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The Sanford Underground Research Facility offers an excellent benefits package.

2024 Employee Benefits Summary.

This page provides an overview of the benefits SDSTA offers full-time benefits eligible employees effective 4/1/2024 - 3/31/2025.

 

Benefit

Eligibility

Cost

Benefit Highlights

Group Medical Insurance Wellmark – Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Dakota

Full-Time (30 hrs./week)

Eligible the 1st of the month following date of employment.

SDSTA pays 100% of the cost for EE coverage/95% for EE+ coverage.

EE Contribution:

EE only:$ 00.00/pp*

EE+spouse:$ 45.00/pp

EE+child(ren): $ 40.00/pp

EE+family: $ 70.00/pp

 

*pay period

Deductible: $2,000/$4,000

Max Out-of-pocket: $4,000/$8,000

Co-insurance: 20%

Co-payments:

$30 Primary Doctor

$30 Telehealth

$300 Emergency Room

Pharmacy:

Tier 1 - $10

Tier 2 - $30

Tier 3 - $50

Generic Specialty - $50 co-pay

Preferred Specialty - $100 co-pay

Non-Preferred Specialty – 50% co-pay

 

Dental Insurance

Delta Dental

Full-Time (30 hrs./week)

Eligible the 1st of the month following 30 days of employment.

SDSTA pays 100% of the cost for EE coverage.

EE Contribution:

EE only:$ 00.00/pp*

EE+spouse:$ 22.38/pp

EE+child(ren):$ 21.80/pp

EE+family:$ 31.67/pp

*pay period

Deductible: $25/person

100% paid on check-ups and routine teeth cleaning

80% on minor services

50% on major services

$1,500 per person per year

Vision Insurance

VSP

Full-Time (30 hrs./week)

Eligible the 1st of the month following date of employment.

 

SDSTA pays 100% of the cost for EE coverage.

ER Contribution:

EE only: $ 0.00/pp*

EE+child(ren): $ 3.62/pp

EE+spouse:$ 3.43/pp

EE+family: $ 9.32/pp

*pay period

Eye Exam: $10 co-pay/12 mos.

Prescription Glasses: $25 co-pay/12 mos.

Contacts: $150/12 mos. (in lieu of glasses)

Frames: Included in Prescription Glass co-pay

Standard Lenses: included in Prescription Glass co-pay

Flexible Spending Accounts Health Equity/WageWorks

Full-Time (30 hrs./week)

Eligible the 1st of the month following date of employment.

You contribute through pre-tax payroll deductions

Health Care and Dependent Care Accounts are available. Elect payroll deductions up to $3050/yr. for health care and $5,000/yr. for dependent day care. It is a tax-effective way to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.

Life Insurance

The Standard

Full-Time (30 hrs./week)

Eligible the 1st of the month following date of employment.

SDSTA pays 100% of cost for Employee

Basic Life and AD&D coverage amount is $50,000

Short Term Disability Insurance

The Standard

Full-Time (30 hrs./week)

Eligible the 1st of the month following date of employment.

SDSTA pays 100% of cost for Employee

Weekly Benefit:

60 Percent of weekly earnings

Maximum Weekly Benefit:

$1,500

Benefit Waiting Period:

14 days

Maximum Benefit Period:

90 days\

Long Term Disability Insurance

The Standard

Full-Time (30 hrs./week) Eligible the 1st of the month following date of employment.

 

SDSTA pays 100% of cost for Employee

Monthly Benefit:

60 Percent of monthly earnings

Maximum Monthly Benefit:

$9,000

Benefit Waiting Period

90 Days

Maximum Benefit Period:

Age dependent

Employee Assistance Program

HealthAdvocate

Full-Time (30 hrs./week)

Eligible 1st of the month following date of employment.

SDSTA pays 100% of cost for Employee

Free counseling service when life presents complex challenges like legal, financial, medical and benefit-related concerns

Voluntary Benefits

The Standard

Full-Time (30 hrs./week) Eligible the 1st of the month following date of employment.

Employee pays 100% of the cost through payroll deductions

Supplemental benefits:

Additional Life Insurance & AD&D for Employee

Voluntary Benefits

AFLAC

Full-Time (30 hrs./week) Eligible 1st of the month following date of employment.

You pay 100% of the cost through payroll deductions.

 

Accident

Cancer

Hospital

Critical Illness

401(a) Defined Benefit Pension Plan

South Dakota Retirement System (SDRS)

Full-Time (30 hrs./week + 6 mos./yr.)

Required entry date to participate is immediately upon hire date

Your pre-tax contribution is 6% of your salary and SDSTA’s contribution/match is 6% of your salary.

Lifetime retirement benefit

You become vested and entitled to retirement benefits after 3 years of contributory service.

 

Other Important Benefits – Full-Time & Part-Time Benefit Eligible Employees

Vacation Pay

Full-Time (30 hrs./week)

Eligible immediately and accrued on a per-pay period basis (26 pay periods per year)

Part-Time (20-29 hrs./week) accrues half-benefit

0-3 years: 120 hours of paid vacation/yr.; 4-7 years: 160 hours of paid vacation/yr.; 8+ years: 200 hours of paid vacation/yr.

Sick Leave

Full-Time (30 hrs./week)

Eligible immediately and accrued on a per-pay period basis (26 pay periods per year)

Part-time (20-29 hrs./week) accrues half-benefit

112 hours of sick leave/year accrued at a rate of 4.32 hours per pay period.

Bereavement Leave

Eligible on hire date

Employees may use sick leave for Bereavement Leave

Paid Holidays

Eligible on hire date

 

SDSTA pays 100% of up to 8 hours for each of the 11 observed holidays

New Year’s Day                         Labor Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day      Native American Day

President’s Day                           Veterans Day

Memorial Day                             Thanksgiving Day

Juneteenth Day                           Christmas Day

Independence Day  

Paid Parental Leave

Eligible after 12 months employment

SDSTA will provide up to eight (8) weeks of paid parental leave for either parent.

Paid Court and Jury Leave

Full-Time (30 hrs./week)

Eligible on hire date

SDSTA pays 100% of Employees regular pay.

 

More Information

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