New To Benefits

New Employee Orientation

As a new employee at Dartmouth or if you are new to benefits eligibility, it is important that you sign up and attend new employee orientation. If you have not yet received an invitation for New Employee Orientation, please contact the main Human Resources office at 603-646-3411 or at Human.Resources@dartmouth.edu.

For more information about New Employee Orientation or if you'd like a preview of the information covered by the Benefits Office during New Employee Orientation, please click here.

Enroll in Benefits

You will have thirty (30) days from your date of hire/date of benefits eligibility to make your benefit elections.  Otherwise, you will be defaulted into a medical plan and other benefits as defined by your employment category.

Access Your Benefits via FlexOnline

New Hire Enrollment Guide (2023)

The New Hire Enrollment Guide is designed to provide a full overview of all benefits available to you.  As a benefits-eligible employee, it is your responsibility to read this guide in its entirety to ensure the important deadlines and key actions contained within, and their impact on your benefits eligibility. 

For more detailed information about each benefit offered, please click here.

If you are hired or become benefits eligible in October 2023 or after, you will be required to complete both your new hire enrollment as well as your 2024 benefits enrollment.  You must first complete your new hire enrollment before you will see your 2024 Open Enrollment window.  For information on the 2024 benefits offerings, click here or view the 2024 Benefits Guide.

Eligibility

Who is Eligible

• Employees who are regularly scheduled to work at least half of the normal full schedule, at least nine months each year.
• Regular Benefits Eligible employees working less than full time receive pro-rated benefits according to their percentage of working full-time.
• Temporary employees and regular employees working less than half time are not eligible for benefits.

The amount that you pay in premiums is affected by the number of hours you work as well as the amount of annual salary received. This is important to know when you are considering a change in hours or full time equivalency (FTE).

When Benefits Begin

Benefits start on your date of hire, or date of mid-year qualifying life status event. If you incur expenses prior to enrolling, simply ask your provider to have the bill mailed to you, and once the card is received call the providers office with your ID card information and ask them to resubmit the claim.

Plan Year

Dartmouth's benefits run on a calendar plan year, from January 1st through December 31st. Some benefits are prorated based on your start date or benefits eligibility date.

Benefit Categories

Your employment category determines what benefits you are eligible for. Contact your Supervisor if you are unsure of which category you fall in to.  Be sure to check medical rates and benefit eligibility any time you change benefit categories.

• Exempt – Includes Faculty (visiting or tenure track), Research Staff (Research Associate C, Research Scientist, Research Analyst and Research Engineers) and Exempt Staff (salaried staff). These employees are exempt from over-time pay, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• Non-Exempt – Refers to employees who are paid by the hour and are not exempt from over-time pay, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act. This includes Non-Exempt Staff, Non Union Service Staff and IATSE union members. This does not include SEIU union members.
• SEIU – Refers to Dartmouth employees who are members of the Service Employees International Union. SEIU members are paid by the hour and are not exempt from over-time pay, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• Research Associate B (RAB) – Refers to grant or Dartmouth-funded employees (other than those on certain kinds of training grants) with an appointment of greater than nine (9) months and less than three (3) years. RAB's are exempt from over-time pay according to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• Research Fellow – A post-doctoral trainee on a NRSA or T32 training grant with an appointment of at least nine (9) months and less than three (3) years. Research Fellows are exempt from over-time pay, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act. These employees are paid with non-taxable wages.

Cost of Benefits

Use the Benefits Cost Estimator at any time, to determine your 2023 medical, dental, life insurance and long term disability plan rates.  You will need to know your annual base salary and FTE, typically found on your original offer letter.

Visit dartgo.org/benefits-cost-estimator

Verification & Plan Changes

Dependent Verification

When adding dependents to your medical and dental insurance plans, you will be required to upload verification of dependents. This may include copies of a birth certificate for dependent children and a marriage license when adding spouses.

Event Verification

When making changes to your benefits during the middle of a plan year due to a qualified life event, you may be required to upload proof of the event.

Making Changes to Your Plan

Once you have made your annual enrollment, whether as a new hire, or during open enrollment, you may not make changes to most of your benefits until the following plan year. The exception to this, is when you have a qualifying life status change. This can be a marriage, a divorce, a birth or adoption of a child, or any time you or a dependent loses or gains coverage. A spouse's open enrollment period is also considered a qualifying life status change. It is important to know that you must complete a life status change event through the FlexOnline system no more than 30 days after the date of the event.