Postdoctoral Researchers and Fellows

Open Enrollment Is Closed

Review plan changes below.

Your 2023-2024 Guide

The Postdoctoral Researchers and Fellows Benefits Enrollment Guide is available with details about the 2023-2024 plan year.

Download Your Enrollment Guide

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Welcome, Postdoctoral Researchers and Fellows

Welcome to the Penn Postdoctoral Researchers and Fellows Benefits Plan for 2023-2024. When it comes to making crucial decisions related to your health and well-being, the Postdoc Benefits Plan can be a supportive and comprehensive resource. These benefits are used by thousands of Penn employees every day and are integral to the strength of the Penn community.

This year, Postdoctoral Researchers and Fellows will have new options available through the Penn Postdoc Benefits Plan. The plan changes take effect on July 1, 2023.  If you are a NRSA Fellow, you will re-enroll with Gallagher for benefits to continue coverage as of July 1. All other postdocs will not be able to retain their current coverage and must make an election during Open Enrollment if you wish to participate in the newly available Penn Postdoc Benefit Plan. 

    New Benefit Offering for the 2023-2024 Plan Year

    • Three medical plans. Keystone Health Plan HMO, Aetna POS II, and PennCare/Personal Choice. All three plans provide access to the Penn Provider network. For details, review the medical plan charts in the Postdoctoral Researchers and Fellows Benefits Enrollment Guide.
    • MetLife Dental Plan and VSP Vision Plans. See charts in the Postdoc Benefits Enrollment Guide for details.
    • Fertility Benefit. Penn’s fertility benefit is administered by Carrot Fertility, effective July 1. Carrot will work with Penn Fertility Clinic and fertility clinics nationwide to support staff and postdocs in different locations, and the benefit will offer a concierge level of service. The benefit is a flat $30,000 lifetime maximum that can be used for a variety of fertility treatments.
    • Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts. You will have the option to elect the Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts. You can elect a maximum of $3,050 for Health Care and $5,000 for Dependent Care. You have until June 30, 2024 (end of the plan year) to incur expenses and until September 30, 2024 to submit eligible claims for services you received before June 30.

    New Enrollment Process with Workday@Penn

    Be sure to review your available choices in Workday. You must enroll in order to have coverage. Use the steps below to enroll.

    1. With Your PennKey and password log in to Workday at: www.myworkday.com/upenn/login.html.
    2. From your home page, select Open Enrollment – Event in your inbox.
    3. Click Let’s Get Started.
    4. A set of tiles will show the benefit items you can view or change.
    5. Select Manage/Enroll on the benefit that you would like to review.
    6. Add dependents and beneficiaries if applicable.
    7. Complete this for each benefit tile you wsh to enroll in.
    8. Once you have completed your elections, click Review and Sign at the bottom of page.
    9. Review your elections and scroll down to bottom and click "I Accept"
    10. To complete the process click Submit.
    11. Print your confirmation statement.
    12. To view full self-service tip sheet on how to enroll: Self Service: Manage, View and Change Your Open Enrollment Elections.

    During Open Enrollment, you can make changes to your benefits coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via Workday@Penn. Please remember to print a confirmation statement for your records. 

    Read the Self-Service: Manage, View and Change Your Benefits Workday tip sheet for instructions. 

    Benefits Presentation

    Get details about the upcoming plan year, medical rates, and how to enroll in Workday by viewing the Open Enrollment 2023-2024 Benefits Presentation. 

    Updating Your Life Insurance Beneficiaries

    While you’re logged in to Workday@Penn, please review your beneficiary designation for your life insurance and submit any necessary updates.

    Your Contributions

    Your contributions for medical, dental, vision, and the flexible spending accounts are made with pre-tax dollars. You pay for employee and dependent life insurance with after-tax dollars. All contributions are taken from your paycheck in the month for which your benefits are effective. Your pay must support your contributions for the benefits elected. If your pay doesn't support your contributions, then your enrollment cannot be processed.

    Making Changes to Your Elections Outside of Open Enrollment

    If you have a qualifying life event you may be eligible to make changes to your benefit elections outside of Open Enrollment. For more information visit the Qualifying Life Event Changes page.

    Employee Assistance Program

    Effective July 1, 2023, postdoctoral researchers and fellows will have access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

    Penn’s EAP provides eligible faculty, staff, postdocs, and their families access to free, confidential, 24/7 counseling and referral services for personal and professional life issues from any location. EAP services are available by phone, email, webchat, video, and through face-to-face sessions. The Health Advocate EAP counselors will connect you with the right experts at the right time: masters level clinicians, work/life specialists, medical bill negotiators, and financial and legal professionals.  In addition, Health Advocate offers multi-language capabilities.

    For more information, visit the EAP website.

    For More Information

    • Review the 2023-2024 Postdoctoral Researchers and Fellows Benefits Enrollment Guide.
    • Contact Health Advocate at answers@HealthAdvocate.com or call 1-866-799-2329, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.