Benefits
TCU provides quality, comprehensive benefits to employees and their dependents, allowing our great workforce to worry less and live more.
Who Is Eligible for Benefits?
Employees working at least 75% full-time (or 30 hours a week) in a regular position are eligible for benefits offered by the university.
Open Enrollment Dates: October 27 – November 7, 2025
This year’s Open Enrollment is ACTIVE, meaning everyone must log in and submit benefit elections for 2026.
Current elections will NOT carry over to the new plan year.
Important Reminders
- Open Enrollment Period: October 27 – November 7, 2025
- Changes Effective: January 1, 2026
- Enrollment is required for all benefits-eligible employees.
Medical Plans
- The plan design for the HDHP and PPO 80 plans will remain the same for 2026.
- The plan design for the HPP Medical Plan will move to one single tier in 2026.
- Please review the 2026 Benefits Guide for details and premium information.
Ancillary Benefits – Moving to Mutual of Omaha
Starting January 1, 2026, all ancillary benefits will transition to Mutual of Omaha, including:
- Dental
- Vision
- Life Insurance
- Short-Term Disability (STD)
- Long-Term Disability (LTD)
New Options Available:
- Critical Illness Plan
- Accident Plan
Supplemental Life Insurance – True Open Enrollment
Because we have a new vendor (Mutual of Omaha), this year is a true open enrollment for supplemental life insurance.
- You can elect up to the guaranteed issue amounts without submitting Evidence of Insurability (EOI):
- Employee: Up to $330,000
- Spouse: Up to $50,000
- Employee coverage options now change from “1x–4x salary” to increments of $5,000, up to a maximum of $800,000.
You can maintain your current level of coverage (for yourself and your spouse) without EOI.
If you elect more than the guaranteed issue amount, your coverage will be pending approval from Mutual of Omaha.
Important:
- Any coverage greater than the guaranteed issued amount already approved will remain in effect.
- If you choose a higher amount and are not approved, your coverage will revert to your previously approved amount.
- After selecting your desired amount, scroll to the bottom of the page to complete your beneficiary information before clicking “Done.”
- Child Life coverage is a flat rate of $0.60 per pay period, regardless of the number of children.
- The benefit amount is $10,000 per child.
Critical Illness Plan Reminder
- You must enroll in the Employee Critical Illness plan before you can add Spouse Critical Illness coverage.
Need More Information?
- Refer to the 2026 Benefits Guide for plan details and rates.
- Contact HR Benefits at HRBenefits@tcu.edu or 817-257-7790 with questions or for enrollment assistance.
TCU recognizes that a quality, comprehensive benefits program is a great way to show you just how valuable you are to the University. We understand that no two employees are alike, which is why we offer multiple benefit choices.
Rest and restoration are important, so paid vacation is granted to eligible staff. Vacation hours accrue monthly on a pro-rata basis.
Faculty and staff may use accrued sick time for personal or family needs, pregnancy, childbirth and adoption, and bereavement.
TCU provides income protection benefits as well as short and long term disability should a member be unable to work due to an injury or illness.
TCU partners with Emeriti, a trusted retiree health care consortium within higher education, and TIAA to implement a Retiree Health Savings Account (RHSA) for eligible TCU employees. This tax-free account will be used to fund retiree health care expenses for eligible TCU employees and their dependents.
Eligibility for the Emeriti plan is based on the following:
- All full-time TCU benefits-eligible employees hired before January 1, 2021 under the age of 45
- All full-time TCU benefits-eligible employees hired after January 1, 2021 of any age
TCU will contribute $1,000/year for a maximum of 25 years and contributions beginning at age 40. Once enrolled, employees choose how to invest the TCU contributions among several TIAA investment options. Retiree health contributions will be made each payroll in addition to the TCU 8% retirement contribution to your 403(b). The full balance of the Emeriti plan vests to the TCU employee after 10 years of full-time employment and can be accessed upon termination or retirement from TCU to be used for eligible health expenses per IRS regulations.
Eligible employees and/or their dependents are eligible for the TCU Tuition Assistance Program. Individuals must verify dependent status through the Office of Human Resources if dependents are not listed in the Human Resources system. Current employees must work at least .75 FTE.
Horned frogs are known for adapting.
If you, or someone in your care, needs immediate mental health support or are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please contact the TCU Employee Assistance Program or the National Suicide Hotline.
You and your dependents may need information or resources to help cope with stress and anxiety, stay emotionally well and prevent compassion fatigue.