As a full-time employee of Collin College, many benefits are available to you including healthcare coverage, retirement, opportunities for professional development, free parking, and many others.  Most of these benefits are free to you and available to your dependents for a fee.  For assistance or questions, call Larry Merrill at 972.548.6664 or e-mail lmerrill@ccccd.edu.

Medical Insurance
Medical/Health insurance coverage is available including traditional coverage with a point-of-service (POS) BlueCross BlueShield of Texas plan. Collin pays the employee's coverage with optional dependent coverage available at the employee’s expense. Medical coverage on the employee for health, prescription, vision, and basic life insurance coverage begins the first of the month after the completion of a 90-day probationary period of employment. Medical coverage for eligible dependents can begin that date too, if the employee enrolls dependents within his/her first 90 days. Coverage besides those tied to the medical coverage (health, prescription, vision, basic life) can be effective on the employee’s first day, if elected on the first day, or on the first of the month after the first 30 days, if elected within the first 30 days.

Prescription Drug Coverage
The medical plan covers prescription medications using a prescription drug card. New prescriptions may be obtained through a participating pharmacy or through the mail order service.

Vision Benefits
One annual eye exam per year is covered under the medical plan. Additionally, discount benefits on glasses, contacts, and LASIK are available through certain discount providers.

Basic Term Life Insurance
Coverage on the employee begins the first day of eligible employment and includes $5,000 basic life insurance.

Dental Insurance
Collin College pays for employee dental coverage, if elected, and the employee may choose between a traditional dental plan and a dental HMO plan.  Employee-paid coverage for dependents is also available.

Optional Employee-Paid Insurance Coverage

• Supplemental term life insurance in multiples of one to four times annual salary.
• Dependent term life insurance of $5,000 (doubles in event of accidental death).
• Accidental death and dismemberment coverage for individual or family.
• Short-term disability coverage; provides up to 66% of regular insured monthly salary up to $10,000 for up to five months for qualified disabilities and after 30 days of continuous disability and exhaustion of available sick leave.
• Long-term disability coverage; plan provides up to 60% of regular insured salary up to $10,000 and up to age 65 for qualified disabilities after 90 days of continuous disability and exhaustion of available sick leave.
• Long-term care (home healthcare and nursing home facility coverage) is available through direct enrollment with John Hancock Insurance at the ERS group rates offered to all state and higher education employees (as opposed to higher individual rates).

Flexible Spending Accounts
Tax sheltered reimbursement accounts can be established for eligible out-of-pocket medical/dental or dependent care expenses.

Retirement Programs

Voluntary Retirement Savings Plans
403(b) Tax-Sheltered Accounts (TSAs) and a 457 Deferred Compensation Plan are available using mutual funds and/or annuities.

Eligible employees participate in one of the following state retirement plans in lieu of Social Security:

• Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• • Pre-tax employee contribution and additional state contribution
  • Five year vesting for retirement income benefit
  • Disability retirement and death benefit provided

                                          OR

• Optional Retirement Program (ORP)
• • Available to teaching faculty and certain administrators as an alternative to TRS
  • Pre-tax employee contribution and additional state and college contributions
  • One year and one day vesting period

Paid Leave Benefits

• Monthly sick leave accrual of eight hours for full-time benefit-eligible employees; may accumulate up to 528 hours
• Monthly vacation accrual for eligible staff, starting at eight hours per month
• Eight hours annual personal leave per fiscal year
• 14-16 paid staff holidays per fiscal year
• Sabbatical leave for eligible faculty and staff
• Sick leave pool and more...

Additional Benefits

• Pre-Taxing of Insurance Premiums
• Pre-Taxing of TexFlex Flex Account Deductions
• Texas Tomorrow Fund Options (College Savings) through Payroll Deduction
• Credit Union Membership Benefits
• Banking Discounts
• 9-Month Pay Option for Faculty in Lieu of 12-Month Spread
• Employee Discounts on a Variety of Goods, Services, Auto and Home Insurance
• Library Privileges
• Employee Development Opportunities
• Training Programs and Workshops of General Interest
• Out-of-County Tuition Waiver (Employee & Dependents)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Class Time for Certain Job-Related Courses
• Fitness Facilities (Tennis/Racquetball/Basketball Courts, Circuit Weight Training)
• Wellness Programs
• Free Parking
• Tobacco/Smoke-Free Facilities
• Medicare Part A - Hospitalization Insurance Savings Participation (1.45%), But Not Social Security
• Medical and Prescription Drug Coverage Free to Eligible Retirees (Subject to Provisions of State Law)