Note: As employees think about their benefits elections for 2027, Penn State News is publishing a series of stories designed to help employees make informed choices.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — With ID Watchdog, Penn State employees and their families can rest easy knowing that their identities and personal information are being protected.
While there is an ID protection benefit through Highmark and Experian for those who participate in Highmark medical plans, ID Watchdog offers a more comprehensive monitoring service that extends beyond an employee’s immediate family. The service sends alerts when signs of unusual activity are detected by monitoring billions of data points, including credit reports, loan activity, high-risk transactions, public records, and thousands of dark web pages known for trafficking stolen information.
If an employee’s credentials are compromised, ID Watchdog has resolution specialists dedicated to managing the case until their identity is restored, with 24/7 customer care. It also provides identity theft insurance for up to $2 million, covering potential out-of-pocket legal expenses incurred due to a stolen identity.
Other features include social accounts monitoring, which notifies users about potential cyberbullying or reputation-damaging information directed at them; personal data removal from over 150 people-search sites; a personal NordVPN account; registered sex-offender reporting, which searches for sex offenders in the user’s area; and many more.
Penn State employees can choose between two plans: an employee-only plan for $6.75 per month, or a family plan for $12.10 per month. The family plan extends to spouses, children of any age, other family members in the household, parents and in-laws, and grandparents.
Penn State Human Resources is holding a series of informational webinars over the coming weeks, highlighting the range of benefits available to faculty and staff heading into the 2027 Benefits Open Enrollment period. To learn more about ID Watchdog, access the zoom link for the webinar from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 and noon-1 p.m. on Nov. 4 by visiting the presentation and webinars page on the 2027 Benefits Open Enrollment website.
For more information, visit the Penn State HR benefits website.