Steps to Enrollment
Postdocs are required to attend a Postdoc Benefits Informational Session within 31 days of their start date and before gaining access to the enrollment platform, Benelogic. Department administrator's usually register you for a session, so check with them first. If you have been asked to enroll yourself, please pick a date from our available sessions.
Typically, you have 31 days from your appointment start date to make your benefit elections via the online enrollment platform, Benelogic. If you have forgotten the instructions provided during the session, check out these instructions to help guide you.
If you do not take action after our first reminder to enroll, you will be automatically enrolled for the following benefits (postdoc only—no dependent coverage):
- Stanford HealthCare Alliance (SHCA) medical plan
- Life/ADD insurance, basic travel insurance, and long- and short- term disability, all provided by The Standard
- The Postdoc Assistance Program
You will not be enrolled in the dental and vision plans and will have no coverage for these services. Your effective date of coverage will be the same as outlined in the When Coverage Begins section.
A Word About Social Security Numbers
Benelogic requires a social security number for record creation. If your SSN was unknown, a placeholder SSN is used. If you have a valid SSN, please update it during the enrollment process. If you do not, enrollment will be delayed until you obtain one.
A social security number is required to finalize enrollment. Once you receive your SSN, the dummy SSN must be replaced with a valid number to ensure proper accountability of enrollment in medical insurance. The state of California requires all Californian's have medical insurance and that the plan sponsor (Stanford) provide proof of enrollment to each individual for tax filing purposes. Incorrect SSNs will make reporting incorrect and you could be financially penalized by the California Tax Franchise Board.
Latest update to Social Security office availability
Adding Eligible Family Members (dependents)
If you enroll a dependent, the Postdoc Benefits Office requires proof of dependent eligibility for the dependents you cover. Learn more about the required dependent eligibility documentation and what is considered acceptable proof of dependent eligibility.
For the medical, dental and vision plans, you may choose from one of the following enrollment categories:
- Postdoc only
- Postdoc + Spouse/Registered Domestic Partner
- Postdoc + Child(ren)
- Postdoc + Family (includes spouse/registered domestic partner and children)
You may select different enrollment categories for your medical, dental and vision plans. For example, you may enroll your entire family for medical coverage, but only yourself for dental; or you, your spouse and child for medical and you and your spouse for dental.
When Are My Plans Effective?
Becoming officially insured is a process. You must:
- Attend the benefits session
- Enroll in benefits and submit those elections for approval
- Your election data is sent to the carriers and processed within their systems
- Aetna and Delta Dental receive election data every Tuesday morning
- Friday to VSP receives election data every Friday morning
- Your elections are processed with an effective date of your appointment start date
Regardless of when you are able to finalize your elections by submitting them for approval, all plans become retro-effective back to your appointment start date.
Medical, dental, vision, and the Postdoc Assistance program end on the last day of the month in which you end your appointment. Disability, life insurance, and travel insurance end on your appointment end date.
Waive Benefits
You also have the option to waive postdoc medical, dental and vision benefits. Proof of medial insurance is required to waive our plan. Dental and vision coverage is not compulsory so you may waive that without proof of other coverage.