Open Enrollment is the annual opportunity for faculty and staff to review their benefit choices and make sure they continue to meet individual needs. Employees can change their benefit elections for 2010 during the Oct. 26-Nov. 6 enrollment period with the changes taking effect Jan. 1, 2010.
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What’s new for 2010
The two-year transition to the university’s new health plan cost-sharing ratio begins Jan. 1, 2010, and employees and most retirees will begin contributing a greater percentage toward health care costs than they do today. Half of the increase will occur in January 2010; the remainder in 2011.
View medical plan rates exclusively online
Beginning Jan. 1, 2010, medical plan rates will be calculated based on three salary bands, and rates for faculty and staff will only be available online. Finding individualized rates is simple with the new rate calculator now available on the Benefits Office Web site, benefits.umich.edu. Employees will need to enter a valid uniqname and UMICH password to login and see their exact monthly rates for 2010 displayed. The system automatically checks the current appointment records to determine the appropriate salary band and display the 2010 medical plan rates.
Office visit co-pay changes
The co-pay amount for an office visit will change from $15 to $20 and emergency room visit co-pays will change from $50 to $75 (co-pay is waived when admitted to the hospital for care).
Prescription drug plan co-pay increases
For AFSCME members, in 2010 prescription drug plan co-pays will increase from $14 to $15 for brand-name drugs and from $24 to $30 for non-preferred drugs. Generic drug co-pays will remain at $5 for a 34-day supply.
Mental health coverage increases
For 2010, medical insurance plans are lifting current limits on the number of mental health visits allowed annually.
Reduced printing and mailing costs
In an effort to continue reducing costs, this year the Benefits Office will streamline the ways Open Enrollment information will be shared with faculty and staff. Instead of receiving a postcard at home and a large booklet at work, faculty and staff will receive a single condensed information packet mailed to their homes in late September. The packet will include a medical plan coverage comparison chart, information on where to find rates and details about other benefit plans, and instructions for making enrollment changes online through Wolverine Access.
Schedule for 2010 benefits
Late September: Materials sent to home addresses
Oct. 26-Nov. 6: Open Enrollment period. All elections must be submitted by 5 p.m. Nov. 6
Jan. 1: New co-pays, rates and plan changes take effect.
