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Insurance Programs

Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS)

ERS is the agency that manages health insurance plans for state employees, retirees and their dependents. Below are quick links to help you better understand your benefits.

Employees Retirement System of Texas
Employees Retirement System of Texas

Health Insurance


Choose between HealthSelect of Texas, Consumer Directed HealthSelect or HMO. Learn more.

Dental Insurance


Choose between DeltaCare USA DHMO coverage or State of TX Dental Choice PPO coverage. Learn more.

Life Insurance


Both Term Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance are available. Learn more.

Disability Insurance


Texas Income Protection Plan (TIPP) offers short-term and long-term disability coverage. Learn more.

Vision Insurance


The State of Texas Vision Plan is available to employees, retirees and their eligible dependents.

Graduate Student Insurance


Certain graduate students qualify to participate in the employee group insurance program. Find out more here.

Prescription Drug Information


Learn more about the HealthSelect of Texas Prescription Drug Program and find the best cost for your prescription drug needs with the Prescription Plan Comparison.

Children's Insurance (CHIP)


Children in Texas without health insurance may be able to get low cost or free health coverage through the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) or Children’s Medicaid. More information available here.

TexFlex Flexible Spending Accounts


A TexFlex flexible spending account (FSA) lets you set aside money from your paycheck, pre-tax, to use for eligible out-of-pocket expenses. You can contribute to a health care and/or day care account.


Affordable Care Act


 

Resources:

    • If a temporary employee is expected to work 20 or more hours per week on a continuous basis, a third party service provider should be used to hire the employee. Contracted vendors are available in the TSUS Marketplace via the SAP Portal.
       
    • Non-Student Non-Regular (NSNR) staff may work less than 20 hours per week all year.
       
    • NSNR staff may be hired for a short assignment or intermittently throughout the year, but the total hours worked must be less than 130 hours per calendar month.

    Options for Temporary Staff

    Expected Term for Work (must be determined up front)

    Current NSNR Process Third Party Service Provider
    Less than 20 hours per week X X
    One calendar month but less than 130 hours in a month X X
    20 or more hours per week for more than one month   X
    130 or more hours per calendar month   X
  • Every variable hour employee has two measurement periods. The first 12 months of employment and our standard measurement period of July 1 – June 30. Hours are counted in whole calendar months.

    Example:  An employee hired October 14, 2015 will have an initial measurement period of November 1, 2015 – October 31, 2016. They will then roll into the standard measurement period of July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017. These periods overlap July 1, 2016 – October 31, 2016 so hours worked during these months are counted towards both measurement periods.

    The total hours must be below 1,560 in each 12 month period.

    For student workers, work study hours do not have to be included.