Human Resource Services’ records indicate that you are on a less than 12-month contract and have elected to be paid during your contract period rather than paid over 12 months. As a result, effective May 16, 2026, or at the end of your regular contract period, it is anticipated that you will be billed for your insurance for the entire summer break period even if you have a summer contract. During the summer break, you will be billed the same employee contribution amount that you paid during your contract period. However, the rates for all health and dental insurance coverage may change effective July 1, 2026. Please be on the look-out for information from the State of Illinois regarding these changes. During the summer break period, instead of insurance premiums being deducted by the payroll office, you must directly pay the State of Illinois Central Management Services (CMS) either by personal check or through the State’s Epay system. Information regarding the method of payment, as well as access to the Epay system, will be included in the billing statement sent to you from MyBenefits on behalf of CMS.
Please note that payment must be made to CMS by the final due date indicated on the billing statement. Per the State of Illinois, if payment is not received by the final due date, insurance coverage will be terminated with a current effective date. If coverage is terminated during the summer period, coverage will not be reinstated until the first day of the first pay period of the 2026-2027 academic year. Any employee contributions not paid during the summer, or until the termination date for non-payment of premium, remain the employee’s responsibility, and collection efforts made by CMS up to and including involuntary withholding will continue even if the employee has returned to work. Additionally, employees whose coverage was terminated as a result of non-payment will be required to re-enroll in any dependent health insurance or optional life coverage within 60 days of return to work. This coverage will not be reinstated automatically. Documentation to support re-enrollment will be required.
Although it is too late to make a change for this coming summer period, you may wish to change your payment option to distribute your annual salary over the full twelve-month period to avoid direct-billing for insurance during future summers. In order to do this, you will need to complete an Election of Payment Option for Faculty and SPS Employees Form by August 1, 2026. This change in payment arrangement will take effect with the 2026-2027 academic year and will remain in effect until such time that a new form is submitted.
The information contained in this notification is in regards to general insurance billing procedures only. Questions regarding this information can be directed to Benefits team by emailing:
- Employees with last names A – D should contact Stephanie Kruizenga at skruizenga@niu.edu.
- Employees with last names E – K should contact Vickie Hueramo at vhueramo@niu.edu.
- Employees with last names L – Z should contact Martha DeLancey at mdelancey@niu.edu
Questions regarding the nine over twelve payment option can be directed to our Employee Life Cycle team by emailing FacultyEmployment@niu.edu.
Questions regarding billing statements should be directed to MyBenefits Service Center at (844) 251-1777.
*This email was sent to Tenure/Tenure-Track Faculty and Regular Supportive Professional Staff Employees on Less than 12-month Contracts and Are Paid During Their Contract Periods
