Open enrollment provides an annual opportunity for faculty, staff and retirees to review and change their benefits for the following year. Open enrollment for 2018 benefits is set for Oct. 23 to Nov. 3. New rates and changes take effect Jan. 1.
Eligible individuals may change their medical, dental, vision, and legal plans. Faculty and staff may also enroll in a Flexible Spending Account for medical or child care expenses.
Minor changes for 2018
more information
In 2018, U-M will no longer offer the Health Alliance Plan HMO. HAP recently announced a significant cost increase and more limited network of providers to U-M members for 2018.
The university informed current HAP members of this change in June. They will have the opportunity to select a new plan during open enrollment or will be automatically moved to the comparable Community Blue PPO plan.
The annual limit for contributions to a health care Flexible Spending Account will increase to $2,600 for 2018. IRS rules do not allow FSA enrollments to continue across calendar years. Faculty and staff need to re-enroll to participate in an FSA in the upcoming year.
Beginning Jan. 1, the U-M dental plan will include two fluoride treatments per calendar year for plan members up to age 19.
Review current coverage and needs
The Benefits Office encourages individuals to take the time before open enrollment begins to review their current benefits and coverage in anticipation of life events coming up in the next year.
For example, a young child who may go to the dentist for the first time in 2018 would need to be added to the employee’s dental plan during open enrollment. Anyone planning to retire in 2018 should update their dependents during this year’s open enrollment. Retirees cannot add new dependents to their coverage.
Eligible faculty and staff can enroll in or change their life insurance, long-term disability or retirement savings plans at any time. These benefits are not included in the annual open enrollment period.
New benefit plan rates will be available on Wolverine Access beginning Aug. 21. The Benefits Office will send additional open enrollment information to eligible faculty and staff by email, and will mail an open enrollment book to retirees at their home addresses in early October. Information is also available at hr.umich.edu/open-enrollment.
Employees and retirees will use Wolverine Access self-service to make benefits changes beginning Oct. 23. Retirees will have the choice to enroll online or complete the enrollment form included in their open enrollment books. Benefits changes must be completed by 5 p.m. Nov. 3. All changes and new rates take effect Jan. 1 and continue through 2018.
For questions about benefits or open enrollment, call the Shared Services Center at 734-615-2000 or 866-647-7657 (toll free) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
