Health Insurance – Postdoctoral Researchers and Fellows

Description

Postdoctoral trainees are required to have health insurance. Postdoctoral Researchers and Postdoctoral Fellows are eligible to enroll in health insurance through the Penn Benefits Plan for Postdocs.

Penn’s postdoc benefits plan includes medical, dental, and vision options. Medical, dental, and vision plan options generally mirror those available to Penn faculty and staff.

During onboarding, postdoctoral trainees must log into Workday@Penn to enroll in or waive benefits. If a postdoctoral trainee elects insurance through Penn, coverage is effective on the first day of the appointment. Employee contributions are deducted monthly from the postdoctoral trainee’s paycheck.

Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage

Postdoctoral trainees should review Penn HR benefits guidance for current medical, dental, and vision plan options, rates, enrollment instructions, and coverage details.

Penn’s medical options for eligible postdoctoral trainees include Keystone HMO, Aetna POS II, and PennCare/Personal Choice PPO. The HMO and POS II options are subsidized to provide more affordable coverage options.

Dental coverage is available through MetLife, and vision coverage is available through VSP plan options.

Fertility Benefit

Penn’s fertility benefit is administered by Carrot Fertility. Carrot works with the Penn Fertility Clinic and fertility clinics nationwide to support eligible staff and postdoctoral trainees in different locations.

The benefit offers a concierge level of service and provides a $30,000 lifetime maximum that may be used for a variety of fertility treatments.

Postdoctoral trainees should review Penn HR benefits guidance for current eligibility, covered services, access instructions, and plan details.

Working Spouse Contribution

Effective July 1, 2026, a working spouse contribution may apply when a spouse or domestic partner has access to group medical coverage through an outside employer but enrolls in one of Penn’s medical plans.

During Open Enrollment, faculty, staff, postdoctoral trainees, and NRSA Postdoctoral Fellows who cover a spouse or domestic partner under a Penn medical plan must log into Workday@Penn and either select or waive the working spouse contribution. Waiving the contribution confirms that the spouse or domestic partner does not have access to other employer-sponsored coverage.

Postdoctoral trainees and NRSA Postdoctoral Fellows should complete this process in Workday even if they are not making other benefits changes. If no action is taken, the working spouse contribution may be applied by default.

For current details, contribution amounts, and instructions, review Penn HR’s Working Spouse Contribution guidance.

Funding Changes and Benefits Plan Enrollment

If a postdoctoral trainee’s funding source changes, the trainee may need to switch benefits plans and enroll in or waive coverage again.

This includes cases where:

• an NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow is no longer supported by an NRSA training grant; or
• a Postdoctoral Researcher or Postdoctoral Fellow begins being supported by an NRSA grant.

Postdoctoral trainees and departments should review benefits enrollment requirements in Workday@Penn and consult Penn HR if a funding change affects benefit eligibility or plan enrollment.

Waiving Health Insurance

Postdoctoral trainees who elect to waive health insurance coverage through Penn must certify that they have alternate health insurance that provides comparable coverage.

J-1 visa note: J-1 exchange visitors and any accompanying J-2 dependents must maintain health insurance that meets J-1 visa requirements for the full duration of the J-1 program. As of July 1, 2026, J-1 postdoctoral trainees who enroll in Penn’s postdoc benefits plan must select either Keystone HMO or Aetna POS II. The PPO plan does not meet the J-1 visa health insurance requirement. Travel Assistance is provided to all J1 Visa Holders through MetLife. For more details, review the brochure. 

For more information, review Health Insurance Requirements for J-1 Exchange Visitors.

Penn Policy and Related Guidance

For current health insurance plan details, enrollment instructions, rates, and eligibility information, postdoctoral trainees should review Penn HR benefits guidance.