Human Resource Services
Open Enrollment News
Save the date! Benefits Fair and information sessions coming in October
Mark your calendar for the annual Benefits Fair, to be held on October 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Touchdown Terrace in the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Insurance and retirement vendors will be available to discuss plan details and answer any questions you may have. Food and prizes also will be available!
Open Enrollment information sessions also will be offered on October 6 and 19 to provide a general overview of Open Enrollment changes and to offer assistance with completing enrollment changes online using the People First system. Please register in myUFL (my.ufl.edu, My Self Service, Training and Development, Request Training Enrollment) using course number GET019. Sessions will be held in HRS Building, Room 119.
To complete changes while attending an information session, bring your People First ID and password, which should be established prior to coming to the session. The People First ID and password are necessary to access your online benefits record.
Questions? Please contact University Benefits and Retirement at (352) 392-2HRS or e-mail benefits@ufl.edu.
Watch your mail and visit People First's web site for Open Enrollment news
By mid-September, People First is scheduled to send an Open Enrollment mailing to UF employees’ home addresses. This mailing will include a state benefit summary, a People First User ID, and a state of Florida benefits guide that provides information on the 2011 plan year changes.
Requests for brochures can be made online via the People First web site or by calling its service center. Be sure to account for mailing time when ordering. Brochures can also be picked up at the Benefits Fair from vendors. Employees who do not receive a “state” benefits summary may call 1-866-663-4735 to request a copy or go online to the People First web site to view and print their own.
If you have any questions, stop by the HRS Building at 903 West University Avenue; visit your nearest HRS satellite office; call us at 392-2HRS; or e-mail benefits@ufl.edu.
Open Enrollment timeline
Sept. 13- 24 |
Open Enrollment packages mailed |
Sept. 27- Oct. 22 |
Open Enrollment period –complete all enrollment/changes by 6 p.m. EST on 10/22 |
Oct. 25- 29 |
Confirmation statements will be mailed during this period* |
Oct. 25- Nov. 5 |
Correction period for changes made during Open Enrollment |
Dec. 3 |
Biweekly payroll deductions for 2011 plans begin |
* Please note: If you wish to receive a confirmation statement in a timely manner, please complete your enrollments/changes early during the first few weeks of Open Enrollment. Paper forms submitted during the last week or the last day will be processed as soon as possible; however, your confirmation statement may arrive late or possibly after the correction period has ended.
How are the state-sponsored plans changing for 2011?
This year’s Open Enrollment includes some significant changes to the state of Florida-sponsored plans available to UF employees. Some of the highlights to watch on state- sponsored plans include the following:
- Reduction in basic state life coverage to $25,000 for all employees
- Added optional life coverage available for employee purchase
- Rate increase on employer and part-time employee health premiums
- Adjusted co-pays for some health services and prescriptions
- New Medical Reimbursement Account (MRA) debit card
- Over-the-counter medication prescription required for MRA and HSA reimbursements
- PPO mail-order prescription requirement after three retail pharmacy refills
- Prescription coverage for smoking cessation medications
- Expanded eligibility covering dependents through age 26 on the family health plan
- Mammograms covered under the PPO as preventive care
- PPO plan eliminating $2 million lifetime limit and pre-existing condition for dependents under age 19
- Vista HMO and Philadelphia American name change
- Rate increases for some dental and supplemental plans
- Colonial Cancer and Intensive Care plan eliminating two older plan options. Current participants will remain in grandfathered plans; however, future enrollments will be covered under a new guaranteed issue option
- Capital HMO options expanded to Calhoun and Liberty counties
For more information, contact the People First Service Center at 1-866-663-4735 or University Benefits and Retirement at (352) 392-2HRS or benefits@ufl.edu.
UF-sponsored plans also available to add or update during Open Enrollment
The University of Florida offers a number of benefit plans in addition to those available through the state of Florida. Below is a brief list of university-sponsored plans you may want to consider during this year’s Open Enrollment period.
