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The benefits below are for Research Fellows (9132) and Postdoctoral Scholars, Research (9145), who are classified as employees.

Health Insurance

• Employee Health Insurance
• Enrollment required within 30 days of hire date
• Coverage begins on start date of appointment
• If your home department is VU, details located at:
• If your home department is VUMC, details located at:

The following additional benefits are available:

• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
• Short-term Disability
• Long-term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Reimbursement Account
• Retirement Plan 403(b)

These additional benefits are provided through either VU or VUMC Human Resources Department.

• If your home department is VU, details located at:
• If your home department is VUMC, details located at:

Questions? Contact the appropriate human resources department.Ìý

Eligibility

Non-employee postdocs (i.e., VU Postdoctoral Scholar, Trainee) on training and fellowship grants (for whom no FICA is withheld) are eligible for the VU Postdoc Trainee Health Insurance Plan. The health insurance plan is administered by Academic Health Plans (AHP) and is Affordable Care Act compliant.

Dates of coverage are August 12, 2025 to August 11, 2026.

An early enrollment period is available forÌýnew trainees from July 1, 2025 - August 11, 2025.ÌýÌý

VU Postdoctoral Scholar TraineesÌýhave access toÌýs andÌýÌýwellness service.ÌýVU Postdoctoral Scholar TraineesÌýalso have access to theÌýÌýand theÌý. Additional information can be found on theÌýPostdoc Health & Wellness Resources page. Postdocs are not eligible to use the services at the Student Health Center (SHC) or Work/Life Connections – VUMC EAP.

Postdoc Enrollment

• Postdocs must enroll for health insurance within 30 days of the hire date. To enroll: Contact your department staff administrator who must submit aÌý via RedCap.
• Once the BAF is completed, it is automatically routed to the appropriate parties for approval.
• Postdocs are not billed directly for health insurance. The department or program is billed.
• The BAF is required for payment of premiums.

Enrolling Dependents

Postdocs may enroll their eligible dependents with an additional cost. Eligible dependents include:

• A married spouse (husband and wife) or children (under the age of 26).
• Domestic partners (same sex or opposite) are not covered.
• Postdocs must enroll dependents within two weeks of the effective start date on the BAF that your department administrator submits to OPA.
• Postdocs are not billed directly for dependent health insurance coverage. Your department is billed.

Coverage for eligible dependents must be purchased for the same time period as the postdoc's period of coverage and cannot exceed coverage purchased by the postdoc. For example, an individual enrolled for annual coverage has to purchase annual coverage for a dependent unless a qualifying event occurs (see Qualifying Events section below).

If a department/program decides not to pay for a postdoc’s dependents, the postdoc will need to reimburse the program. Postdocs with dependents should discuss with their department/program to make sure they are aware of who is paying for the dependent coverage.

Benefits & Premium

• The VU Postdoc Trainee Health Insurance Plan will provide coverage from August 12, 2025 to August 11, 2026.
• Starting July 1, 2025, the AHP Web Portal will be live. Postdocs can access to review detailed information about your benefits and coverage.
• The insurance carrier for the 2025-2026 plan year is UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Insurance Company.Ìý

2025 – 2026 Postdoc Rates

Programs/departments are billed for postdoc health insurance on a quarterly basis. The quarters and rates* are broken down as follows:

• Early Enrollment for NEW trainees: 7/1/25 - 8/11/25
• Q1:  8/12/25 – 11/11/25
• Q2:  11/12/25 – 2/11/26
• Q3:  2/12/26 – 5/11/26
• Q4:  5/12/26 – 8/11/26

Early Enrollment - $TBD (cannot be prorated)
Trainee – $1,078.50/quarter or $4,314.00 annually
Spouse – $1,081.50/quarter or $4,315.80 annually
Dependents under 18 – $1,087.50/quarter or $4,341.36 annually (2x max)

Please note: Rates differ between quarter and annual plans for spouse and dependent coverage.Ìý

To Terminate Coverage

• The VU Postdoc Trainee Health Insurance Plan is an annual policy with four termination dates: December 31, April 30, May 30 and August 11.
• Termination can be accommodated other than the end of the quarterly period by prorating a monthly rate.
• To terminate coverage: Department administrators must complete aÌý). Your department will continue to be charged until a termination BAF is received.

