NC state government service at a later date, previously withdrawn accounts can be purchased after contributing to TSERS for 5 years. Furthermore, a return to service within 5 years of the termination date results in a reinstatement of the employee’s sick leave balance. |
To leave contributions, no action is required.
To withdraw or rollover contributions, form 5-Application for Refund of Retirement Contributions is required. (go to link above and search under the “Contributions or Credit Withdrawal Forms”) |
| Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) |
Optional Retirement Program vesting occurs after 5 years of plan participation. On separation from service, participants may receive a lump sum payout or monthly annuity distributions. Retiree health benefits are included only if the participant elects a monthly annuity distribution option.
If separation from employment occurs prior to being vested, 100% vesting in the ORP employer contribution occurs provided all of the following criteria are met.
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You can leave your account balance in the ORP until you begin receiving a retirement benefit under one of the various payment options available to you.
As an alternative, under the ORP your retirement benefit is portable. You may transfer or roll over your benefit into an individual retirement account (IRA) or the qualifying plan of your new employer, if it accepts rollovers. However, remember that if you withdraw, transfer or roll over your entire ORP account, you forfeit your right to *retiree medical coverage under the State Health Plan. Keep in mind that if you withdraw money from the ORP before age 59½ without properly making a direct transfer or rollover into an IRA or other qualified plan, you will be subject to tax penalties.
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To leave contributions, withdraw, rollover ORP accounts, or participate in similar plan with another education institution complete form ORP3 and return it to the Benefits office by fax (919-513-2528) or mail (Campus Box 7210, Raleigh, NC 27695) by your separation date.
To consult with a plan advisor: Fidelity: Cleo Morgan at cleo.morgan@fmr.com or 919-500-1056 TIAA: Erick Bell, 919-687-5231, erick.bell@tiaa.org |
Medicare and Retiree Health Insurance
State Health Plans For Medicare Retirees or contact your Benefits Consultant for more information.
Age 65+ and not going immediately to a new employer sponsored plan? Enroll in Medicare Part B.
* Special note related to retiree medical coverage
If you were hired on or before December 31, 2020, leave employment and receive a refund on retirement contributions (withdraw, transfer, or roll over your entire account) and are hired back after January 1, 2021, you will no longer be eligible for retiree medical coverage provided by the State Health Plan.
If you leave your contributions with the retirement plan, you will maintain your retiree medical coverage.
Phased Retirement Program
If exiting the Phased Retirement, please contact Gareth Washington at 919-515-2151 or ghwashin@ncsu.edu.
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Voluntary Supplemental Plans
On termination of employment, contributions to supplemental retirement plans are no longer permitted; however, if similar plans are offered by other employers it is possible in some cases, that contributions may be resumed with the new employer’s plan. Contact the supplemental retirement plan to inquire further.
| UNC 403 (b) | https://benefits.hr.ncsu.edu/retirement-plans/unc-403b-plans-fidelity-and-tiaa/ | Fidelity: Cleo Morgan at cleo.morgan@fmr.com or 919-500-1056
TIAA: Erick Bell, 919-687-5231, erick.bell@tiaa.org |
| UNC 457 Plans | https://benefits.hr.ncsu.edu/retirement-plans/unc-457-plans-fidelity-and-tiaa/ | Fidelity: Cleo Morgan at cleo.morgan@fmr.com or 919-500-1056
TIAA: Erick Bell, 919-687-5231, erick.bell@tiaa.org |
| NC 401 (k) Plan | https://benefits.hr.ncsu.edu/nc-401k-plan/ | Prudential: Christy Kelly at christy.kelly@prudential.com or 919-602-8226 |
| NC 457 Plan | https://benefits.hr.ncsu.edu/nc-deferred-compensation-plan-457/ | Prudential: Christy Kelly at christy.kelly@prudential.com or 919-602-8226 |
Leave Balances
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Once the HR department enters the separation action into the HR System, employees may see their leave balances change to “0” in WolfTime in preparation for any leave transfers or payouts. Leave balances can still be viewed by using the “forecasted balances” option within WolfTime.
- If transferring to another state agency, it is critical that employees let their HR representative know so that their service time and leave balances are transferred accordingly. Failure to notify the HR Representative will result in an inaccurate payout and loss of leave transferred to the new agency. More Info
| Payout/deductions | Transferable to other state agency | Eligibility | Action Needed/Contact Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Leave (SHRA, EHRA) | SHRA: Accumulated annual leave will be paid in a lump sum the month after termination. Leave for retirees will be paid out in the month of retirement. However, payment for accumulated leave must not exceed 240 hours. This maximum amount may be lower based on FTE and appointment length.
EHRA: Accumulated annual leave will be paid in a lump sum the month after termination. Leave for retirees will be paid out in the month of retirement. However, payment for accumulated leave must not exceed 240 hours. This maximum amount may be lower based on FTE and appointment length *See below for employees employed 24 months or less |
Based on the receiving agency’s rules. | SHRA, EHRA (9 month faculty do not earn Annual Leave) | Ensure all time and leave is approved in WolfTime before the termination date and verify the “forecasted balances“.
Leave beyond 240 hours will not be paid but can be donated to the shared leave program PRIOR to termination date. Contact your Benefits Consultant for more information. If last active day is 12/31, annual leave above 240 will rollover into sick leave balances. Leave payouts occur in the payroll in the month following the last day worked. For example, the last day worked is July 5. The leave payouts will occur in the August 31 payroll. Retirement deductions will be withheld from leave payouts in the amount of 6%. Retirees are paid out leave in the month in which they retire. For example, someone who retires on August 1 would receive a leave payout on August 31.
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| Post Doc Annual Leave | Unused annual leave will not be paid out when the postdoc appointment ends and will not be converted or carried forward if the postdoc subsequently accepts a regular EHRA or SHRA position at NC State University. | No | Post Doc | No action is required |
| Sick Leave | Not paid out upon separation. Will be reinstated if employee returns within 5 years to a State of North Carolina agency or UNC System school. | Based on the receiving agency’s rules. | SHRA, EHRA (9 month faculty do not earn Sick Leave) | Ensure all time and leave is approved in WolfTime before the termination date and verify the “forecasted balances“. |
| Adverse Weather | Outstanding balances due will be deducted from final leave payout or salary payment. | No | SHRA, EHRA, Post Docs | Ensure all time and leave is approved in WolfTime before the termination date and verify the “forecasted balances“. |
| Bonus Leave | Bonus Leave balances will be paid out in addition to regular Annual Leave the month after termination. Leave for retirees will be paid out in the month of retirement. Bonus Leave may be applied to negative leave balances. | Based on the receiving agency’s rules. | SHRA, EHRA, (Post Doc employees and 9 month faculty do not earn bonus leave) | Ensure all time and leave is approved in WolfTime before the termination date and verify the “forecasted balances“.
Retirement deductions will be withheld from leave payouts in the amount of 6%. |
| 2017 & 2018 Special Bonus Leave | Not paid out upon separation. | Based on the receiving agency’s rules. | SHRA, EHRA, Post Docs | Ensure all time and leave is approved in WolfTime before the termination date and verify the “forecasted balances“. |
| Civil Leave | Not paid out upon separation. | Based on the receiving agency’s rules. | SHRA, EHRA, Post Docs | Ensure all time and leave is approved in WolfTime before the termination date and verify the “forecasted balances“. |
| Community Service, Literacy & Tutoring/Mentoring Leave | Not paid out upon separation. | Based on the receiving agency’s rules. | SHRA, EHRA, Post Docs | Ensure all time and leave is approved in WolfTime before the termination date and verify the “forecasted balances“. |
*EHRA Employees of 24 months or less
The amount paid to an EHRA employee who has been employed an aggregate of 24 months or less in SHRA or EHRA positions by one or more State or local governmental agencies is equal to one day for each month worked less the number of days of annual leave taken during the employment period. POL 05.15.01
Other Benefits
Bright Horizons
An employee of NC State University who has a child in a Bright Horizon Child Care Center who leaves NC State may continue enrollment at the center for the child(ren) but must pay a community tuition rate.
Tuition Waiver
A participating employee who does not continue in an eligible employment status throughout the entire semester during which the tuition waiver has been requested, and —
- Who wishes nonetheless to continue their course enrollment, will become responsible for the full amount of the in-state or out-of-state tuition and fees for the total number of credit hours, which will be charged to the student’s/employee’s account, OR
- Who withdraws from their course enrollment immediately coincident with the discontinuation of their eligible employment status, will not be held responsible for the tuition and fees.