- UF Group Term Life insurance – Life insurance for employees, spouses, and children. During Open Enrollment, this year only, employees may enroll for up to $300,000 in coverage without a medical application. Dependent coverage can be increased in increments of $5,000 for spouses and children, subject to plan limits. Members who have applied in the past and were declined coverage may be denied the requested coverage. Coverage above the Open Enrollment guaranteed issue amounts are available by medical application. (See related story, below.)
- Personal Accident Insurance – Offers employee or family benefits for accidental death and dismemberment. Coverage is provided for injuries caused by accident that occur on or off the job, at home, or while traveling. Choose any amount of insurance in increments of $10,000, up to $750,000. The principle sum may not exceed ten times the annual salary of an employee for selections in excess of $350,000. You can enroll in this plan at any time during the year.
- UF Domestic Partner Plan – HMO family health coverage for same- and opposite-sex partners and children. Employees seeking to change from the “state” health plan to the “UF” domestic partner plan and vice versa, or who are currently enrolled in the domestic partner plan and considering retirement, should consult the Benefits Office to coordinate this change during the Open Enrollment period. The UF Domestic Partner Plan cannot be converted into retiree coverage.
- Long Term Disability Plan – Disability income replacement paying 2/3 of your salary up to plan limit. The plan offers a 30- or 90-day elimination period determining when plan benefits begin. Election during the Open Enrollment period is subject to a medical application/approval, with the exception of new hires in the first 60 days of employment. This year the plan’s monthly benefit limit will increase to $12,000. This change only affects employees compensated between $162,000 up to $215,000 + and will result in a slight premium increase for their coverage.
- Long Term Care - Coverage for employees, spouses, parents, or grandparents to help cover costs for long term care services, such as facility or home-based care. Election during the Open Enrollment period will be subject to a medical application, with the exception of new hires within the first 60 days of employment.
The 2010 Florida Legislature appealed the Adoption Benefit. The program and its funding has been discontinued.
UF Term Life plan offers one-time only guarantee issue for up to $300,000
The UF Term Life program is the only life insurance plan that offers coverage for employees, spouses, and eligible dependents. This is an individual policy and is portable, which means you may continue the plan after you separate employment.
During Open Enrollment this year only, employees will have an opportunity to enroll for up to $300,000 without a medical application. Human Resource Services coordinated this increase with the vendor due to the State’s Basic Life coverage being decreased to $25,000 beginning January 1, 2011. For more details on the state’s basic life change refer to an article in the August issue of the InfoGator.
Dependent coverage can be increased in increments of $5,000 for spouses and children, subject to plan limits. Members who have applied in the past and were declined coverage may be denied the requested coverage. Employees may apply for coverage above the Open Enrollment limits; however, it will be subject to approval by the company via a medical application.
Last year, dependent eligibility expanded to include children up through age 25 if they met the following criteria: enrolled as a part or full-time student in an accredited educational institution; dependent on parent for more than half of his or her financial support; not married; and no dependents of his or her own. Additionally, dependents that are totally/permanently disabled and who became disabled prior to age 19 can also be covered as long as the employee maintains continuous coverage and the dependent child remains totally disabled.
If you already have “dependent” coverage and your child or children meet the criteria, no action is necessary. However, employees without “dependent” coverage who would like to enroll their children must complete an application prior to the end of Open Enrollment.
To view coverage for this plan log on to the myUFL portal and follow this navigation:
My Self Service → Benefits → Insurance Summary. As a general practice, employees should periodically verify coverage amounts and tobacco status for themselves and/or their spouses to ensure they are correct. Beneficiary information should also be kept up-to-date. Now is a good time to review beneficiary information to make sure benefits are paid to the intended person(s). Beneficiary changes may be submitted on the enrollment/change form and updated online for viewing via the myUFL portal.
