Graduating Residents

Important information for future graduates about benefits available to convert or elect after employment ends.

UMRS & UDRS Employment Benefits Summary

Overview

During your active employment, benefits include:​

  • Medical and Dental
  • Group Life and Long Term Disability insurances; no payroll deduction for employee
  • Voluntary benefits, such as Voluntary Life are subject to employee payroll deduction

Benefits available to elect/convert after employment ends:​

  • COBRA coverage plan available to elect​: Medical and Dental 
  • Group Term Basic Life Insurance; conversion option available to personal plan; employee​
  • Voluntary Life Insurances; conversion options for employee, spouse, child(ren); if enrolled​

COBRA Coverage

  • COBRA plan benefits are identical to plan associated with active employment​
  • Same: In-Network (8 counties of WNY, Quest Labs, co-pays)​
  • Same: Out-of-Network (outside 8 counties of WNY, deductibles + 25% co-ins)

COBRA participant’s monthly approx. costs are subject to change each July 1st. 

COBRA Election Process

COBRA Election Notice will be provided to you via the US mail within 14 days of last date of employment; by US law.

  • Please advise HR of your new address if it has changed
  • Elect your COBRA plan within 60 days of the Election Notice date
    • COBRA plan coverage is retroactive to the last date of active coverage, no coverage gap.
  • Pay the first month premium payment within 45 days of date the COBRA plan was elected; monthly thereafter.
  • COBRA plan provides up to 18 months of continuous monthly coverage
  • Can elect COBRA for yourself and covered dependents, or only specific dependent(s)
  • Can elect medical and dental or only medical/only dental
  • Work with COBRA plan administrator- Optavise
  • For June 30th graduates, COBRA letters will be mailed to the address of record within 14 days of last date of employment. Last date of of active coverage is June 30th. COBRA plan will be effective July 1st.

Sample COBRA Notice-UMRS UDRS

Term Life Insurance

Option to convert the group term $50,000 life insurance policy to personal policy and voluntary coverages; if already enrolled (employee, spouse, child(ren))

Step One: Review the following

  1. "Group Term Life Insurance-Summary of Benefits” document 
  2. “Life Conversion Checklist” document

Documents to Review

Step Two: Complete the following

  • “Request for Quote” sections A-B
    • Section A - Employer/Group Administrator
      • Email GME HR for necessary information:ubgmehr@buffalo.edu
    • Section B - Employee/Member
  • “Application for Conversion of Group Life Insurance” - 2 pages
  • “Supplementary Contact Information”

Step Three: Submit

  • Submit to insurance carrier for review
  • If approved, individual is responsible for premium payment(s)
  • Work directly with the insurance carrier

Individual Long-Term Disability Insurance

Available now, coverage while presently working & after graduation

Contact Information

Walsh Duffield
Richard Godshaw
rgodshaw@walshins.com
(716) 362-7367
(800) 853-3820 ext. 7367

Seminars/Resources

If you weren’t able to attend our in-person seminars offering assistance with future employment benefits and contract negotiations, please feel free to contact the professional resources listed below.

Copies of each presentation are available. Please send your email request to: ubgmehr@buffalo.edu

Seminar Contact Information

Guaranteed Issue Disability Coverage & Planning for your Financial Future Upon Graduation

Walsh Duffield
Richard Godshaw
rgodshaw@walshins.com
(716) 362-7367
(800) 853-3820 ext. 7367

Welcome to the World of Medical Contracts

Hurwitz Fine, P. C.
Lawrence Ross
lmr@hurwitzfine.com
(716) 849-8900

We're here to help

For questions, please reach out to ubgmehr@buffalo.edu