Faculty councils serve as deliberative and advisory bodies for all matters of University policy, and are primary forums for faculty-administrative interaction in determining that policy.听
FCBR shall be responsible for all matters of policy relating to faculty retirement, insurance and benefits. .
Office of Human Resources – Benefits & Work/Life
听触听 (by appointment type)
听触听听触听
听触听
Health Care Tool
To assist faculty in understanding the differences between health plans, FCBR has created this . This tool goes along with a 听sent to all faculty in November of 2025. Please note, you will need to be signed in with your 91探花netID to access this tool.
Excel tool to approximate 91探花Supplemental Retirement Plan (UWSRP) benefits
The 91探花Supplemental Retirement Plan is a unique benefit that is designed to protect UWRP participants against changes in stock market values and U.S. interest rates, which could adversely affect participants鈥� ability to retire. Faculty, academic staff, professional staff, and librarians of the 91探花 (UW), who participate in the 91探花Retirement Plan (UWRP) and who joined the 91探花听before March 1, 2011, may be eligible for retirement benefits under the 91探花Supplemental Retirement Plan (UWSRP) when they retire at age 62 or older.
allows participants to estimate their approximate UWSRP benefits under several assumptions. The Excel file was created by 91探花faculty members to assist their colleagues in making informed retirement decisions.
The Excel file has not been vetted by or approved in any form by the 91探花, nor by any other body inside or outside the 91探花. The Excel file may contain errors and omissions that can affect the calculated benefits significantly. Neither the faculty members who created this file nor the 91探花 or the 91探花FCBR accept any liability for any errors associated with any information contained in this file.
In addition, FCBR has compiled the following resources for those interested in learning more about this benefit:
FCBR Memo to UWHR Leadership – UWRP Contributions
In its meeting on November 1, 2021, at 2:30 p.m., FCBR discussed potential problems with UWRP contributions. FCBR invited Marshall Horwitz and Mindy Kornberg (VP for Human Resources) to present to the council. Interested faculty attended both presentations (each about 15 minutes). Interested faculty were given 5 to 10 minutes for questions. The rest of the FCBR meeting was open for members and invited guests only, and others were asked to leave the Zoom meeting.
FCBR summarized its understanding of the situation, next steps, and FCBR’s involvement .
For UWRP Participants: Determining Contributions to UW鈥檚 Voluntary Investment Program (VIP)
Differently from UWRP contributions, VIP contributions are not matched by UW. While UWRP contributions are mainly determined by your age and your salary, you are free to decide your VIP contributions. However, UWRP and VIP contributions are subject to various IRS limits.
In the past, 91探花Benefits has monitored your VIP contributions and ensured that they do not crowd out your matched UWRP contributions (this was done under the assumption that you prefer the matched UWRP contributions over the unmatched VIP contributions). However, starting in 2022 91探花Benefits no longer monitors your VIP contributions. Instead, 91探花Benefits simply implements what you indicate as your desired VIP contribution. It is therefore possible that relatively large VIP contributions especially early in the year crowd out matched UWRP contributions later in the year. Since 91探花needs to respect IRS contributions limits, this can lead to lower matched UWRP contributions than those that you are entitled to.
To the best of our understanding, there are two groups of UWRP participants that should make sure they set their VIP contributions below the maximum possible VIP contribution.
Group 1: Age 35 or older with annual income in 2023 (2022) of more than USD 290,000 (270,000)
Group 2: Age 50 or older and contributing to UWRP at the 10% level (regardless of annual income)
If you are in at least one of these groups, we strongly recommend that you meet with a听听or a听听to determine your optimal VIP contribution.
On the FCBR website, you can also听 access a calculator for ( () (developed by a 91探花faculty) that allows you to determine your optimal VIP contributions (i.e., the maximum VIP contribution possible that does not reduce your matched UWRP contributions).
Once you have determined your maximum annual VIP contributions, compare it to your contributions so far this year to make sure you will not exceed your maximum.
Unfortunately, this is a complex topic. However, and s are available to assist you.
Finally, we are providing this information based on our understanding of the relevant rules and regulations. This information is provided by us as colleagues. FCBR does not communicate on behalf of 91探花HR. FCBR cannot be held liable for any mistakes or misunderstandings of the information provided here.
