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Texas Payroll/Personnel Resource

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Insurance Plans
Group Insurance Plans

Group Insurance Plans for State Agencies

The board of trustees of the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) is required to establish and administer the Texas Employees Group Benefit Program for active and retired state employees. For the purpose of this deduction, “employee” means an individual eligible to participate in the group benefits program under Texas Insurance Code, Section 1551.101.

The state contributes to the cost of the group insurance program for each employee. This contribution may not be enough to cover the entire cost of participation for some employees, particularly if an employee includes his or her spouse and children in the program.

When the state’s contribution is insufficient to cover an employee’s entire cost, the employee must pay the balance through payroll deduction. In connection with its administration of the group insurance program, the board of trustees of ERS administers a premium conversion plan that is mandatory for each employee who participates in the group insurance program. The plan provides for employees to pay insurance premium expenses with pre-tax dollars.

To learn more about this payroll deduction, see the SPRS Deduction Code Table.

Group Insurance Plans for Institutions of Higher Education

The University of Texas System and the Texas A&M University System are required to implement the Texas State College and University Employees Uniform Insurance Benefits Program for the benefit of their employees. For the purpose of this deduction, “employee” means an individual eligible to participate in the group benefits program under Texas Insurance Code, Section 1601.101.

Each system must contribute to the cost of the group insurance program for each employee. This contribution may be insufficient to cover the entire cost of the program for some employees. When a system’s contribution is insufficient to cover an employee’s entire cost, the employee must pay the balance through payroll deduction.

The benefits offered by the Texas A&M University System include:

  • Health
  • Dental
  • Vision care
  • Long-term disability
  • Optional accidental death and dismemberment
  • Long-term care
  • Life insurance

The benefits offered by the University of Texas System include:

  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Accidental death and dismemberment
  • Short and long-term disability
  • Group term life
  • Long-term care

Sources

Texas State Employees Uniform Group Insurance Benefits Act; Texas Insurance Code, Article 3.50-2, Sections 3(a)(11), 5(a), 13B, 13Ba, 14(a), (d)-(f), (h), 15, 16B(b); 34 Texas Administrative Code Sections 81.7(a)(4), (f)(1), 85.5(a), 85.7(c)(1)–(2); Texas State College and University Employees Uniform Insurance Benefits Act, Texas Insurance Code, Article 3.50-3, Sections 3(a)(7), 4(a)(e), 12(a)-(b), 14B(b), 17(a).