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Financial Future

Emeriti Retirement Health

The Emeriti Retirement Health (ERH) program helps employees with healthcare expenses in retirement. Benefits eligible employees who have attained age 35+ may participate in the program. You must work for Whitworth for at least five years before being vested in the ERH. Note: Lecturers are ineligible to participate.

The ERH has three separate components. 

  1. A tax advantaged retiree healthcare savings account. Money is set aside now, in a VEBA account, to help pay for healthcare costs in retirement, funded by after-tax employee contributions.
  2. A tax-free reimbursement benefit. When you retire, money in your VEBA account may be used for qualified healthcare expenses, such as health insurance premiums, co-payments, deductibles, prescription drugs and many other IRS approved items.  
  3. Access to group health retiree health plan. You will also be eligible to enroll in a group health insurance plan administered by Aetna if you meet these criteria (a) be enrolled in Medicare (b) had attained age 59 1/2 while employed at Whitworth and (c) had five years of continuous service. 

Retirement Plan

Whitworth's retirement plan, a 403(b) administered by Principal Financial Group, gives you a convenient and generously subsidized way to save for a more comfortable retirement through payroll deductions.

  1. Participation in the retirement plan is mandatory for all eligible employees at a contribution rate of 2 percent of your base salary. Your participation in the retirement plan starts on the first day of the month following your first day on the job.
  2. Whitworth contributes a mandatory 2 percent of your base salary each month to the retirement plan.
  3. Whitworth matches your discretionary contributions up to an additional 6 percent 
  4. You are always 100 percent vested in the current of your contributions, Whitworth's contributions and all investment earnings. You may choose how to invest your funds within an approved list of investments.

Deadlines

Make changes to your discretionary contributions (elective deferrals) by the 10th of the current month for changes effective on the last pay day of the month. All changes must be submitted via the Principal website. 

Principal Login

  • Website: principal.com. If you have forgotten your password, or wish to make a change, select "Forgot Your Password" on the password entry page. You may also contact a representative for assistance at 1.800.986.3343.

Resources

  • Personal Meeting: Virtual 1:1 schedule a meeting with a Principal Retirement Specialist
  • On-demand Video: Understanding Your 403(b) Plan overview of general retirement strategies plus Jan. 1 changes to the WURP
  • On-demand Video: Principal Website Demo learn how to login to your account, make changes to your deferrals, check your wellness score and access Principal's participant resources
  • WURP Plan Document: review the revised plan document effective Jan. 1, 2023