This document outlines the options and processes for postdocs who bring outside funding and have an allowance available for covering the Institutional portion of the postdoc insurance premiums.
The Stanford postdoc compensation package includes the required minimum stipend or salary (which is to be adjusted as necessary each September) as well as the cost of health insurance premiums (regardless of level of coverage). Benefits costs can be found on the rate sheet on the Postdoc Benefits website. Departments and/or PIs are required to cover the cost of the institutional portion of the insurance premiums even if the postdoc is bringing his/her own outside funding.
As per RPH (Section 2. Terms of Appointment): “A postdoctoral appointment at Stanford brings with it certain defined benefits,
including insurance and leave benefits. These defined levels of benefits may not be modified or diminished by individual
agreement with the department or the faculty mentor(s)/PI.”
As per RPH (Section 4B. Fellowship Support): “If no fellowship or training grant funds are available to pay the cost of a Scholar's benefits, then the cost must be borne by a departmental or other unrestricted account.”
Some outside funding agencies provide funds above and beyond the stipend specifically for health benefits charges. In these cases, those funds can be used to cover the Institutional portion of the health insurance premiums as outlined on the Postdoc Health Premiums Rate Sheet.
It is the department’s responsibility to make a formal request to OPA in cases where the department is asking the postdoc to cover the cost of insurance premiums. Requests from postdocs will not be considered. Because this is an exception to policy, no arrangements will be recognized until this is reviewed and approved—this includes email correspondence between the PI and the postdoc prior to appointment. It is required that departments submit documentation for review prior to appointment submission. This would avoid bringing the postdoc on board and having to pay for the insurance from a department/PI guarantee account if the arrangement requested is not approved and the postdoc has already arrived. Note that, in general, if a faculty sponsor is unable to cover the costs of insurance for a postdoc, they are expected to consult with their Department Chairs. A job aid is available explaining the process of how to request the exception to policy.
A helpful hint: A postdoc is considered “Pool‐Eligible” if they are paid a salary equivalent to at least 50% of their respective required minimum (and it is appropriately entered in GFS). In cases where a postdoc is bringing a fellowship that only partially covers the required minimum salary, the department may
enter a salary pay line for the remainder of the salary and the postdoc’s benefits will be paid by the resulting fringe. This may result in the postdoc receiving greater than the minimum (if the postdoc fellowship is greater than half of the minimum), but there are several advantages over requesting a Postdoc Pay All scenario:
1) more of the money goes to the postdoc and less to direct insurance charges,
2) the postdoc is rewarded for having received a prestigious individual fellowship resulting in a
cost‐savings to the faculty mentor, and
3) the faculty can use research grants to cover salary/fringe costs instead of unrestricted funds for direct insurance costs.
Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
October 2020
