The University offers eligible full-time employees, as defined in TAP #3, Classification of all University Employees, and visiting faculty appointed for one academic year or less with no benefits offered from their home institution, a Benefits Plan, which is classified as a Section 125 (IRS Code) “Cafeteria Style Plan.” This plan consists of a variety of choices for individual or dependent coverage in areas, such as medical coverage, life insurance, dental coverage, vision plan, long term disability, vacation, and spending accounts. The types of benefits offered may change from year to year depending on a number of reasons, such as premium cost or enrollment levels, but is intended to provide the greatest amount of choice at the lowest possible cost to both the University and its employees.

The DUFlex Benefit Plan is a flexible benefit plan that allows employees to take advantage of federal tax regulations with the before tax purchase of certain benefits which lowers taxable income, thereby saving on income tax as well as Social Security taxes.

Annually during an open enrollment period in advance of the new plan year, all participants are afforded the opportunity to update and change their selections under DUFlex. The choices under DUFlex will include but are not limited to: Medical Plans, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, Employee- Dependent Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Travel Accident Insurance and Vacation.

In addition, and in accordance with current tax regulations, employees will be eligible to participate in spending accounts as follows:

Continuation of Coverage

A. Employees terminating employment from the University for reasons other than retirement, defined as age 62 with 10 years continuous full-time service, will be subject to the terms and conditions of COBRA regulations and will be notified of the coverage available to them upon termination. Refer to TAP No. 2, Post Retirement Medical Benefits, and TAP No. 12, Insurance Benefits – DUFlex, for information regarding benefits upon retirement.

B. Employees continuing to work beyond age 65 will have their medical and life insurance benefits continued as the same as active employees below age 65. Life insurance, however, will reduce to 25% at age 70.

C. Disability – DUFlex benefits are continued for the employee (and their eligible dependents) during approved documented disability on the basis of the length of continuous service with the University as follows:

An employee who began disability leave prior to July 1, 2009:

Years of Service Benefit Period Eligible Recipient(s)

Less than 5 years service:
6 months
Employee and Eligible Dependents


5 years, but less than 10 years:
1 year
Employee and Eligible Dependents


10 years, but less than 15 years:
2 years
Employee and Eligible Dependents


15 years and over:
Period of Disability
Employee and Eligible Dependents

An employee who began disability leave on or after July 1, 2009:

Years of Service Benefit Period Eligible Recipient(s)

Less than 5 years service:
6 months
Employee and Eligible Dependents


5 years, but less than 10 years:
1 year
Employee and Eligible Dependents


10 years or more:
1 year - Eligible Dependents
2 years - Employee Only

Long-term disability benefits require the completion and submission of claim forms to the University’s long-term disability provider.

Due to the complexity of the DUFlex plan, please consult actual plan documents available at www.hr.duq.edu for detailed information.

Duquesne University reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to amend this Plan in whole or in part at any time and from time to time or to terminate it any time, without advance notice, pursuant to the terms of the Plan document. Amendments to the Plan are made by the Office of Human Resource Management with the approval of the Executive Vice President for Management and Business. Termination of the Plan must be approved by the Executive Vice President and approved by the Executive committee of the University Board of Directors. PAGE 1 OF 1 TAP NO. 12