Resident Salary and Benefits, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Kaiser Permanente is committed to providing its Residents with a Total Compensation Program that is competitive with what is offered in the external market. We approach salary and benefits as a "total compensation" package which includes wage programs, pay practices, paid time off and benefits.

Annual Salary 2007-2008 Effective July 1, 2007

Educational Stipend

Residents are eligible for an Educational Stipend ($500 for PG-1 and PG-2 residents and $750 for PG-3 and above residents) to attend a conference or for the purchase of books, CDs or other educational materials subject to the approval of the Program Director.

• Kaiser Foundation Health Plan
  
• Preferred Provider Option Plan

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan

If elected, your Kaiser Foundation Health Plan (KFHP) coverage becomes effective your date of hire, if you are regularly scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week. The plan covers you, your spouse or domestic partner, and unmarried dependent children up 25 years of age. KFHP is a comprehensive medical plan that provides covered services directly at Kaiser Permanente medical facilities. Coverage includes basic and major medical care such as hospitalization, surgery, maternity care, x-ray and laboratory expenses, durable medical equipment, as well as emergency care. You have a $0 co-payment for each medical office visit. This plan also provides vision care which includes eye examinations and coverage for one pair of lenses and an $80 frame allowance every 24 months, or one pair of contact lenses not to exceed $124. If a Medical Group ophthalmologist or optometrist determines that a change in prescription is required, additional lenses will be provided after 12 months at no extra cost. The Plan covers prescriptions by a physician of The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG), mental health provider, or a dentist. You have a $5 co-payment for each prescription filled at a Kaiser Permanente pharmacy. Prescriptions filled at non- Kaiser Permanente pharmacies are not covered. In addition, you may purchase over-the-counter drugs at a discount from any Kaiser Permanente pharmacy. The Plan also provides mental health coverage at Kaiser Permanente facilities. Your coverage for outpatient care includes unlimited visits at no charge. Also, there is no charge for inpatient care for up to 45 days.

Preferred Provider Option Plan
The Preferred Provider Option (PPO) Plan, administered by Harrington Benefit Services, Inc. (HBSI), allows you to visit any doctor or facility of your choice and receive medical care. However, the plan pays higher benefits when you use doctors and facilities in the PPO network. Vision care is not covered. The PPO plan is the most expensive plan in Benefits by Design. If you choose the PPO Plan, you are responsible for filing your own claims and requesting any necessary reviews from HBSI. Before you receive PPO benefits, you must meet an annual deductible. Prescription drugs are covered with co-payments which may vary depending on whether or not they are filled in or out of network.

Dental Plan
Your Delta Dental Plan coverage becomes effective on the first day of the month, following six months of continuous employment. The plan covers you, your spouse or domestic partner, and unmarried dependent children up to 25 years of age. Your Delta Dental Plan covers 90% of Usual, Customary and Reasonable charges for preventive and diagnostic services, and basic services such as oral surgery, periodontics, endodontics, and restorative dentistry including crowns, jackets and cast restorations, and 50% for prosthodontic services such as construction or repair of bridges and dentures. Orthodontia coverage is limited to dependent children under age 18 and covered at 50% with a lifetime maximum benefit of $1,000. The Delta Dental Plan allows you to select any dentist. However, to receive full benefits, you must visit a participating Delta dentist. The majority of California dentists participate in the Delta Dental Plan. The maximum dental benefit is $1,000 per person each calendar year.

Life Insurance
You are eligible for $5,000 company-paid group term life insurance effective the first day of the month after your date of hire, if you are regularly scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week. You also have the option to purchase Contributory Life Insurance in the amount of $14,000. If you waive this option when first eligible and wish to purchase it at a later time, Evidence Of Insurability (EOI) may be required. Your company-paid life insurance also provides Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage in the amount of $5,000. If you purchase Contributory Life Insurance, it also will include AD&D coverage in the amount of $6,500. You automatically are enrolled in the Survivor Assistance Benefit if you are a regularly scheduled employee. Survivor Assistance provides financial assistance to your beneficiary in the event of your death. This benefit is equal to one month of your base wage (prorated for part-time employees).

