Salary-Tiered Health Plan Premiums
Starting with the 2026 plan year, the employee health plan premium structure for the upcoming plan year is shifting to a salary-tiered structure.
This change is designed to ensure that healthcare costs are distributed across our institution, aligning premium contributions with income levels. Salary tiers are only applicable to the Blue Cross Blue Shield medical plans. Dental and vision coverage remain unchanged.
Salary Tiers and Premiums
- Monthly Paid, Blue Options PPO Plan
Salary up to $39,999 Employee Pays Institution Pays Total Premium Employee Only $140.00 $585.80 $725.80 Employee + Spouse $475.64 $1,048.50 $1,524.14 Employee + Children $345.30 $961.10 $1,306.40 Family $592.54 $1,729.98 $2,322.52 Salary ranging from $40,000 to $74,999 Employee Pays Institution Pays Total Premium Employee Only $155.00 $570.80 $725.80 Employee + Spouse $520.64 $1,003.50 $1,524.14 Employee + Children $375.30 $931.10 $1,306.40 Family $652.54 $1,669.98 $2,322.52 Salary ranging from $75,000 to $149,999 Employee Pays Institution Pays Total Premium Employee Only $170.00 $555.80 $725.80 Employee + Spouse $565.64 $958.50 $1,524.14 Employee + Children $405.30 $901.10 $1,306.40 Family $712.54 $1,609.98 $2,322.52 Salary of $150,000+ Employee Pays Institution Pays Total Premium Employee Only $185.00 $540.80 $725.80 Employee + Spouse $610.64 $913.50 $1,524.14 Employee + Children $435.30 $871.10 $1,306.40 Family $772.54 $1,549.98 $2,322.52 - Monthly Paid, BlueEdge High Deductible Health Plan
Salary up to $39,999 Employee Pays Institution Pays Total Premium Employee Only $120.00 $597.54 $717.54 Employee + Spouse $307.24 $1,162.14 $1,469.38 Employee + Children $220.40 $1,059.64 $1,280.04 Family $360.44 $1,803.26 $2,163.70 Salary ranging from $40,000 to $74,999 Employee Pays Institution Pays Total Premium Employee Only $135.00 $582.54 $717.54 Employee + Spouse $352.24 $1,117.14 $1,469.38 Employee + Children $250.40 $1,029.64 $1,280.04 Family $420.44 $1,743.26 $2,163.70 Salary ranging from $75,000 to $149,999 Employee Pays Institution Pays Total Premium Employee Only $150.00 $567.54 $717.54 Employee + Spouse $397.24 $1,072.14 $1,469.38 Employee + Children $280.40 $999.64 $1,280.04 Family $480.44 $1,683.26 $2,163.70 Salary of $150,000+ Employee Pays Institution Pays Total Premium Employee Only $165.00 $552.54 $717.54 Employee + Spouse $442.24 $1,027.14 $1,469.38 Employee + Children $310.40 $969.64 $1,280.04 Family $540.44 $1,623.26 $2,163.70 - Biweekly Paid, Blue Options PPO Plan
Salary up to $39,999 Employee Pays (per pay period) Institution Pays (per pay period) Total Premium Employee Only $70.00 $292.90 $362.90 Employee + Spouse $237.82 $524.25 $762.07 Employee + Children $172.65 $480.55 $653.20 Family $296.27 $864.99 $1,161.26 Salary ranging from $40,000 to $74,999 Employee Pays (per pay period) Institution Pays (per pay period) Total Premium Employee Only $77.50 $285.40 $362.90 Employee + Spouse $260.32 $501.75 $762.07 Employee + Children $187.65 $465.55 $653.20 Family $326.27 $834.99 $1,161.26 Salary ranging from $75,000 to $149,999 Employee Pays (per pay period) Institution Pays (per pay period) Total Premium Employee Only $85.00 $277.90 $362.90 Employee + Spouse $282.82 $479.25 $762.07 Employee + Children $202.65 $450.55 $653.20 Family $356.27 $804.99 $1,161.26 Salary of $150,000+ Employee Pays (per pay period) Institution Pays (per pay period) Total Premium Employee Only $92.50 $270.40 $362.90 Employee + Spouse $305.32 $456.75 $762.07 Employee + Children $217.65 $435.55 $653.20 Family $386.27 $774.99 $1,161.26 - Biweekly Paid, Blue Edge High Deductible Health Plan
Salary up to $39,999 Employee Pays (per pay period) Institution Pays (per pay period) Total Premium Employee Only $60.00 $298.77 $358.77 Employee + Spouse $153.62 $581.07 $734.69 Employee + Children $110.20 $529.82 $640.02 Family $180.22 $901.63 $1,081.85 Salary ranging from $40,000 to $74,999 Employee Pays (per pay period) Institution Pays (per pay period) Total Premium Employee Only $67.50 $291.27 $358.77 Employee + Spouse $176.12 $558.57 $734.69 Employee + Children $125.20 $514.82 $640.02 Family $210.22 $871.63 $1,081.85 Salary ranging from $75,000 to $149,999 Employee Pays (per pay period) Institution Pays (per pay period) Total Premium Employee Only $75.00 $283.77 $358.77 Employee + Spouse $198.62 $536.07 $734.69 Employee + Children $140.20 $499.82 $640.02 Family $240.22 $841.63 $1,081.85 Salary of $150,000+ Employee Pays (per pay period) Institution Pays (per pay period) Total Premium Employee Only $82.50 $276.27 $358.77 Employee + Spouse $221.12 $513.57 $734.69 Employee + Children $155.20 $484.82 $640.02 Family $270.22 $811.63 $1,081.85
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why is OSU switching to salary-tiered medical premiums?
