Benefits
Insurance Plans
Faculty, staff and retirees are cornerstones of the University community, and your University benefits and retirement are foundational in supporting your health, financial future and overall well-being. Taking time to understand the programs available to you can help make choices that match your goals and stage of life.
Medical plans
Health coverage is a Key part of your overall well-being. University medical insurance provides resources, tools and support to help you access care and make choices that fit your personal needs and lifestyle. Preventive services, day-to-day care and coverage for a variety of conditions are just a few ways these plans support long-term wellness.
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Dental plans
Learn more about the University's Dental Plan options. Both options cover preventive, basic and major care, with the Buy-Up Plan adding orthodontic coverage, lower deductible and higher annual maximum. Both plans let you see any provider with the same cost-sharing.
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Vision plan
Get coverage for routine eye exams, glasses, contacts and more through the Vision Plan. Affordable copays and network discounts help you and your dependents save on quality vision care. Coverage also includes hearing support.
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Life insurance
Protect your loved ones with flexible life insurance options. Coverage is available for you, your spouse, and your dependents, with multiple plan levels to meet different needs.
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Short-term disability insurance
Short-Term Disability (STD) benefits provide income replacement for temporary medical disabilities. Available to eligible staff and certain non-regular academic positions.
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Long-term disability insurance
Long-Term Disability (LTD) benefits replace a portion of your income if you are unable to work for more than 147 days due to illness or injury. Choose from multiple plan options, including a core plan at no cost to you.
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Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance offers extra financial protection in the event of a serious accident. Coverage is available to faculty, staff, and eligible retirees who enrolled before retirement.
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Pet insurance
Pet insurance helps you manage the costs of caring for your animal companions while keeping their health a priority. Through group-sponsored discounts and accessible resources, you can find options that support the well-being of pets alongside your own coverage choices.
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Tuition Assistance
The UM System supports employees and their families who choose to continue their education. Faculty and staff who choose to pursue or continue their college education—as well as eligible spouses and dependents—can receive assistance at any of the universities within the UM System.
Active employees
75 percent of tuition and supplemental fees are waived for college-level courses. Up to six credit hours per semester, three for summer.
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Spouses and dependents
50 percent reduction in tuition for college-level courses. Up to 140 credit hours. Covers tuition only. Activity fees, late fees and books are the student’s responsibility.
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Retirees
100 percent of tuition, supplemental fees, and student activity fees waived if class space is available. Books and other expenses are retiree’s responsibility.
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Retirement Plans
Retirement programs provide ways to save for the future through employer-sponsored plans and personal contributions. These options help you build long-term financial security and give you control over how you plan for life after your career.
Defined Contribution (DC) Plan
The Defined Contribution (DC) Plan is made up of employee and employer contributions. The University provides a matching contribution to an employer contributions account equal to your contribution rate to a 457(b) plan, up to 8% of eligible salary.
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Voluntary Retirement Plans (VRPs)
All faculty and staff, regardless of benefit eligibility, are able to participate in University-sponsored Voluntary Retirement Plans (VRPs). Each VRP option can provide tax advantages, an array of investment choices and responsive service and planning support. You can change the amount of your deferral at any time.
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Enrollment and Making Changes
Managing your benefits is an important step in planning for your health, finances and future. Resources are available to guide you through enrolling, updating or reviewing your coverage, including support for life changes and annual enrollment periods.
Newly benefit eligible
New employees have the opportunity to get started in a variety of benefits offered at the University. Guidance and tools are available to help you choose benefits that meet your needs.
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When Circumstances Change
Certain life events let you adjust your insurance or Flexible Spending Account outside of Annual Enrollment. Learn how to add or remove dependents, start or stop coverage, and update your benefits when circumstances changes.
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Yearly review and update
Each fall, eligible faculty and staff can review and update their benefits for the coming year. Annual Enrollment is the time to make changes to your coverage, explore new options and ensure your benefits continue to meet your needs.
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Questions?
Let us help you get the most out of your benefits. The UMKC benefits team administers the university benefit programs for eligible employees on all UMKC campuses. We can meet with you to answer questions and help you better understand your benefits.