Qualifying Events

Postdoctoral Scholar Trainees can also add eligible dependent(s) if they experience one of the following qualifying events: (a) marriage, (b) birth of a child, (c) divorce, (d) if the dependent is entering the country for the first time, or (e) the dependent loses coverage under another health insurance.

Dental & Vision Insurance

• The 2025-2026 SHIP includes MetLife Dental PPO. The MetLife Dental PPO plan includes coverage for diagnostic evaluations/x-rays and preventative services at 100% as well as basic dental restorative at 80% and major restorative at 50%.
• SHIP includes one adult eye exam per plan year and free eyeglasses through Academic Vision Care (AVC). Additional discounts are available through AVC Marketplace.Ìý
• MetLife Dental is offered as an Optional Dental Plan for those who waive SHIP coverage. Enrollment is open all year and can be canceled at any time. Coverage starts the first day of the following month after enrolling.  Payment is required on the 20th of each month. Coverage will continue and will be charged until the postdoc cancels the optional vision even if the AHP health insurance coverage is terminated.
• Dental coverage is included in the medical plan for dependents under age 19.Ìý

NIH NRSA Childcare Supplements

For postdocs on NIH NRSA grants or fellowships, please review the childcare supplement information found at NIH NoticeÌýÌý(for institution training grants),ÌýÌý(individual fellowships) or speak with your grants manager.Ìý

Questions?

Information regarding student health insurance may also be found atÌý.

Questions about insurance waivers, disenrollment, termination, or appeals should be directed toÌýOPA@vanderbilt.edu.

Coverage starts October 1.

Eligibility

Non-employee PostDocs (VUMC Research Fellow Trainee’s) on training and fellowship grants (for whom no FICA is withheld) are eligible for the VUMC Postdoc Trainee Health Insurance Plan. The health insurance plan is administered by Gallagher. For additional information, see 2025-2026 Health Insurance Plan Design Changes below.

Dates of coverage are October 1 to September 30.

VUMC Postdoctoral Research Fellow Trainees have access to , as well asÌý.

Postdoc Enrollment

• Postdocs must enroll within 30 days of hire date.
• To enroll: Contact your department staff administrator who must submit aÌýÌý³Ù´ÇÌýShatika Wade, VUMC Benefits.
• Once the Benefits Action Form (BAF) has been processed, postdocs may enroll through the Gallagher website:ÌýÌý
• Coverage for the postdoc is likely covered by the training grant or fellowship outside of the optional buy-up plans. For postdocs needing to cover dependents, they will need to discuss if funds are available for coverage or how to pay back the amount of the dependent premiums.
• To terminate coverage: Department administrators must submit aÌýÌý³Ù´ÇÌýShatika Wade, VUMC Benefits.ÌýCenter numbers will continue to be charged until a termination BAF is received.

Detailed information is located at:Ìý

Postdoc Monthly Rates

Monthly Gallagher AETNA Medical Rates: 2025-2026

AETNA Dental Plans

Additional Benefits Provided

OPTIONAL MONTHLY AETNA BUY-UP PPO 90/70

(Postdoc is responsible for enrolling and making payments)

All postdoctoral trainees enrolled in this benefits package are given the option of buying-up into theÌýAetna PPO 90/70 Health Insurance Plan for a small monthly premium. Many postdocs have asked if their grant/department will pay for the buy-up premiums, if the funds are available. Since the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø Medical Center cannot be invoiced for postdoc buy-up premiums, you must discuss this option with your respective department. If approved, each department will determine how they wish to handle payment.

Please note: If Gallagher does not receive payment for the buy-up premium by the scheduled due dates, the trainee’s benefits will terminate, and they will not be able to re-enroll until the next open enrollment period in the fall.

Reimbursement/payment of the postdoc premium on behalf of the trainee is to be negotiated between the department and theÌýtrainee.

OPTIONAL VISION

(Postdoc is responsible for enrolling and making payments)

If a postdoctoral trainee chooses to participate in the optional vision plan or Aetna Buy-up plan, they are responsible for enrolling and making payments as necessary to Gallagher.

NIH NRSA Childcare Supplements

For postdocs on NIH NRSA grants or fellowships, please review the childcare supplement information found at NIH Notice (for institution training grants), (individual fellowships) or speak with your grants manager.Ìý