The shift to salary-tiered medical premiums aims to create a system where what you contribute from your paycheck to your medical coverage is proportionate to your earnings. This approach helps manage overall healthcare costs more effectively.
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What are salary-tiered medical premiums?
Salary-tiered premiums are determined by your total base salary as a full-time employee. For this program, defined base salary = Primary Pay + Secondary Pay (if applicable) as reported in payroll.
The defined base salary does not include the following:
- Overtime payments
- Payment for overload assignments.
- Faculty compensation received for summer session in excess of regular salary
- Any incentives or special compensation which occurs on an irregular basis not rolled into a base salary for a primary or secondary position.
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When will the new salary-tiered medical premiums take effect?
Salary-tiered medical premiums begin Jan. 1, 2026. Premiums for Annual Enrollment will be based on your current defined base salary.
If your salary changes between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, and the change moves you into a different salary tier, your premium will be recalculated in January, and the new rate will take effect on the next applicable payroll.
- How do I find my salary?
To identify your salary used for the salary tier, log into the Benefits System:
- Go to my.okstate.edu
- Select Employee from the top navigation bar
- Click Benefits: Enroll, Verify, Qualifying Life Event (this will automatically log you into the Benefits System)
- Click on the hamburger menu (three lines) in the top left corner to view your profile
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Could my salary-tiered medical premium change throughout the year?
If your defined base salary changes but remains within the same salary tier, your premium will stay the same.
If your salary change moves you into a different salary tier, your premium will be adjusted starting the first applicable payroll following the change.
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Do salary tiers apply to all coverage?
Salary tiers apply only to the employee portion of the medical premium. Salary tiers apply regardless of whether you elect employee-only, employee + spouse, employee + child(ren), or family coverage. Dental and vision rates are not included in the salary tier structure.
- When covering dependents, if both parents work at OSU and are eligible for benefits,
can child dependents be covered under different parents’ plans?Yes. While dependents cannot be dually enrolled in the same type of coverage, they may be split between parents’ plans. For example, a child could be covered under one parent’s medical plan and the other parent’s dental or vision plan.
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How are employees on layoff or COBRA coverage impacted?
Salary tiers do not apply to layoff or COBRA coverage. Employees in a 12-month layoff status or electing COBRA pay the full published premium rate, which is posted on the benefits website.
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What happens if I go on a leave of absence?
For those on approved leave without pay, who remain eligible for benefits, such as those on FMLA or Workers Compensation: your salary tier does not change. The university continues to pay the employer share of the premium, and you are responsible for the employee portion.
If you do not have a paycheck to deduct premiums, the amount owed will be billed to your Bursar account. Full payment is due by the end of the month shown on the Bursar bill. If payment is not received by the 15th of the month, finance charges may be applied. Failure to pay the billed amount by the end of the month may result in loss of insurance coverage.
For those on leave without pay, who are not eligible for benefits, such as those who are taking a leave of absence for more than 30 days not on FMLA or Workers Compensation: you are responsible for paying the total premium amount, and salary tiers do not apply.
If you do not have a paycheck to deduct premiums, the amount owed will be billed to your Bursar account. Full payment is due by the end of the month shown on the Bursar bill. If payment is not received by the 15th of the month, finance charges may be applied. Failure to pay the billed amount by the end of the month may result in loss of insurance coverage.
When you return to work: Your salary tier will be recalculated based on your defined base salary (Primary Pay + Secondary Pay, if applicable), as reported in payroll.
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How does this impact faculty and staff who do not receive a paycheck during the summer?
Your salary tier does not change. The university continues to pay the employer share of the premium, and you are responsible for the employee portion.
If you do not have a paycheck to deduct premiums, the amount owed will be billed to your Bursar account. Full payment is due by the end of the month shown on the Bursar bill. If payment is not received by the 15th of the month, finance charges may be applied. Failure to pay the billed amount by the end of the month may result in loss of insurance coverage.
Important: Please confirm with your department that you have a continuous assignment for the fall semester to ensure proper insurance coverage and billing during the summer months.
When a faculty member goes out on sabbatical or takes summer leave, their premium salary tier is based on the full-time salary at the time they leave, not the partial salary or no salary received during that period.