MeritCare's Benefit Program
Last Updated: April 2007
MeritCare has designed a benefit package that
provides associates with benefit choices to meet their needs. It provides protection from illness or death and
preparation for retirement.
If you are scheduled for at least 32 hours per pay period, MeritCare
will contribute a designated amount towards the total cost of your
benefits based on your full or part-time status. Your benefits are
effective the first of the month following your start date.
MeritCare
provides comprehensive major medical plan coverage. This plan is
self-insured and administered by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Dakota.
MeritCare is the in-network provider for the plan. To receive the
highest level of benefits, services must be provided by a MeritCare provider.
MeritCare provides a choice of
two levels of dental plan coverage. You can choose between a "high"
option or a "low" option. Both of these plans are administered by Blue
Cross/Blue Shield of North Dakota.
Basic Life Insurance
MeritCare provides a basic
level of term life insurance coverage which equals your base annual
salary (rounded to the next thousand), up to a maximum of
$50,000.
Additional Life Insurance
MeritCare offers a
choice to purchase additional life insurance in six different
increments. Your combined basic and additional life insurance cannot
exceed $250,000.
Dependent Life Insurance
You may purchase Dependent Life Insurance which covers your spouse
and each child six months to age 22 or 26 if a full-time student.
Your infant child from birth to six months is covered at a reduced amount.
There are six different options to choose from. Spouse maximum is $50,000,
dependent children less that six months maximum is $1,000, and other dependents
maximum is $10,000.
Flexible Spending Accounts
allow you to pay unreimbursed healthcare and dependent care expenses on
a pre-tax basis.
Healthcare Spending Account includes unreimbursed medical and
dental expenses plus vision and hearing expenses. Annual maximum is
$3,600 per calendar year.
Dependent Care Spending Account includes employment-related
expenses for the care of your dependent children under the age of 13
and entitled to a dependent deduction under IRS code. Annual maximum
is $5,000 per calendar year.
403(b) TDA Plan
MeritCare offers the choice to supplement your retirement income through a
403(b) TDA plan with Diversified Investment Advisors.
With a 403(b), you can contribute an amount each pay period to an
investment fund of your choice on a pre-tax basis. This means your
contributions are withheld from your paycheck before federal and state
taxes are calculated, resulting in a tax savings.
Accrual of Paid Time Off (PTO)
The accrual of PTO hours starts the first day of employment. All full-time, part-time, minimum part-time, weekend status and flex status associates accrue PTO on each hour worked not to exceed 80 hours in a pay period. (See Annual PTO Accrual Level in table below.)
Hours of Service
All hours worked, to include overtime hours, are added to the associate's total hours of service (see table below). Movement through the PTO accrual levels is based on hours of service.
| Hours of Service | Years of Equivalent Full-time (2080 hours/year) Service | Annual PTO Accrual Level Based on 80 hrs/pp |
| | | Days | Hours |
| 0 - 6,240 | 0 - 3 | 23 | 184 |
| 6,241 - 12,480 | 4 - 6 | 26 | 208 |
| 12,481 - 22,880 | 7 - 11 | 28 | 224 |
| 22,881 - 31,200 | 12 - 15 | 33 | 264 |
| 31,201 - 35,360 | 16 - 17 | 34 | 272 |
| 35,361 - 39,520 | 18 - 19 | 35 | 280 |
| 39,521 - plus | 20 plus | 36 | 288 |
Short Term Disability
MeritCare provides a
short term disability plan which pays 60% of your salary up to 26
weeks for an extended illness or injury.
You are eligible for short term disability benefits after six full
months of employment and have scheduled hours.
Long Term Disability
MeritCare provides a long term disability plan if you have
an illness or injury lasting more than six months. For most disabilities
you may be able to receive 60% of your salary until you recover, die
or reach age 65.
You are eligible for disability income protection six months
following your date of hire. You must be employed in a position with
scheduled hours of 32 or more per pay period.
MeritCare offers you the
opportunity to advance your education through the Tuition Assistance
Program.
Reimbursement of tuition for academic credit is
available if the course is directly related to your job, leading to a
degree in a healthcare related field, or is healthcare related.
Full time associate can receive up to $1000 and part-time associate up
to $500 per academic year. You are eligible for tuition reimbursement if
you are scheduled for at least 32 hours per pay period and have
completed twelve full months of benefit eligible employment.
MeritCare helps you plan for the
future by providing a retirement plan. You are eligible after you have
completed one year of service in which you have worked 832 hours and are
21 years of age.
MeritCare contributes an amount equal to six
percent of your total earnings each year you work 832 hours. An
additional amount is contributed for any earnings above 80% of the
social security wage base.
MeritCare offers you an Adoption
Assistance Program that will provide reimbursement of qualified adoption expenses for associates
who are adopting a child. Associates who are benefit eligible and have been employed for six
months or more are eligible to recieve up to $2,000 per child, per family, for eligible adoptions.
- Leave of Absences for Jury Duty, Military Duty, Funerals, and
Family Medical Leave Purposes (FMLA)
- Child Development Center
- Employee Recognition Program
- Pharmacy Discounts
- Direct Deposit
- Full Service Credit Union On-Site
- Free Parking
- Benefits Available for Same Sex Domestic Partners
- Employee Assistance program
- Employee Activities Program
- Employee Health Services
- In-House Educational Programs
- Associate Fitness Program
This is a summary of the present employment benefits offered to associates by MeritCare Health System. It is not a contract. To the extent that there is any conflict between anything in this summary and any employment benefit plan document, summary plan description or human resources policy, the plan documents or policy will prevail. MeritCare Health System reserves the right to interpret, modify or discontinue any employee benefit not mandated by law at any time.
MeritCare is an Equal Opportunity Employer