The PPO plans provide members the freedom to visit any licensed provider. Members do not need to choose a Primary Care Physician (PCP) nor do they need a referral to see a specialist. With a PPO plan, members have in-network and out-of-network benefits, although coverage is higher and out-of-pocket expenses are lower when they visit an in-network provider. Expenses incurred under the PPO plan are subject to copayments, coinsurance, annual deductibles, and plan maximums.
Prescription Drug Benefit
BCBS’s prescription drug plans give members access to national and independent participating pharmacies. Prescriptions also may be ordered online through Express Scripts for convenient home delivery.
MRI offers a three-tier prescription drug plan. Medications are divided into three categories: generic drugs, preferred-brand drugs, and non-preferred brand drugs. Medications purchased at participating pharmacies are subject to copayments, with generic copayments set the lowest and non-preferred copayments set the highest.
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Dental Insurance
MRI offers two dental insurance plans – CIGNA Dental PPO and CIGNA Dental Care, a Dental Maintenance Organization (DMO).
The CIGNA Dental PPO plan functions like a health insurance PPO plan. Members may visit any licensed dentist in or out of CIGNA’s Preferred Provider network, although coverage is higher and out-of-pocket expenses are lower when they visit an in-network provider. Expenses incurred under the PPO plan are subject to copayments, coinsurance, annual deductibles, and plan maximums.
The CIGNA Dental Care plan functions much like a health insurance HMO plan. Members choose a network dentist, with no deductible to meet nor an annual dollar maximum.
Both plans cover diagnostic and preventive services, basic restorative services, and major restorative services. Limited orthodontic coverage is also available.
The cost for health and dental care insurance is shared by MRI with employees enrolled in the plan(s).
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Vision Insurance
MRI offers vision insurance to full-time staff members and their dependents through Vision Service Plan (VSP). The plan provides for an eye examination and lenses once every 12 months and for frames once every 24 months, subject to copayments. The plan also provides discounts on lens extras such as scratch resistant and anti-reflective coatings and progressives.
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Flexible Spending Accounts
MRI offers staff members the opportunity to pay for out-of-pocket healthcare expenses as well as dependent care expenses with pre-tax pay by enrolling in the Flexible Spending Account plan.
The healthcare reimbursement account allows members to pay for a wide range of medical and dental care expenses not fully reimbursed by insurance, including copayments, plan deductibles, and certain over-the-counter medications.
The maximum annual deduction for the healthcare reimbursement account is $5,000. The maximum annual deduction for the dependent care reimbursement account is $5,000 depending upon the member’s tax filing status.
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Planning for Your Future
MRI provides a variety of benefits options from life insurance to a tax deferred annuity program—all designed to provide security for you and your family.
Retirement Plan Benefits
A (403b) Tax Deferred Annuity Plan is available to all staff members regardless of age or length of service. Members may make elective pre-tax contributions into the plan in accordance with limits allowed under the Internal Revenue Code.
In addition, full-time staff members who have completed one year of service and are 21 years of age or older are eligible for contributions made by MRI. These contributions are made monthly and equal 2.5 percent of their previous month’s eligible compensation. Vesting in employer contributions is full and immediate.
A Retirement and Pension Plan also is available to full-time staff members who have completed one year of service and are 21 years of age or older. The plan is a defined benefit plan in which members accrue pension benefits payable when they retire. Vesting in the retirement and pension plan is based on length of service.
Disability and Life Insurance Benefits
Short-Term Disability Leave is provided at no cost to staff members after 90 days of employment. Staff members on short-term disability leave receive a percentage of their monthly base pay beginning on the 15th calendar day of any absence (due to personal illness or injury) or when they have exhausted their Reserve Leave, whichever occurs first. Short-term disability coverage continues until such time as long-term disability coverage would pay benefits.
Long-Term Disability Insurance is an insured benefit plan provided at no cost to staff members. Coverage provides income at 60 percent of a member’s monthly base salary, with a maximum of $5,000 per month, for disabilities that extend beyond 90 calendar days.
Supplemental Long-Term Disability Insurance is available to staff members who opt to protect a greater percentage of their pre-disability income.
Basic Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance is provided at no cost to staff members. Basic life insurance is equal to 1.5 times the base annual salary with a maximum benefit of $150,000. Accidental death and dismemberment benefit is equal to the basic life insurance benefit.
Supplemental Life Insurance is available in $10,000 increments not to exceed $500,000. The cost of insurance is based on the member’s age.
Supplemental Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance pays a benefit to a member’s designated beneficiary in the event of a member’s accidental death or to the member directly in the case of covered bodily injury. Single and family coverage is available.
Long-Term Care Insurance may be purchased by staff members for themselves or for their spouse, parents, grandparents, or in-laws. Coverage is provided for care either at home or in a facility when someone needs assistance with daily living activities.
Travel Accident Insurance is provided by MRI at no cost to staff members. The plan provides a death benefit payable to a member’s designated beneficiary if death is the result of work-related travel.
Staff members are responsible for the full cost of all supplemental coverage as well as dependent life insurance and long-term care insurance.
Worker's Compensation
All MRI employees are covered by worker's compensation for any time lost beyond three days. MRI pays your full salary (less any worker's compensation payments) while you are away from work due to an occupational injury or illness for a period of up to 90 days.
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Time Away From Work
MRI believes employees should schedule and enjoy time away from work for academic development, fitness, or just to relax with friends and family.
Personal Time Off is to be used for vacation, personal illnesses or injuries (up to three days), family obligations, or personal business. Staff members earn personal time off (PTO) based on length of service.
Reserve Leave is provided as a benefit for personal illnesses and injuries beginning on the fourth workday of each absence.
Holidays are available to eligible staff members. MRI observes the following paid holidays – New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and a Floating Holiday Before or After Christmas Day.
Staff members are awarded a Personal Holiday that may be used for observance of a holiday that is not included in our regular holiday schedule or an important day to them, such as their birthday.
Funeral Leave is available for full-time staff members who need time away from work upon the death of an immediate family member.
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Recreational Center Membership/On-Site Fitness Facilities
At our Kansas City headquarters, MRI employees may join the Swinney Recreational Center, which is located on the campus of the University of Missouri - Kansas City, adjacent to the main MRI location. The facilities include handball/racquetball courts, basketball courts, and indoor swimming pool with sauna. Membership rates are discounted for MRI employees and their families.
MRI also has an employee-only gymnasium on-site at the Kansas City headquarters. These facilities include indoor basketball/volleyball, weight room, and locker room accommodations at no cost to MRI employees.
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Other Benefits
Tuition Assistance is available to help staff members improve job performance in their current position and to encourage their career progression by assisting them with tuition payment for undergraduate, graduate, or professional coursework. Management approval is required, and reimbursement is contingent upon the grade received.
The Scientific Research Partners Credit Union provides deposits by payroll deduction to checking accounts and specific-purpose savings accounts such as holiday accounts, and loans.
The Computer Purchase Program enables eligible staff members to obtain interest-free loans through the Scientific Research Partners Credit Union for the purchase of computer equipment and software. Loan payments are made by payroll deduction and are guaranteed through the Institute.
The Employee Assistance Program provides staff members with confidential, professional direction for personal issues through early intervention and treatment. All staff members and immediate family members are eligible and are encouraged to use these services as soon as the need arises.
The Employee Referral Bonus Program is designed to reward existing staff members for their assistance in referring qualified individuals subsequently hired by MRI.
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