Postdoctoral Benefits

Questions regarding benefits should be directed to [email protected]. For a leave of absence, please direct your questions to [email protected].

Medical

For Postdoctoral appointees participating in the Penn State employee healthcare plan, the per pay contribution rates follow the same salary-based schedule as faculty and staff. For more details, please refer to Penn State's Health Insurance Information.

• All Postdoctoral appointees are eligible to enroll in the Lion Traditional plan
• J1 Visa holders and Postdoctoral fellows are not eligible to enroll in the qualified High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), Lion Advantage

Health & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) 

• Postdoctoral scholars are eligible to enroll in either or both accounts. 
• Postdoctoral fellows are not eligible to enroll in either or both accounts. 

Vision 

For Postdoctoral appointees interested in participating in the Penn State employee vision plan, the per pay contribution rates follow the same schedule as faculty and staff. 

Dental

The dental benefit for Postdoctoral appointees is not the same as other employee benefits. They are the same as the graduate student insurance dental benefits. 

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Penn State’s EAP is a free, confidential employee and family resource to be used as a first line of defense for personal or work-related concerns for yourself or your family. Details of EAP are available at Employee Assistance Program webpage.

Life Insurance

As a new Postdoctoral Scholar appointee, you may elect to participate in the age-graded life insurance plan. Coverage can be elected in an amount that is equal to one times your annual stipend. Postdoctoral Scholar appointees only have one opportunity to sign up for the age-graded life insurance, which is during the new employee benefit election period at time of hire. Postdoctoral Scholar appointees are not eligible to elect optional spousal or dependent life insurance. This benefit is not available to Postdoctoral Fellow appointees. For more information, see Penn State life insurance webpage.  

Supplemental Retirement Plan

Postdoctoral Scholar appointees are eligible to make tax-deferred contributions to a 403(b) tax-deferred annuity plan and/or a 457(b) deferred compensation plan. A Roth (post-tax) contribution option is also available on the 403(b) plan. Contributions to these supplemental retirement plans are in addition to and separate from contributions that are made to your mandatory Penn State retirement plan. This benefit is not available to Postdoctoral Fellow appointees. For more information, see Penn State supplemental retirement.