SU Medical Aid Program (SUMAP) to ease financial burden of medical care for qualified employees

SU Medical Aid Program (SUMAP) to ease financial burden of medical care for qualified employeesNovember 04, 2008SU News ServicesSUnews@syr.edu

To ease the overwhelming financial burden some employees face because of the high cost of medical care, SU is introducing the Syracuse University Medical Aid Program (SUMAP) effective Jan. 1, 2009. Its purpose is to lessen medical costs for staff members with the greatest needs.

In order to concentrate the limited funds on employees with the greatest needs, stringent eligibility guidelines are in place. Eligibility for this program is based on household taxable income and household size (number of dependents), relative to the federal poverty level.

Employees must complete an application and submit it, together with the requested financial documentation, to the Office of Human Resources no later than Dec. 1. Human Resources will review the applications and notify those who qualify for the program in December for medical aid in 2009.

Employees who qualify for the program will fall into one of two categories:

• 1. Group 1 Benefits-Qualified employees will receive a reduction in their SU medical plan out-of-pocket maximum and a subsidy to their monthly plan contributions. The out-of-pocket maximum is the annual amount a member has to pay out of his/her own pocket for medical plan copays, deductibles and coinsurances. Monthly plan contributions are not included in the out-of-pocket calculation.

  Employees whose taxable household income and size place them at 0-150 percent of the federal poverty level will receive Group 1 benefits.

• 2. Group 2 Benefits-Qualified employees will receive a reduction in their SU medical plan out-of-pocket maximum.

  Employees whose household income and size place them at 151-250 percent of the federal poverty level will receive Group 2 Benefits.

For more information and to access the application form, visit http://humanresources.syr.edu/highlights/sumap.html or contact the HR Service Center at 443-4042.