Employee Benefits
Ellis Medicine provides some of the most comprehensive benefit packages available. We are committed to continually improving and enhancing these benefits in order to meet our employee's needs and the needs of their families. The programs we offer not only provide protection for you as an employee and your family today, but are designed to help build financial security for your future.
The following descriptions of our benefits are intended to provide you with the highlights of our programs and are not all-inclusive. Because our benefit packages change often these descriptions are subject to change without notice. For the latest information about Ellis Medicine benefits please contact an Employee Benefits Specialist at 518.243.4004.
Dental Insurance
Ellis Medicine further enhances your health care coverage by providing a dental care benefit program administered by Delta Dental of New York. This plan provides dental services from oral examinations and cleanings to major services including oral surgery and prosthetics. The plan will pay 100% of charges for the basic procedures. Other procedures such as periodontics are paid at 80% and prosthetic services are paid at 60%. All covered procedures, except diagnostic and preventive services are subject to an annual per person deductible of $50 with a family limitation of $150.
You and your covered dependents are provided an annual benefit entitlement of $2,000.00 per person.
Disability Insurance
In the event you have a disability for more than 180 days, you may be eligible to receive a monthly income benefit equal to 60% of your basic monthly salary not to exceed $5,000.00 per month. The period of time benefits are payable is based on age as stated in the contract. It is important to remember that these benefits are integrated with other income benefits such as Workers' Compensation and Social Security. This benefit is provided to all full time exempt employees at no cost to the employee.
Flexible Spending Account
Ellis Medicine recognizes that your benefits are an important part of your total compensation. Under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code, employers may allow employees to pay for certain types of medical, dental and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars. Under the Flexible Spending Account arrangement, you can reduce your current taxable income and also increase your spendable income each pay period. Also, if you pay for health and or dental coverage through a payroll deduction, you can use the premium conversion feature of "CustomCare" to pay for these deductions on a pre-tax basis.
Effective March 2007, Elllis Medicine will offer the BENNYCARD, a fixed dollar Mastercard which allows you to pay for medical and dental co-pays directly from your medical savings account.
Health Insurance
Ellis Medicine offers competitive health care insurance for you and your family. The Ellis Plan is a self-insured plan using a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) model which is administered by MVP Select Care. The plan provides hospitalization, medical and surgical services, outpatient services, well care for children and adults, a prescription drug plan with mail order option, behavioral health coverage, diagnostic services, student coverage, and a personal health advocacy program. There are no "pre-existing" clauses in the Ellis Medicine Plan. Coverage can begin on the first of the month following 30 days of continuity of service.
Life Insurance
Ellis Medicine provides group life insurance coverage through the Prudential Life Insurance Company. The cost of this life insurance is paid for by Ellis Medicine. In the event of an accidental injury, you are also covered for dismemberment benefits as outlined in the contract. Coverage is available at no cost to regular full time and regular part time A employees. The amount of coverage is based on employment status.
Personal Lifestyle Protector Cancer Plan
Ellis Medicine provides you the opportunity to purchase A Personal Lifestyle Protector Cancer Plan through AFLAC New York. This policy will provide cash payments when cancer is diagnosed and covered treatments are received as well as cash payment when a charge is incurred for one of the approved preventative cancer screenings. This plan pays benefits directly to you regardless of what health insurance covers.
Retirement Benefits
Ellis Medicine maintains a defined contribution plan designed to provide you with a pension benefit at retirement and portability of your benefits if you leave Ellis before retirement. Normal retirement is considered to be at age 65 although there is no mandatory retirement date. The plan allows for personal, voluntary contributions and hospital contributions to be made to a 403(b) account. You select your investment portfolio. You may begin participation in the plan on a voluntary basis on the first month following 30 days of service. You may elect to defer up to the IRS maximum for the year in which you participate. In order to be eligible to receive the hospital basic and matching benefit, you must fulfill an eligibility period during which you must work 1000 hours in each of two years. Once this eligibility requirement is met, you will begin to receive the hospital's basic and matching contributions. You are immediately 100% vested in all hospital contributions.
Shift Differentials
The minimum hourly rate for your grade is the basis for rates of pay as they apply to other pay practices. When you work outside the customary daytime Monday through Friday schedule, such as evenings, nights and weekends, a percentage differential is added to your base hourly rate of pay. The following represents the current differentials paid:
Weekday Evenings - 10%
Weekend Days - 10%
Weekday Nights - 15%
Weekend Evenings - 20%
Weekend Nights - 25%
*In accordance with the agreement between NYSNA and Ellis Hospital, Registered Nurses will receive differentials as outlined in the agreement.
Social Security
As mandated by law, Ellis Medicine is required to contribute an amount equal to your social security contribution each year. Monthly social security benefits are made to you and/or your dependents when you retire, become totally disabled or die. The amount of benefits will depend on prior earnings which are adjusted to take into account changes in your wages. The local Social Security Office can assist you in obtaining a benefit estimate which will help in determining the level of benefits for which you are eligible.
Voluntary Life Insurance
Ellis Medicine provides you the opportunity to purchase additional term life insurance protection for yourself and/or your family members. This program is offered by the Prudential Insurance Company. This low cost insurance is paid through payroll deductions which are transmitted to the carrier by Ellis Medicine. If you leave Ellis Medicine, you can continue participation in this program and also continue to pay the same low premiums.
Workers' Compensation
In the event of a disability due to a work related injury or illness, you may be eligible to receive a weekly income replacement benefit under the New York State Workers' Compensation Laws. Your benefit would be equal to two-thirds of your average weekly earnings up to a maximum as stated in the New York State Workers' Compensation Laws. These benefits generally are paid for as long as your disability exists. During the period of time you are receiving Workers' Compensation benefits, the balance of your regular salary is made up by the integration of sicktime hours that you may have available. Based on the availability of sicktime hours, you will continue to receive your full pay for the period of your absence.