Employees are reminded that they are responsible to ensure their coverage is accurate, proper deductions are taken, and dependents meet the eligibility requirements to maintain coverage under the plan. As changes occur, employees should consult the UF Benefits Office and submit necessary paperwork to cancel coverage when they no longer have dependents eligible for coverage.
To participate in this plan, employees must be appointed at .50 FTE or greater. For details regarding the life plan, please review the Willis/HRH Term Life brochure found under the Life Insurance section on the HRS web site. Representatives will be available at this year’s Benefits Fair to answer any questions about the policy. Or, contact University Benefits and Retirement at (352) 392-2HRS or benefits@ufl.edu with questions.
Health plan costs for full-time employees hold steady for fifth consecutive year
Despite rising health care costs, the new plan year marks the fifth year in a row that employee health premiums have not increased at UF. While the employee’s portion has not increased, the total plan cost has. As a result, the employer has absorbed some of the increased costs associated with administering the plan.
The UF departmental portion will increase to $499.80 per month for individual and $1,063.34 per month for family coverage; however, full-time employees will not be impacted and will continue to pay the same premiums: $25 for individual and $90 for family coverage each biweekly. Part-time employees, however, will experience a proportional increase based on their FTE beginning in December 2010 (for January’s coverage).
Employees who have questions or concerns about these changes should contact University Benefits at (352) 392-2477 or benefits@ufl.edu.
Signing up for a state-sponsored supplemental plan?
Some of the supplemental plans offered during Open Enrollment require medical underwriting and/or a company application, and enrollment is subject to approval by the supplemental insurance carrier. These include plans offered through:
Colonial – All plans require an enrollment + company application. Also contact an agent.
- Short-term disability plan
- Accident plan
- Cancer & Cancer/Intensive Care (plans 6600 & 7500) - This year Colonial will eliminate plan codes 6600 and 7500. Current participants will remain in grandfathered plans and future enrollments will be covered by a new plan option, which is guaranteed issue
Capital – All plans require an enrollment + company application. Also contact an agent.
- Alta hospital plans
- AFLAC cancer plans
State Securities – Enrollment + company application
- New Era hospital plans (name change) formally Philadelphia American
Minnesota Life – Enrollment + medical application, as indicated below
- Optional State Life – this year only will allow employees to enroll or increase by 1X their salary without a medical application, provided that coverage is not already at 5X salary or $500,000. Medical applications will be required for employees who want to: increase more than 1X salary, increase coverage from 5X to 6X, and increase coverage above $500,000.
When enrolling in a supplemental plan, please be sure you have completed the steps below:
- Enroll by phone or online, or submit the state’s enrollment form, which can be found on the People First web site. Completed forms must be returned to the People First Service Center by the Open Enrollment deadline, October 22 at 6 p.m. EST.
- A company application must also be completed. However, application must be mailed separately to the appropriate company by the end of Open Enrollment.
Failure to complete both parts of this process and submit paperwork to the appropriate locations may cause your enrollment to be denied. Brochures and state enrollment forms may be downloaded via the People First web site. Some brochures may contain the company’s medical application forms; however, for those plans that do not, be sure to contact the agent or supplemental company.
Questions? Please contact University Benefits and Retirement at (352) 392-2HRS or visit your nearest HRS satellite office for assistance.
Be sure to report all work/life-event changes
UF employees are responsible for reporting any qualifying status events to University Benefits and Retirement or their Human Resource Services satellite office for benefits purposes. All qualifying status events must be reported within 31 days, including:
- Birth, adoption, or legal guardianship (you must add each child even if you already have family coverage.)
- Marriage or divorce
- Death of spouse or dependent
- Change from full- to part-time or part- to full-time employment
- Change in spouse's employment status
- Unpaid leave of absence of more than 31 days for employee or spouse
- Change in dependent's eligibility
Outside of the 31-day qualifying status event window, changes to your state-sponsored plans are limited to the annual Open Enrollment period, which takes place in the fall of each year.