In an April 2 email, the Graduate School and Human Resources announced the university will be changing the default provider of health insurance from UT Select to Academic Blue (SHIP).
As a part of the change, we noted that the premium support provided on behalf of graduate students for Academic Blue would be subject to federal income tax. This determination was made based on guidance provided by UT System, the organization that oversees our insurance and benefit plans.
After continuing to work with UT System on this issue, we are pleased to announce that UT Austin is no longer required to withhold federal income tax for premium support.
UT System has updated its guidance so that premium support may now be provided as a nontaxable benefit. This updated guidance is based, in part, on the current federal enforcement approach for certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act related to employer paid premiums.
We appreciate everyone’s efforts to achieve this outcome for our graduate students.
Please visit the Human Resource website for more information on health insurance options for graduate student academic employees.
Sincerely,
MARK J. T. SMITH
Dean of the Graduate School
Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
The University of Texas at Austin
MARIA JUENGER
Associate Dean for Graduate Education Transformation
The Graduate School
The University of Texas at Austin
GREGORIO PONTI
Ph.D. Candidate and Teaching Assistant | Department of Physics
Former President of the Graduate Student Assembly
The University of Texas at Austin
ADRIENNE HOWARTH-MOORE
Associate Vice President for Human Resources
The University of Texas at Austin
