Open Enrollment for 2021 benefits running now until Oct. 30

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Faculty, staff, retirees and benefits-eligible graduate students can change their benefits during Open Enrollment, running now through 5 p.m. Oct. 30.

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Changes can be made to health, dental, vision and legal plan enrollments. Faculty and staff may also add eligible dependents and enroll in a flexible spending account.

Michigan Care is a new plan added to the available options for 2021 coverage for eligible faculty, staff and retirees.

The university will continue to offer Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Community Blue PPO, Comprehensive Major Medical and U-M Premier Care, as well as GradCare for benefits-eligible graduate students.

Michigan Care is a managed-care plan similar to U-M Premier Care. It offers a narrower network than U-M Premier Care with a lower monthly premium for non-Medicare participants. 

In addition to telehealth coverage with their network PCP or specialist, Michigan Care members will have on-demand video access to Amwell Online Care Group physicians for urgent medical needs, and access to the Amwell behavioral health network by appointment. 

Because of the narrow provider network, access to the plan is limited to faculty, staff and retirees who live in a specific geographic area within Southeast Michigan. An online tool is available to determine what ZIP codes are part of the coverage area. 

The plan includes chiropractic coverage and access to Michigan Medicine health care providers as well as other high-quality network providers in Southeast Michigan. Eligible employees and retirees can check an online directory to see if their preferred provider is in the Michigan Care network. 

Access to the provider directory, eligibility tool and more information on the plan is available at hr.umich.edu/michigan-care

No action required to keep current benefits, except FSAs

All benefits-eligible employees and retirees should review their benefits plans, options and 2021 rates.

No action is required to keep current benefits as long as eligibility is maintained, with the exception of flexible spending accounts.

The Internal Revenue Service regulates FSAs. Unlike other benefits, the IRS does not allow FSA enrollments to continue from one year to the next. Employees enrolled for 2020 will need to re-enroll for 2021.

Employees planning to retire in 2021

Employees who plan to retire in 2021 should think about the future and use this Open Enrollment period to enroll in the benefits and coverage they want to have in retirement.

Benefits coverage for the employee and eligible dependents enrolled in the U-M health, dental, vision or legal plan at the time of retirement will automatically continue as long as eligibility is maintained.

Enroll or make changes online by 5 p.m. Oct. 30

Employees can make changes online through Wolverine Access benefits self-service. Changes may be made as often as needed during Open Enrollment. All changes must be completed and submitted by 5 p.m. Oct. 30. Benefits changes are complete when an online confirmation statement is displayed.

Retirees may make changes online by 5 p.m. Oct. 30, or with the enrollment form included in the Open Enrollment book. The Benefits Office mailed these to home addresses in early October. Completed forms may be mailed or faxed and must be postmarked or received by Oct. 30.

Changes and new rates go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021. Complete benefits plan and enrollment information is available on the University Human Resources website at hr.umich.edu/open-enrollment.

Wolverine Tower is closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and no walk-in service is available. For questions, call the SSC Contact Center at 734-615-2000 or 866-647-7657.

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