Eligibility & Rates - Research Faculty

If your contract is greater than or equal to 9 months and you are in one of these job profiles, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Research Associate, Research Associate Professor, Research Assistant Professor, Research Faculty Non-Exempt, Research Professor, Visiting Scholar, Visiting Research Faculty, ASPPRC Administrator, EMCIS Dir Ops, full-time and part-time  benefits will apply.  *If you are in one of the above job profiles and do not meet the contract length, you are not benefits eligible.  For confirmation, please contact benefit@mines.edu.

If you are in one of these job profiles, Research Support, Research Support I, Research Support II, Research Support III, Research Support IV, Research Support V, Research Support VI, Research Tech Pro, full-time and part-time benefits will apply.

Eligibility

• Benefits eligibility begins with an initial contract of at least nine (9) months and a FTE of 50%.
• Research Faculty with a 50% FTE to 99% FTE are eligible for part-time medical, dental and vision insurance rates.
• Research Faculty with a 100% FTE receive fully paid medical and dental coverage by Mines.
• If you obtain a J1 Visa, Mines currently offers one medical plan that meets the required eligibility.  Please refer to the FAQ page for more specifics.

Effective Date of Coverage

• Date of hire or 1st of the month following your nine-month anniversary.

Termination of Coverage

• Benefits will remain active through the last day of the month in which you separate from Mines or experience a loss of eligibility.  Following the separation or loss of coverage, a COBRA notice will be issued to you. You will receive this via post mail, and it will have an effective date of the 1st of the month following the separation/loss of coverage. If you choose to elect COBRA, you will then work with the COBRA administrator directly.

Cost 

• Rate information can be found here.
• Research Faculty with a 100% FTE receive fully paid medical and dental coverage by Mines.
• Premiums are deducted monthly and semi-monthly and catch-up payments may be required depending on time of enrollment and processing of payroll.

Healthcare Cost Share (Effective 7/1/26)

• Employees with a 100% FTE will participate in cost sharing for medical and dental coverage, as outlined in the charts below.
• Employees with a 50% FTE to 99% FTE currently pay part-time medical, dental and vision insurance rates.
• The table below has been prepared using the total premiums by plan and tier based on calendar year 2025. 
• Premiums are released in October every year.  Exact 2026 rates will be announced October 2025. 
• It is projected that premiums in 2026 will be about 6% greater than the numbers listed below.
• The employee-paid percentage of premiums will remain constant for calendar years 2027 and 2028 for healthcare.
• Premiums are deducted either monthly or semi-monthly,  and catch-up payments may be required depending on time of enrollment and processing of payroll.
• Read the December 2024 email communication about the healthcare cost share.