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Affordable Care Act - Part-time Coverage

ACA Medical Eligibility

If you are a part-time employee who becomes newly eligible for medical coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA):
You will receive a Workday Inbox message, alerting you to your eligibility and to make your desired plan election within Workday. You will remain eligible for the plan year in which you qualify provided you remain an active employee with the University.

If you are a full-time employee who changes to a part-time position, you are eligible to continue medical coverage under the ACA medical plan:
You will receive a Workday Inbox message regarding your eligibility. You will remain eligible for the plan year in which you qualify provided you remain an active employee with the University. You will make your desired plan election within Workday. Upon your submitting of your ACA medical plan election, your full-time benefits will end with the following exceptions; (1) mandatory retirement plan will continue in your part-time position, (2) if you elected ACA medical, your medical coverage will continue, and (3) if remaining in the Lion Advantage HSA, your HSA election will continue. All other benefits will terminate at the end of the pay period in which your job change occurs. Please note that if you participated in an FSA, you will have 90 days from the date of your job change to submit for any eligible expenses.

For employees who become eligible during the Annual Open Enrollment period: 
You will receive an email from Penn State Employee Benefits and you will receive a Workday Inbox message to make your open enrollment elections within Workday. You will remain eligible for the plan year in which you qualify provided you remain an active employee with the University.

Grandfathered Part-Time Medical Eligibility (discontinued Policy HR05)

Individuals who became eligible on or before December 31, 2014 for the part-time health care plan will continue to be eligible for such provisions, based on the below guidance:

  1. There is no involuntary or voluntary separation from University employment; for example if the employee leaves University employment for any period of time;
  2. The employee continues enrollment in the part-time health care plan, with applicable payment of health care plan premiums via payroll deduction or billing process when a payroll deduction cannot occur;
  3. Or, eligibility for the part-time health care plan ceases should the employee transfer into a full-time benefits eligible position.

See Policy HR103 Employment Conditions for Part-Time, Intermittent/Short-Term & Full-Time Student Employees for established criteria for those grandfathered under discontinued Policy HR05 prior to December 31, 2014.

As previously communicated with the discontinuation of Policy HR05, there will no longer be an open enrollment period for part-time employees covered under this grandfathered plan. Changes may only be made with a qualifying life status change (marriage, divorce, birth, adoption, etc.).

Please see the Grandfathered Part-Time Eligible Employee Contributions Per Pay.

Premium Contributions for ACA & Part-Time Coverage

2024 ACA Eligible Employee Contributions Per Pay
Tier Level Monthly Lion Advantage HSA Bi-Weekly Lion Advantage HSA Monthly Lion Traditional Bi-Weekly Lion Traditional
Individual $23.33 $10.77 $44.92 $20.73
Employee + Spouse $56.29 $25.98 $109.67 $50.62
Employee + Child(ren) $52.21 $24.10 $101.79 $46.98
Family $71.75 $33.12 $139.71 $64.48
2024 Grandfathered Part-Time Eligible Employee Contributions Per Pay
Tier Level Monthly Lion Traditional Bi-Weekly Lion Traditional
Individual $44.92 $20.73
Employee + Spouse $109.67 $50.62
Employee + Child(ren) $101.79 $46.98
Family $139.71 $64.48

 

2025 ACA Eligible Employee Contributions Per Pay
Tier Level Monthly
Lion Advantage HSA
Lion Advantage Flex
Bi-Weekly
Lion Advantage HSA
Lion Advantage Flex
Monthly
Lion Traditional
Bi-Weekly
Lion Traditional
Individual $26.54 $12.25 $50.75 $23.42
Employee + Spouse $63.88 $29.48 $124.25 $57.35
Employee + Child(ren) $59.21 $27.33 $115.21 $53.17
Family $81.38 $37.56 $158.08 $72.96
2025 Grandfathered Part-Time Eligible Employee Contributions Per Pay
Tier Level Monthly
Lion Traditional
Bi-Weekly
Lion Traditional
Individual $50.75 $23.42
Employee + Spouse $124.25 $57.35
Employee + Child(ren) $115.21 $53.17
Family $158.08 $72.96