Information for Newly Hired Employees

You must take action within 31 days of your hire date to elect benefits online. Please allow two weeks from the date of your elections submission for processing. Benefits will begin the first of the month on your after your date of hire or initial eligibility.

Under COBRA, all employees and their covered spouses (if any) must be notified in writing of their COBRA rights when they first become covered under the group health plan.

Enroll online:

1. Attend New Employee Orientation and learn about your benefit plan options during the afternoon presentation by a benefits counselor.
   
2. Enter your selections online using Self Service . Mac users, please use the Firefox browser when enrolling.
   
3. Once you have made your selections, click “Submit” and follow the submission process through until you see “your benefits have been successfully submitted”.

Submit supporting documentation:

• Provide proof of dependent status to the Benefits Division within 31 days of your hire.

• Enroll in supplemental life insurance. Elect two times your salary online in Self Service and complete the Evidence of Insurability form to apply for additional coverage.
  
• You may enroll in spouse life insurance with coverage up to your total basic and supplemental life insurance, not to exceed $500,000, in $10,000 increments. Elect $30,000 online in Self Service and complete the Evidence of Insurability form to apply for additional coverage.
  
• Waive the one year waiting period for the 403(b) retirement plan and/or long term disability by submitting the Waiver of Service form completed by your previous employer.
  
• If you elected the dependent care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and have a gross household income less than $100,000 submit the Dependent Care Employer Match form with your most recent IRS 1040 to the Benefits Division to receive matching funds from Northwestern.
  
• Submit the Long Term Care enrollment form to the Benefits Division to elect the plan.

Register your accounts:

• Activate your FSA with PayFlex using your employee ID and your home zip code.
  
• PayFlex will send a Welcome Kit with instructions on how to open a Health Savings Account (HSA) account. Activate your HSA before the first payroll deduction to guarantee that your contributions are posted to your account.
  
• Set up an account with the investment company that you have chosen. See the retirement site for instructions.

Individuals new to the area can visit our relocation resources for information on housing, recreation, childcare and more.