If you are moving from one UU organization to another, or leaving UU employment, this page will help you understand what happens to each of your benefit plans during that transition. Review the section for each plan you are enrolled in and follow the steps that apply to your situation.

UUA Health Plan

The UUA Health Plan, offered through Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, offers consistent coverage everywhere in the United States.

Before taking any action, review the benefits you carried under your previous employer and confirm with your new organization which plans they offer and how they will be funded. Agreeing on benefit coverage and funding before your start date will help ensure a smooth transition.

Important timing note: Be aware of the number of gap days between the end of your old employment and the beginning of your new employment. If the gap is longer than 3 weeks, you must complete the Benefit Enrollment Form as a new hire.

All transition-related forms must be completed within 30 days of your official start date. For example, if your start date is August 1, forms must be received by our Insurance Plans Team on or before August 30.

Step 1: Complete the Benefits Change Form to report your benefit transition. Retirees should use ‘0000’ as the congregation ID.

Step 2: If enrolling in any new benefits, also complete the Benefit Enrollment Form.

Are You Currently Enrolled in the UUA Health Plan?

• If your new congregation participates in the UUA Health Plan, your coverage will transfer seamlessly and you and your dependents will use your current ID cards.
• If your new congregation does not participate in the UUA Health Plan, your coverage will end on the last day of the month you stop working at your old congregation.
• If your new congregation does not currently participate but agrees to continue your coverage, they must complete an Employer Subscription Agreement.
• Your rate will change based on your new home zip code. Check your new rate with our Rate Calculator.
• Your employment change is a Qualifying Event — you have 30 days from your start date to make changes to your coverage, add dependents, change plans, or enroll in new coverage.

Are You NOT Currently Enrolled in the UUA Health Plan?

• Review Plan Details to decide if the UUA Health Plan is right for you at your new location.
• If your new congregation participates, complete the Benefit Enrollment Form to enroll. Check with your new congregation for your effective coverage date.
• If your new congregation does not currently participate but is willing to offer coverage, they must complete an Employer Subscription Agreement.

For questions contact insuranceplans@uua.org.

Life, Long Term Disability, and Dental Insurance

The Unitarian Universalist Group Insurance Plans (UUGIP) offer five types of coverage: Life/Accidental Death & Dismemberment (Life/AD&D), Long-Term Disability (LTD), Accident Indemnity, Hospital Indemnity, and Dental coverage through Guardian.

If you are currently not enrolled in these plans, review the details of coverage associated with each benefit, and agree with your new congregational-employer about participation in the plans and funding of the premiums. Then submit enrollment via the Benefit Enrollment Form. Enrollment for the Group Insurance Plans must be completed within the first 60 days of hire.

Retirement Plan

The UU Organizations Retirement Plan is portable across UU employers — participants keep their account and savings when moving between participating UU organizations.

Retirement plan transitions are handled by the Remitting Admin at each organization using the Employee Enrollment and Demographics Form — not the insurance benefits change form. Please note that these are two separate processes requiring two separate forms.

If you are leaving a participating employer: Your current organization’s Remitting Admin should submit the Employee Enrollment and Demographics Form selecting “Terminate Employee” with your termination date. Your retirement account remains with Empower and you retain full access to your savings — you simply will no longer be linked to that employer.

If you are joining a participating employer: Your new organization’s Remitting Admin should submit the Employee Enrollment and Demographics Form selecting “Enroll New W2 Employee (use for ALL employees new-to-you)”. This should be submitted promptly after your start date so contributions can begin on time.

Note for Remitting Admins: Ideally, the termination from the previous employer should be submitted before or alongside the new enrollment. New enrollments will be held until the corresponding termination is received.

If your new employer does not participate in the Retirement Plan: Your account remains active with Empower and you retain access to your savings. If your new organization is interested in joining the Plan, have them contact us at retirementplan@uua.org.

Retiring? Your employer’s Remitting Admin submits a termination via the Employee Enrollment and Demographics Form. Your account remains at Empower and you continue to have full access to manage your savings.

For questions about retirement plan transitions, contact retirementplan@uua.org.