Malpractice Insurance
Kaiser Permanente maintains and purchases its own insurance coverage, not only for the protection of the organization but also for the individual employee, against loss of malpractice claims. All employees of The Permanente Medical Group, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., are included in this blanket coverage. It is, therefore, unnecessary for you to carry insurance for personal protection against loss of malpractice claims for negligent acts or omissions involving performance of duties in the course and scope of employment with Kaiser Permanente.

License Fees
Physician residents continuing in Kaiser Permanente-sponsored programs beyond the PG-1 year will be reimbursed one time for the USMLE III examination fee upon successfully passing the examination. This fee will be reimbursed after commencement of the PG-2 year. Residents will be reimbursed for the California Medical License fee and for renewal of the license should renewal be required before completion of the residency or in the case of a Chief Resident in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. Residents will also be reimbursed for Drug Enforcement Administrative (DEA) licenses.

Podiatry residents will be reimbursed for the California Podiatric Surgery, DEA, and Fluoroscopy License fees.

Paid Time Off Benefits
Your paid time off benefits at Kaiser Permanente consist of:

• Holidays
  
• Vacations
  
• Sick Leave

• Educational Leave

You are eligible for time off benefits if you are a regularly scheduled employee. Holiday call will be equitably distributed by the Program Director. Effective on your date of hire, you may be eligible for the following paid Holidays:

• New Year's Day
  
• Presidents' Day
  
• Memorial Day
  
• Independence Day
  
• Labor Day
  
• Thanksgiving Day
  
• Christmas Day

Your Vacation is time you may use for vacation, leisure or personal reasons. You accrue vacation at the rate of 1.25 days per month. A resident may accrue no more than 19 days of vacation at any given time.

Sick Leave is time you may use when you are ill or injured. Residents are allowed 13 days of sick leave each anniversary year. Sick leave hours do not accumulate from year to year; instead a resident begins each anniversary year with a new block of sick leave. Sick leave balances are not paid off when a resident completes training as a resident. Residents may use sick leave only if they are unable to work or absent for diagnosis or treatment due to an illness, injury or medical condition. Residents may also use available sick leave to attend to an ill child, parent or spouse/domestic partner and the domestic partner’s child(ren), as defined by California law (AB 109). The total amount of sick leave available to a resident in any calendar year to care for an ill child, parent or spouse/domestic partner and the domestic partner’s child(ren) shall not exceed one-half of the block of sick leave provided to the resident at the beginning of the anniversary year in which the illness begins (6.5 days).
A resident should immediately notify the Program Director, Chief Resident, and Graduate Medical Education office of illness requiring sick leave. Medical certification is required to support a request for leave because of a serious health condition or for an illness lasting for three or more days. In the event of excessive sick leave usage, the Program Director may inform the resident in writing that medical documentaion is required for all sick leave.

Educational Leave is provided to assist you in the maintenance of your professional license(s) and/or to upgrade and maintain professional skills. Educational leave may be granted by the Program Director at the rate of five workdays per year. Unused days may not carry over from one academic year to the next.

Disability Income
Your disability benefits at Kaiser Permanente provide income replacement in the event of a disability, serious illness, or injury. You are automatically enrolled in the Long-Term Disability (LTD) plan on your date of hire, if you are regularly scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week. Benefits are payable after six months of disability provided you exhaust all hours in your Sick Leave account and any Vacation hours you immediately elect to convert to Sick Leave prior to commencing a Medical Leave. This plan provides at least 50% of your base wage, or up to 60% if combined with other disability income such as State Disability Insurance, Workers' Compensation, and/or Social Security. This is a company-paid benefit.

Retirement Programs
Your retirement benefits at Kaiser Permanente are designed to provide financial security in retirement. You will not accrue a pension benefit during your time in the Residency Program. However, if you are hired as a Kaiser Permanente physician immediately following completion of the Residency Program, then your time spent in the Residency Program will count for pension service in the Retirement Plan for Physicians.

Tax Sheltered Annuity Plan
You may elect to participate in the Tax Sheltered Annuity (TSA) Plan on your date of hire or anytime thereafter regardless of employment status or work schedule. The TSA Plan is designed to help you save additional money for retirement and reduce your current taxable income. You can make pre-tax contributions by deferring a percentage of your wages into the plan. Your contributions may be invested in a broad range of investment funds.