General Lab Information

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NOTE: There are program differences for employees who work outside the U.S. The information listed below is for employees working in the United States.

Family & Medical Leave

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows eligible employees to take unpaid leave, or to substitute paid leave for up to a total of 12 weeks in a 12 month period. FMLA leave is granted for the birth of a child,  adoption or foster care of a child,  to care for a family member (child, spouse or parent) with a serious health condition, or due to the employee's own serious health condition or qualifying exigency.

Reimbursement Accounts

The money you contribute to a Reimbursement Account is exempt from federal taxes, and most state, and social security taxes. Several types of Reimbursement Accounts are available.

Health Care Reimbursement
Dependent Day Care Reimbursement
Transit Commuter Reimbursement
Parking Reimbursement

Life and AD&D Insurance

The Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance Plan offers Employee Basic, Employee Supplemental, Spouse Supplemental, and Dependent Child Supplemental Life Insurance as well as Employee Basic, Employee Supplemental, and Spouse Supplemental AD&D Insurance.

Long Term Disability

The Long Term Disability Plan provides you with protection against complete loss of income during a long period of absence because of a disabling illness or injury.  

Severance Pay Plan

The Severance Pay Plan is designed to assist employees whose earnings are unexpectedly canceled by layoff due to a reduction-in-force.

Childcare

Skies the Limit Academy operates Brookhaven Laboratory's convenient, on-site childcare center. Enrollment applications are accepted for children ages six weeks to five years old.

Domestic Partners and Legal Guardianships

Employees can cover their domestic partners, children of domestic partners, and children for whom they are legal guardians on certain plans.

Supplemental Health Plans

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BSA offers benefit eligible U.S.-based employees supplemental health plans through Aetna that are designed to provide financial assistance during challenging health events. These plans, which are new for the 2025 calendar year, are meant to work alongside your major medical coverage to help with unexpected costs, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to focus on your recovery. You do not need to carry Aetna as your primary medical insurance in order to take advantage of these plans.

Critical Illness Plan

The Aetna Critical Illness Plan provides a lump-sum payment if you are diagnosed with a covered serious illness, such as a heart attack, stroke, or cancer. This plan helps ease the financial burden during difficult times by offering extra cash that you can use for any expense, including medical bills such as deductibles and copays and living expenses such as mortgage, rent, groceries, or utility bills. Video explainer

Accident Plan

The Aetna Accident Plan pays cash benefits if you are injured in an accident. Whether it’s a minor injury from a fall or a more serious situation like a car accident, the plan provides financial assistance for unexpected costs. This plan can help cover out-of-pocket medical expenses and personal costs like rent, groceries, or household bills. Video explainer

Hospital Indemnity Plan

The Aetna Hospital Indemnity Plan provides lump-sum payments for hospital admissions and daily cash benefits during your stay, whether it’s planned or unplanned. This plan helps you manage the financial impact of a hospital stay by offering cash that you can use for any purpose, such as medical costs such as deductibles and copays and everyday living expenses like rent, utilities, or groceries. Video explainer

Benefits are paid directly to you in each of these plans and can be used however you see fit. Enrollment is straightforward, and claims are easy to file.

Additional Benefits

Health Advocate

Starting in calendar year 2025, this benefit is provided at no additional cost to employees. Health Advocate can help navigate complex healthcare situations, save time, and ensure medical care is on track.

Employer Assisted Housing Program

Assistance for eligible employees to purchase a home on Long Island.

Paid Parental Leave

Provides eligible employees with a period of paid time off for activities related to the care and well-being of their newborn or adopted child.

NY State Paid Family Leave

Eligible employees receive paid time off to bond with a new child, care for a family member with a serious health condition or assist a family member when someone is called to active military service.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

The program forgives the remaining balance on certain federal student loans after borrowers make 120 qualifying payments on an accepted repayment plan while working full-time for an eligible employer.

Identity and Fraud Protection

Identity theft protection, including credit monitoring, identity monitoring, identity recovery, and identity theft insurance. You can elect coverage for yourself, your spouse/domestic partner and dependent children.

NY 529 College Savings Program

A tax-advantaged savings plan that encourages saving for future education costs. You select investments, assign a beneficiary, and determine how the money is used.

Travel Accident Insurance

The Travel Accident Insurance Plan provides 24-hour accident coverage while on authorized business travel.

Tuition Assistance

The Tuition Assistance Program encourages and supports the continuing education and training of employees.

Employee Assistance Program

A confidential service provided through Magellan Health Services at no cost to you and your eligible household members. Includes up to five free visits per family member per calendar year, per program.

Adoption Assistance

The Adoption Assistance Program provides financial assistance for certain expenses related to the adoption of a minor child.

Vacation Buy Plan

The Vacation Buy Plan allows you to purchase additional vacation time on a pre-tax basis and spread the cost of doing so over the calendar year.

Vacation Donation, Illness

Donate vacation time to an employee who has exhausted their sick leave and/or vacation time.

Vacation Donation, Disaster Relief

Donate vacation time to an employee who has been adversely affected by a major disaster declared by the President of the United States.

Visitor's Insurance

The Laboratory has certain programs available for visitors for medical insurance, medical evacuation and repatriation.

New for calendar year 2025.

Notices as Required by Law

  • Summary Annual Reports

    The Summary Annual Reports are provided around November each year after our plan audits for the prior calendar year are completed. They summarize the information on our benefit plans for the prior year.

  • Your Health Coverage: Insurance Marketplace

    Contains information about health coverage offered by BSA. If you decide to complete an application for coverage in the ACA Marketplace, you will be asked to provide this information.

  • Notice of Private Practice (HIPAA)

    Describes efforts to safeguard your health information from improper use or disclosure.

  • Notice of Creditable Coverage

    Information about your prescription drug coverage with BSA and your options under Medicare’s prescription drug coverage. This information can help you decide whether or not you want to join a Medicare drug plan.

  • Mothers and Newborns Health Protection Act

    Benefits may not be restricted for any hospital length of stay in connection with childbirth for the mother or newborn child to less than 48 hours following a vaginal delivery, or less than 96 hours following a cesarean section.

  • Women's Breast Cancer

    Federal law requires group health plans to provide coverage for the services listed in this document to an individual receiving plan benefits in connection with a mastectomy.

  • COBRA

    This notice applies to you if you have recently become covered under a group health plan. It contains important information about your right to COBRA continuation coverage, when it may become available to you and your family, and what you need to do to protect the right to receive it.

All details about the BSA benefits program are available on this website, but you may also download this information as a single PDF.