A few months ago the Biomedical Research Education and Training (BRET) Office at Vanderbilt University along with the Postdoctoral Association initiated a process to review the current benefits plan offered to postdoctoral fellow trainees (i.e. those postdocs that are funded through a training grant mechanism or those who have obtained independent awards), to address concerns regarding differences in benefits for employee vs. non-employee postdocs. We solicited quotes from Koster-Gallagher (our current provider) and Garnett-Powers and Associates, a California based broker. After review, we have decided to implement the CIGNA HealthCare Open Access Plus plan offered by Garnett-Powers. This new benefits package will go into effect on October 1, 2008.

Any trainees that are currently covered through the Koster Postdoctoral Health Coverage Plan will need to enroll in the new Garnett-Powers Postdoctoral Trainee Benefits program via the website at http://www.garnett-powers.com/vanderbilt/enrollment.htm .

For imformation about the plan, please visit the Garnett-Powers Postdoctoral Benefits Package website at http://www.garnett-powers.com/vanderbilt/ .

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Katie McMillen-Dickie at katie.mcmillen-dickie@vanderbilt.edu or at 615.322.8604.