Eligibility
County Paid Extension employees in half-time (0.5FTE) positions or greater are eligible to participate in the following ISU benefit programs.
Employees can enroll within 31 days of their hire date, with a qualifying life event or during the annual Open Enrollment Period. The annual open enrollment will take place in November, with an effective date of January 1.
Eligible dependents include: spouse, domestic partner, dependent children. Dependent children may be covered until December 31 of the year they turn age 26. If covering a dependent child over age 26, they must be an unmarried, full-time student (student status verification is required).
** Covering a domestic partner, domestic partner's child(ren) or dependent children over age 26 may be subject to imputed income. Please contact fbac@iastate.edu for additional details. **
2026 Benefits Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment is the time of year when you have an opportunity to elect or change your benefits for plan year 2026. Even if you are not planning to change your benefit elections, it is a great opportunity to review your benefits and dependents. It is the County Paid Extension employee's responsibility to be aware of open enrollment and to review benefit elections and eligible dependents.
ISU Plan - Medical, Prescription and Dental Insurance
Medical Plan options include the ISU PPO Plan (Wellmark BluePPO) or the ISU HMO Plan (Wellmark BlueHMO) administered by Wellmark BCBS. The Medical Plan includes a pharmacy program, Express Scripts, that is administered separately from the medical plan but does not have a separate premium. Dental insurance is administered by Delta Dental of Iowa with basic or comprehensive plan options.
Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Assistance Program
The health care flexible spending account (FSA) and dependent care assistance program (DCAP) help you save money on medical and dependent child care expenses. Use these accounts to leverage your household’s savings. By contributing a portion of your pay into an FSA or DCAP on a pre-tax basis, you may save from 25% to 40% on the cost of eligible expenses you are already incurring. These plans are administered through ASIFlex.
Future Changes
Qualifying Life Events, Open Enrollment Period Information, and COBRA.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to enroll?, What is a Primary Care Physician?, When Changes Can Be Made?, etc.
Retiree Benefits
Employees age 55 or older and enrolled in the ISU medical and/or dental insurance for at least five consecutive years, may be eligible to continue on the ISU retiree medical/Rx and dental insurance plans.
Required Notices and Resources
Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), etc.