PS: You can find more information about the various IRS limits on the .
91探花Retirement Plan Contributions – Presentations by Marshall Horwitz and Mindy Kornberg
Hosted by the Faculty Council on Benefits and Retirement on Monday, November 1, 2021 from 2:30 pm 鈥� 3:30 pm (PST) via Zoom.
In its meeting on November 1, 2021, at 2:30 pm, FCBR discussed potential problems with UWRP contributions. FCBR invited Marshall Horwitz and Mindy Kornberg (VP for Human Resources) to present to the council. Interested faculty attended both presentations (each about 15 minutes). Interested faculty were given 5 to 10 minutes for questions. The rest of the FCBR meeting was open for members and invited guests only, and others were asked to leave the Zoom meeting.
WA Cares Fund and Long-Term Care (LTC) Insurance
UPDATE: If you have private LTC insurance you can now opt out of the WA Cares Fund. For details, see as well as
In 2019, Washington State established the WA Cares Fund. The fund will provide eligible residents with up to $100 per day, with a maximum lifetime limit of $36,500, to pay for long-term care services (see for details).
The WA Cares Fund is entirely funded by employees. Starting January 1, 2022, all employees in Washington State will contribute to the fund with 0.58% of their gross wages through payroll deductions. Differently from contributions to Social Security or Washington State鈥檚 Paid Family and Medical Leave program, there is no cap on the amount of wages on which the deductions apply.
Benefits are only available to those that have contributed for a certain number of years (between 3 and 10) and that reside in Washington State when they require long-term care.
Washington State allows individuals that have purchased听qualifying private LTC insurance before November 1, 2021, to opt out of the WA Cares Fund. Applications for an exemption need to be filed between October 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022, with Washington State鈥檚 Employment Security Department (ESD).
In its May 24 meeting, FCBR learnt from Susan Yi, CPA and an independent insurance professional, about the private LTC insurance options in Washington State. There are generally four types of LTC insurance offered in the private market:
- Stand Alone Policies
- Asset Based (Hybrid) Policies
- Indexed universal life (IUL) Policies with a LTC Rider
- Annuities with a LTC Rider
Products vary in many ways, including the time over which premiums are paid, whether any contributions are returned, for example in the form of annuities or death benefits,听 as well as with respect to their tax treatment.
As a state institution, 91探花is not authorized by the Health Care Authority (HCA) to offer alternative long term care insurance programs and will not be providing guidance on private long term care insurance options.
FCBR encourages all 91探花employees to learn about the upcoming WA Cares Fund and to decide which course of action is best for their individual circumstances. FCBR does not endorse any particular choice, product, insurance provider, or insurance agent.
Below is a list of resources to get started:
- WA Cares Fund:
- WA Insurance Commissioner:
- 91探花HR Benefits:
- A list of insurance companies approved to sell LTC insurance in Washington State can be found on the .
- Sequoia Blog:
- (Contact: Logan VanNess, Logan.VanNess@bankerslife.com)
- Geekwire article with sample premiums:
Letters to external agencies
(May 2019)
(August, 2017).
. (April, 2016)
FCBR initiatives
(March 2025)
(December 2023)
(May 2023)
(December 2022)
(December, 2021)
. (December, 2020)
. (May, 2018)
. (April, 2018)
(May, 2017)
Transgender healthcare
. Presentation by Roberta Dalley, associate professor of radiology. (January 27, 2014)
91探花Benefits studies
Report by the Faculty Council on Benefits and Retirement. (May, 2017)
UWRP/VIP Fund Review Committee
The is a standing committee defined in each plan document and authorized by the 91探花Board of Regents. The Fund Review Committee is responsible for selecting and recommending the plan record keeper(s) and investment options, and for monitoring their performance. Recommendations from the Fund Review Committee go to the provost and executive vice president who has the delegated authority from the regents to act on the recommendations.
The WholeU
The WholeU fosters community, shares ways to stay healthy, and promotes the great benefits and services available to 91探花faculty and staff. The WholeU encompasses six pillars: staying healthy, being active, eating well, life events & changes, volunteerism, and engaging personal interests.