Open enrollment for health insurance coverage—set for Oct. 18–31—will have a new look this year: no paper forms.
The Benefits Office is implementing a toll-free Benefits Telephone Enrollment Line, which will be used for making all enrollments and changes.
Besides being easier to use, benefits administrators note that staff members and retirees will no longer have to worry about whether their forms reached the Benefits Office by the deadline.
The phone line can be used for all 1994 enrollments and changes for the following:
Those who enroll or change their benefits through the phone line will receive a written copy of the 1994 elections shortly after the enrollment period ends.
Enrollment materials
Information packets will be sent via first class mail this week to active staff members, retirees and surviving spouses, graduate student assistants covered by the Graduate Employees Organization bargaining contract, and to individuals on leaves of absence, layoff or COBRA. Packets will be sent to the address on file with the Staff Records Office.
The packet contains information needed to make decisions about benefit enrollments and changes. In addition, the Oct. 11 issue of the Record will carry an insert that summarizes each benefit covered by open enrollment.
Information fairs will be held on all campuses during the open enrollment period. Representatives of the insurance companies and Benefits Office personnel will be present to answer questions.
New for health insurance in 1994
Contributions
Health insurance costs for 1994 will increase, with staff members selecting two-person or three-person-plus coverage sharing with the University the cost of coverage for most plans.
The maximum University contribution will be $367.53, up from the current rate of $351.90.
One-person coverage for active staff members will continue to be paid by the University. Retirees will find that most HMOs have a required monthly contribution.
F-Rider continuation
Staff members and retirees who wish to continue health insurance coverage for eligible dependents who turned age 19 during 1993 may elect Family Continuation F-Rider status during the open enrollment period. This is a change from previous years’ deadlines.
Benefit Reimbursement Accounts
Two types of Benefit Reimbursement Accounts are offered to eligible staff members, one for health care expenses and one for dependent care expenses.
These accounts allow you to use pre-tax salary to pay for eligible health care or dependent care expenses. When pre-tax dollars are used, you do not pay Social Security tax or federal, state or local (if applicable) income tax on the amount.
Money deducted to fund a Benefit Reimbursement Account can be used only to reimburse you for eligible expenses incurred Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 1994.
Elections to participate in a Benefit Reimbursement Account for 1994 must be made during the open enrollment period using the Benefits Enrollment Line. This is a change in deadlines of previous years.
Premium Conversion
Premium Conversion allows you to pay health insurance and/or group life insurance deductions on a pre-tax basis. When you participate in Premium Conversion, payroll deductions for these benefits are subtracted from your salary before taxes are calculated. This reduces taxable income, resulting in lower Social Security, federal, state or local (if applicable) taxes.
Electing Premium Conversion limits the ability to cancel group life insurance coverage or arbitrarily delete or add dependents to your health insurance unless there is a significant change in family or employment status.
Cancellation of group life insurance
Staff members may cancel their group life insurance coverage during the open enrollment period, with cancellation effective Feb. 1, 1994.
Additional information
Visit or call one of the University’s four Benefit Office locations:
