Question: A recent tax law change has created Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or individuals with high deductible health plans ($1,000 individuals, $2,000 families). Does the HealthSelect health insurance meet this criterion? Can we establish HSAs? If so, how? If not, what can be changed to allow this?

Answer: For those that don’t know what an HSA is, here is an explanation so that you will understand the rest of this answer. HSAs are similar to TDA 403(b) retirement plan in that they are established for the benefit of an individual, are owned by the individual, are generally exempt from tax, and are portable. They also allow for employee and/or employer contributions. There are catch up provisions for people ages 55-65 which allow them to contribute more to their account. If the individual leaves the work force, the HSA does not stay behind with the former employer, but stays with the individual. The individual can roll it into another HSA account offered by a new employer. The dollars that are contributed to the HSA account can be used at any time to pay for qualified medical expenses which generally are those medical expenses that are not paid by the health plan.

That being said, a high deductible is the first element in determining eligibility for HSAs but not the only criteria. There are other limits based on annual out-of-pocket expenses required to be paid such as co-payments and coinsurance, but not premiums. These limits are $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for full family. In a network plan (such as HealthSelect), out-of-network services are not taken into account in determining the annual contribution limits. For example, if you were to use a non-network provider, meeting the $500 deductible for non-network services would not be calculated in determining the eligibility because the non-network deductible is not a variable in determining the eligibility of a plan.

HealthSelect has no deductible when using providers inside the network. Coinsurance has a maximum of $1,000 per person. Co-pays can vary depending on how many doctor visits, emergency room visits and inpatient hospitalizations a person experiences.

Taking all this information into consideration, since HealthSelect has no deductible in network, our plan would not qualify us to create HSAs.

We have been given no indication from the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) that they may be considering changes in our HealthSelect plan to allow for the use of HSAs. We would be surprised though, if they were not looking at this possibility for the next summer enrollment period. If our plan(s) change, and/or if HSAs become a possibility for us, we will inform you as soon as we get that news.

Question:I work part-time as an adjunct faculty member teaching one night weekly. Is there a possibility to contribute into the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)?

Answer: No. In order to be eligible to contribute to TRS an employee must work at least 20 hours each week for 4 ½ months or more in each fiscal year.

Question: A supervisor asked the following questions regarding the performance appraisal process:

“After the Supervisor’s Signature line on the appraisal form, there is an area for “Employee Comments.” May the supervisor read these comments ? Should an employee get a copy of the appraisal with the Director’s comments ? Should the supervisor read the Director’s comments?”

Answer: After entering any comments, the employee signs the appraisal form and gives it back to the supervisor. The supervisor is free, of course, to read these comments before passing the appraisal form on to the Director for comment and signature.

Section 04. of UPPS 04.04.20 provides the timeframe and series of events surrounding the performance appraisal process, including deadlines and timelines for the appraisal process to be completed.

The “final” copy referred to in the first sentence of Section 04.11 is one containing all signatures and comments. While a supervisor may give an employee a copy before, during, or immediately after the appraisal interview, policy has not been complied with until the employee receives a “final” copy. And with the five working day deadline, Directors must not delay commenting on, signing and distributing “final” copies.

Supervisors are permitted to and should read any Director comments.

Question: "Where can an employee see a copy of an University Policy and Procedure Statement (UPPS) UPPS ?"

Answer: All approved UPPSs can be found at the following web site: http://www.txstate.edu/effective/upps/. Draft UPPSs go through a divisional review and then a campus review prior to final approval by the President’s Cabinet. More information on the UPPS approval process can be found at http://www.txstate.edu/effective/upps/upps-01-01-01.html.

Additionally, account managers should have copies of the relevant UPPS and departmental policies and procedures. Human Resources also has copies available.