Part-time faculty health insurance: catch it while you can – it’s free!

By Jessica Silver-Sharp

The District will soon announce that open enrollment for eligible adjunct faculty to sign up for health insurance will take place between October 6 and 24 with benefits beginning November 1, or whenever faculty experience a qualifying event (such as having their current insurance coverage end). If you are already enjoying this benefit there is no need to re-enroll. 

(Note: This is different from the District’s reimbursement program for adjuncts’ out of pocket medical premiums. That information is available on their website and in AFT’s Part-time Healthcare MOU. While previously these reimbursements were not taxed, this changed in 2024 when the District began offering part-time faculty the option to sign up for District health plans).

Enrollment questions

Now is the time to pose any questions to HR’s representative George Sampior, Jr. (650)-358-6744 (ext. 6744) sampiorg@smccd.edu. He will either answer them or let you know to make an appointment with American Fidelity, the group that administers the District’s insurance plan. If you are experiencing any trouble with the process, alert your AFT chapter chair right away.

By AFT’s MOU, adjunct faculty choosing the Kaiser Single HMO plan can expect to pay nothing for their insurance premiums. While faculty can opt to add family members, the District-paid premium contributions in this case will be the same that are available to full-time faculty (currently at 88% of the premium cost). This benefit is currently available through 2026; in 2026 AFT expects to negotiate with the District to extend the benefit.  

To enroll in the District’s plan you cannot be receiving benefits from another health insurance plan, so you may need to do some research now about the rules around changing your current insurance. For example, if your current plan ends December 31, you could begin with the District’s insurance plan on January 1, 2026. You would let Mr. Sampior know two to three weeks ahead that you want to sign up outside of the October enrollment period because your insurance will be ending — that is a “qualifying event.”

Eligibility

Faculty eligibility is measured by the District twice a year and coverage is for two six month periods, November through April and May through October. Adjunct faculty who work 40% or more of full-time are eligible. You do not need a Summer assignment to maintain the insurance. While you may find language on the web that this benefit is for “teachers,” non-instructional faculty—nurses, counselors, librarians, etc.— are also eligible.

To be eligible, part-time instructional faculty need to be teaching 6 units or .4 FTEs as of this October 1. Counselors need a total assignment of 12 hours/wk or more. Other categories of non-instructional faculty named above need an assignment of 15 hours/wk or more. 

Note: if you do not work 40% of a full-time load in our District, but you work at least 40% across multiple community colleges, see the MOU for more details.

Part-time faculty health insurance was made possible by AB190, a California law which local AFT1493 members and teachers across the state fought to pass. So get it while you can!