COVID-19 (coronavirus) Resources
The Office of Human Resources is updating this website regularly as more resources become available. You can find below pages related to helping our faculty and staff during these difficult times. We have multiple resources ranging from telehealth medicine to adjusting to the sudden change in the work environment.
For important updates and communication for all UTRGV COVID -19 questions and resources please visit https://www.utrgv.edu/commitment/.
COVID-19 Immigration Services Updates
Cameron County COVID-19 Updates Government Updates
https://www.cameroncounty.us/covid-19/
Department of State temporarily suspends routine visa services
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/suspension-of-routine-visa-services.html
Requesting Appointments
Guidelines for Scheduling an Appointment with the Benefits Office:
Send an email to benefits@utrgv.edu, with the subject line “Request for an Appointment”. In the body of your email please include your preferred method of communication zoom/email, and briefly state why you are requesting an appointment (i.e. notary services, turning in retirement or benefits paperwork, etc.)
A Benefits Representative will respond to your email to schedule a virtual appointment that best suits your schedule.
Here are the links on how to download zoom.
You can also contact our front office at 956-665-2451 or 956-882-8205, to be transferred to an available Benefits Representative.
Health, Insurance and Retirement
COVID-19
- Effective immediately, the UT SELECT and UT CONNECT plan will not require prior authorization and will waive member copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles associated with testing for COVID-19 when medically necessary and consistent with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance.
- With regard to treatment for COVID-19, UT SELECT and UT CONNECT will cover medically necessary services consistent with the terms of each plan, including physician services, hospitalization, and emergency services.
- A primary care physician copayment will apply for medically necessary treatment delivered to a patient who may be quarantined under CDC guidelines in a setting other than inpatient.
- For specific questions about your UT SELECT coverage, members should call a Blue Cross and Blue Shield Health Advocate at 866-882-2034. For UT CONNECT please contact the CONNECT customer service team at 888-399-8889.
UT FLEX Options Based on the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA)
Expanded options and extended deadlines are now available for 2019-2020 UT FLEX participants with a remaining Healthcare Reimbursement Account (HCRA) or Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (DCRA) balance as well as for 2020-2021 UT FLEX participants. To view updates and changes authorized by the recently enacted Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), please visit the OEB website.
MDLIVE - Virtual doctor visits through MDLIVE continue to be available with no out-of-pocket costs and can be used when appropriate.
- Any person experiencing illness should contact their doctor or MDLIVE.
Should employees need to access an early refill of prescription medication, they may do so through their UT SELECT and UT CONNECT prescription benefits. Express Scripts, our pharmacy benefit manager, has lifted the “refill too soon” limitations to accommodate early refills for prescription medications up to a 90-day supply.
All other UT Benefits programs will continue to operate according to the Plan Specifications Outlined. This includes dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance. For disability and life insurance purposes, COVID-19 will be considered just as any other illness.
Submit Short Term Disability claim
Submit a Long Term Disability claim with Dearborn or The Standard Plan and click “File a Claim” in the middle of the page Disability Claim Additional Help.
Emergency Retirement Provider Contact and Signing Procedures - For the duration of the COVID-19 crisis, the approved providers of the UT Retirement Program have agreed to temporarily make allowances for the various benefit offices to submit Vesting/Termination and in some cases Transfer Verification Forms. The effective date of this information is through April 30, 2020, or until advised otherwise. Please be advised this information only pertains to ORP members and employees with Voluntary Retirement Programs.
Fidelity Investments
For the Duration of the COVID-19 crisis, Vesting/Termination Letters can be emailed to 8778005761@fidelityfaxmail.com. This is, in Fidelity’s words, a “fax email”. This is for V/T forms only. TVF forms must be sent by regular fax or mail.
- DocuSign Accepted: YES
TIAA
For the Duration of the COVID-19 crisis, Vesting/Termination Letters can be emailed to 8778005761@fidelityfaxmail.com. This is, in Fidelity’s words, a “fax email”. This is for V/T forms only. TVF forms must be sent by regular fax or mail.
- DocuSign Accepted: YES
Voya Financial
Email Jennifer Costello directly at Costello@voya.com to set up a VOYA secure email sign-in.
- DocuSign Accepted? YES
AIG Retirement (VALIC)
Vesting/Termination Forms to FAmailbox@Valic.com with the form or letter attached and approval in the body of the email. Please copy Kelly Wesson at kelly.wesson@aig.com when doing so. Note this is not a secure inbox, so do not provide a full SSN.
- DocuSign Accepted? NO. However, Kelly has indicated that if you confirm the information in the body of your email, they will accept that.
Lincoln Financial
Emailed forms can be sent to AlliancetoKofax@lfg.com. This is not a secure inbox so do not provide a full SSN.
- DocuSign Accepted? Temporarily. Lincoln has committed to accept digital signatures through April 30, 2020, and will extend that date if necessary.
Employee Assistance Program
Welcome to your UT Employee Assistance Program! Through the Employee Assistance Program or EAP, you and your family members can access convenient and confidential services at no cost to you. The EAP offers a variety of services including counseling consultation services with a licensed mental health professional, legal and financial resources, and work-life referrals.
To contact EAP or to obtain a referral for legal/financial/work-life services, please call 713-500-3327 or 800-346-3549.
Wellness
Focusing on your overall well-being is essential to help cope with sudden changes and uncertainty, as well as maintaining a strong immune system. The following resources and initiatives can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle while achieving your goals.
Desk Ergonomic Comfort Self-Checklist: Seated and Standing.
Self-care Recommendations:
- Practice a couple of minutes of deep breathing.
- Meditation can have benefits for mental and physical health.
- Practice gratitude.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet and get enough sleep.
End of Day Checklist for Well-Being
For additional resources and initiatives, visit UTRGV Employee Wellness or UT System Living Well.
Leave
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires covered employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year to eligible employees for certain family and medical reasons. The 12 weeks can be either continuous or intermittent.
Upon return from FMLA leave, employees must be restored to their original or equivalent position with equivalent pay and benefits.
When foreseeable, employees shall give at least thirty (30) calendar days advance notice. When the need for FMLA leave is not foreseeable, an employee should give UTRGV notice that leave is needed as soon as practicable, preferably the same day or the next business day when the employee learns of the need for leave.
For assistance in completing your Leave Process.
Employees that will require a leave of absence due to COVID sickness/illness or quarantine will need to use their available sick leave, pursuant to ADM 04-603 Sick Leave policy
Training Resources
We have a variety of online live training available on our training portal. Below you will find our training topics and resources, as well as useful tools to enhance your zoom meetings.
Zoom's on-demand video tutorials
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360029527911 (We highly recommend “the getting started” and “zoom meetings sessions – live or recorded”.)
UTRGV IT Remote Work Resources
E-Learn Employee Enrichment Overview Session
VAQUEROS Culture of Service Excellence – New Virtual Interactive Version
Need help?
Contact the Office of Human Resources
Phone: (E) 956-665-2451
Phone: (B) 956-882-8205
Email: hr@utrgv.edu