Benefits/Insurance Questions

• Where can I get a replacement health insurance card if mine is lost or stolen?  You may link to the State Health Plan website Insurance Managers page, then link to your provider to request a new card, as well as other on-line services.  Or if you subscribe to the State Health Plan, you may call BlueCross BlueShield at 1-800-868-2520, then select the appropriate option from the automated menu. 

• Where can I get an additional or replacement dental insurance card?  Dental insurance cards are available in the Office of Human Resources, 303 Tillman. 

• How can I find out if my doctor or hospital is in the State Health Plan network?  The Provider Directory, which is published annually, only lists doctors and hospitals in South Carolina.  For a complete and current list of providers, link to the BlueCross BlueShield web page at http://www.southcarolinablues.com and go to the "Find a Doctor" section.  This list of State Health Plan providers is updated nightly and is the most up-to-date list available for both in-state and out-of-state providers.

• Can I check on my insurance claims on the internet?  If you are a subscriber to the State Health Plan, you may link to the Insurance Managers page to access your personal account information.

• What is the deadline for MoneyPlu$ claims?  The plan year is January 1 through December 31 and all dates of service must occur during these dates.  All requests for reimbursement must be submitted for processing by March 31 of the following year.

• What is the deadline for State Health Plan medical claims?  BlueCross BlueShield must receive medical claims by the end of the calendar year after the year in which expenses are incurred.

• When can I change my beneficiary information?  You can change your beneficiary designation at any time.  Call the Office of Human Resources at ext. 2273 or email HRhelp@winthrop.edu to request an appointment with a benefits administrator.

• When can I make changes to my insurance coverage?  Unless you have a qualifying event, you can only make changes to your insurance coverage during an Annual or Open Enrollment period in the month of October.  See the following questions for further explanation.

• What is a qualifying event?  In general, a qualifying event is an event that allows insurance coverage or an extension of insurance coverage for an employee, spouse or dependent.  Such events may be marriage, birth/adoption/placement, loss of group health plan coverage, divorce/legal separation, death of the covered employee, loss of dependent's eligibility for coverage, etc.  Changes due to a qualifying event must be made within 31 days of the date of the qualifying event by contacting a benefits administrator in the Office of Human Resources at ext. 2273.

• What is the difference between Open Enrollment and Annual Enrollment?  Annual Enrollment is the period each year during which eligible employees and retirees may change health plans only.  It is held each October.  Open Enrollment is a period during which eligible employees, retirees, survivors and COBRA subscribers may enroll in or drop their own coverage and add or drop eligible dependents to/from a health plan without regard to any special eligibility situations.  An open enrollment period is held every other year in October (2005, 2007, etc.) and enrollment changes become effective the following January 1.  Benefits administrators in the Office of Human Resources are available to help with your annual/open enrollment during each October - please schedule your appointment early in the month by calling ext. 2273 or emailing HRhelp@winthrop.edu.

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Leave Questions

• What is the funeral leave policy?  In the event of a death within an employee's immediate family, the employee may be granted up to 3 consecutive days (24 hours) of leave with pay.  "Immediate family" is defined as spouse, parents, children, brothers, sisters, grandparents and grandchildren, great-grandparents and great-grandchildren of either the employee or the spouse.  Effective 8/16/04, the state redefined immediate family to include the spouse of brothers, spouse of sisters, and spouse of children.  Among those not included under this policy are aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.  The employee is expected to notify the supervisor of the circumstances before taking funeral leave.  The name of the deceased and the relationship to the employee must be stated on the Record of Leave Taken form.  If the employee needs to be excused from work for more than the 3 days (24 hours) of leave provided under this policy, the employee may request annual leave (or leave without pay if no annual leave is available).

• What is the family sick leave policy?  An employee may use a maximum of 80 hours (10 days) of sick leave (pro-rated for part-time employees) during a calendar year to provide care for members of the immediate family who become ill or disabled.  "Immediate family" includes the employee's spouse and children and the following relations to the employee or the spouse of the employee: mother, father, brother, sister, grandparent, legal guardian, and grandchildren if the grandchild resides with the employee and the employee is the primary caretaker of the grandchild.

• Can I combine two leave periods on one leave form?  No.  You must fill out one leave form for each leave period during which you have taken leave.  Leave periods are the 1st through the 15th of the month, and the 16th through the end of the month.  For example, if you take two days leave on Thursday and Friday, January 15 and 16, you must turn in two leave forms:  one for the 15th (first leave period in January) and one for the 16th (second leave period in January).

• How can I make a correction to a leave form that I have already turned in?  You must fill out an amended leave form for the leave period in question - be sure to write "AMENDED FORM" clearly on the form.  If you did not keep a copy of the original form and are unsure about the amount of leave reported, please call the leave administrator in the Office of Human Resources at ext. 2273 to discuss your situation or email HRhelp@winthrop.edu. 

• Is there a limit to the amount of annual leave I can take in one year?  Yes.  The maximum number of annual leave hours which may be taken during the calendar year is 240 hours (30 days) for full-time employees or the proportional equivalent for part-time employees.  Please refer to the Employee Manual for exceptions to this policy.

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Other Questions

• Where can I get a copy of the Employee Manual?  Each department was issued a copy of the Winthrop University Employee Manual.   If your department does not have a copy of the manual, your supervisor should contact the Office of Human Resources.  Employees may also review a copy of the Employee Manual in the Office of Human Resources.

• Can I contribute to a voluntary tax shelter even if I participate in the State Retirement Plan?  Yes.  The Office of Human Resources has information on approved vendors for voluntary tax shelter programs.  While our office cannot advise you on financial planning, we will be happy to provide you with contact information.  If you would like to speak to a benefits administrator about voluntary tax shelters, please call ext. 2273 or email HRhelp@winthrop.edu.

• When and how can I change my W-4 withholding information?  You can change your tax withholding information at any time by filling out a new W-4 form and turning it into the Office of Human Resources.  Click here to download a W-4 Employee's Withholding Form.

• I teach part-time at Winthrop.  Why is my name not listed in the printed telephone directory?  Only permanent faculty and staff who are employed by the first of July are included in the printed telephone directory, due to the printing deadline.  The online Faculty/Staff Directory includes both permanent and temporary employees, however, temporary employees are listed only during the time that their temporary assignment is active.  The online directory is updated nightly, so it contains the most up-to-date information.

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