Postdoctoral Fellows who are paid a salary or stipend by or through the University are eligible to enroll in one of three Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) medical plans offered by Brown University:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Core PPO Plan
- Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Premier PPO Plan
- Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Consumer-Directed Health Plan (CDHP) with Health Savings Account (HSA)*
View a plan-by-plan comparison created by University Human Resources.
You can review the 2026 Rate Sheet for Faculty and Staff to see the monthly employee contribution, which is deducted from your paycheck on a pre-tax basis.
*Please note, Postdoctoral Fellows are not eligible for the employer contribution to the Health Savings Account (HSA).
For additional details, see Article 20: Insurance (page 44) of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Health Supplement and Tax Offset Subsidy
Postdoctoral Fellows who are paid a salary or stipend by or through the University will receive a health supplement equivalent to the employer contribution. You can see both the individual and employer contributions on the 2026 Faculty & Staff Rates sheet. The amount will appear as “U.S. NRSA Post Doc Health Allowance” or “Post Doc Health Allowance” on your pay stub in Workday. This supplement may be subject to tax and will be reported on the appropriate year-end tax form.
Because the health supplement may be taxable, Postdoctoral Fellows will receive an additional tax offset subsidy according to their coverage level:
- $100/month for an individual,
- $200/month for a couple or an individual plus children, and
- $250/month for an individual, plus legal spouse and children.
Please note that a Postdoctoral Fellow is eligible for the supplement and the tax offset subsidy only if they are enrolled in a Brown-provided medical plan.
For more information about the health supplement and tax offset subsidy—including funding details and instructions for calculating your amounts—visit the Health Supplement and Tax Offset Subsidy page.
For additional details, see Article 20: Insurance (page 44) of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Last updated: February 17, 2026.