Human Resource Services
Open Enrollment 2007 Articles
Employees should watch for a number of changes to both state of Florida-sponsored plans and UF-sponsored plans during the 2007 Open Enrollment period.
For additional information, visit the Open Enrollment web page to learn how you can access, enroll, or make changes to your benefits; review 2008 plan highlights; find available Open Enrollment information sessions; and make note of any important mailings or dates. If you have any questions, please stop by University Benefits and Retirement at the HRS Building, 903 West University Avenue; visit your nearest HRS satellite office; call us at 392-2HRS or e-mail benefits@ufl.edu.
Open Enrollment and Benefits Fair kick off October 1
This year’s benefits Open Enrollment period begins October 1 at 8:30 a.m. and ends October 26 at 5:30 p.m. (EST). Open enrollment is an annual window of time that provides an opportunity for UF employees to make plan changes without requiring a qualifying event (e.g., change in marital status, birth, adoption). During Open Enrollment, both state- and most UF-sponsored plans will be available for changes. Be sure to make your elections early. All Open Enrollment transactions must be completed by the October 26 deadline. Any changes you make to your elections will be effective January 1, 2008.
The People First Service Center will be available to respond to general inquiries about Open Enrollment for state plans only starting September 24. The Service Center also will be available to provide information and assistance in preparation for Open Enrollment, such as helping to establish and reset passwords, etc., which are necessary to log into the People First web site. However, it will not be available to accept Open Enrollment elections or changes until October 1. To contact People First, call 1-866-663-4735.
Benefits Fair
Don’t forget to mark your calendar for the annual Benefits Fair on October 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on October 2, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom. Insurance and retirement vendors will be available both days to discuss plan details and answer any specific questions you may have. Make plans to attend to learn more about your benefits to assist with your Open Enrollment decisions.
Benefits Fair dental information sessions
During the Benefits Fair, information sessions will be offered specifically pertaining to the dental plans. The sessions will provide general plan information and changes that are taking place during annual enrollment. Sessions will be held in the Reitz Union in Room 286 at the times listed below. Registration is not required for sessions held in the Reitz Union.
- October 1 - 10 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 3 p.m.
- October 2 - 9 to 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Open Enrollment information sessions
Open Enrollment information sessions also will be available starting at the end of September through October to provide a general overview of Open Enrollment changes and to offer assistance on how to make enrollment elections online using the People First system.
If you wish to complete your online changes while attending one of the sessions, please have your People First ID and password established prior to coming to the program. Your People First ID and password are necessary to access your online benefits record. Sessions will be held in the Human Resource Services’ building on the dates listed below:
Open Enrollment Information Sessions (Course code GET019)
Sessions held 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., HRS Building, Room 119
Monday, September 24
Thursday, October 4
Wednesday, October 10
Friday, October 19
Monday, October 22
Dental Information Sessions (Course code GET022)
Sessions held in the HRS Building, Room 120
Tuesday, October 16, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 16, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
To register for either the Open Enrollment or Dental Information Sessions, log on to the myUFL portal and follow this navigation: My Self Service > Training and Development > Request training enrollment. Enter the course number for the session you want to attend.
For general questions, please contact University Benefits and Retirement at 392-2HRS or e-mail benefits@ufl.edu.
Shift to online services to improve benefits enrollment process
Last month, the State of Florida’s People First web site underwent a major redesign that provided online users new functionality to make certain changes to benefits and access to data previously unavailable, while still maintaining a user-friendly enrollment process. Some of the enhancements included:
- Ability to review enrollment history
- Access to additional premium information
- Availability to request early effective dates for health and life insurance
- Ability to view additional dependent information and documentation
- Access to vendor contacts, brochures, and other plan information
In an effort to leverage the system’s efficiency and a quicker enrollment process, employees who are completing new hire elections, qualified status change (QSC) events, and Open Enrollment elections for state-sponsored plans are now responsible for completing their own transactions online through the People First web site.
As a reminder, all new hires must complete their enrollments within 60 calendar days from the date of hire. Enrollment is not automatic and cannot begin prior to the employee’s start date. Due to this limited time window, it is critical that appointments be processed in the payroll system in a timely manner by hiring departments and that the employee does not delay in signing up for benefits.
Current faculty and staff experiencing certain QSC events also have a limited time-frame of 31 calendar days from the date of the event to make changes to their plans. Employees will need to make the appropriate elections online and submit any required documents related to the change.
All elections/changes made during the annual Open Enrollment period may be completed online or by other enrollment options available through the People First Service Center as outlined on our 2007 Open Enrollment web site.
Additional resources for new hires regarding available enrollment assistance can be found under the Group Benefits Enrollment section on the HRS web site. A short instruction guide also is available on the 2007 Open Enrollment web page for employees making general QSC or Open Enrollment changes.
For general questions, please contact University Benefits and Retirement at 392-2HRS or e-mail benefits@ufl.edu.
Look for mailings and visit the HRS Open Enrollment web site for the latest information
Around mid-September, People First is scheduled to send mailings to home addresses. This mailing will include a state’s benefit summary and information on the 2008 plan year changes. Unlike last year, supplemental plan brochures such as Dental, Vision, Cancer, etc. will not be mailed to campus addresses. To view information on state-sponsored plans visit the People First web site for specific brochures and/or forms. Employees who do not receive their “state” benefits summary may call the People First Service Center at 1-866-663-4735 to request a copy or go online to the People First web site to view and print their own. Brochures and/or forms for the UF-sponsored plans can be found in the forms section of the HRS web site.
For additional resources visit our 2007 Open Enrollment web site. You’ll find information on how to access, enroll, or make changes to your benefits; review 2008 plan highlights; find available Open Enrollment information sessions; and make note of any important mailings or dates.
If you have any questions, please stop by University Benefits and Retirement at the HRS Building, 903 West University Avenue; visit your nearest HRS satellite office; call us at 392-2HRS or e-mail benefits@ufl.edu.
Eagles dental plan ends this fall
The Eagles Direct Assignment Dental Plan will not be offered as a dental option for the 2008 plan year. As a result, coverage under the plan will end on December 31, 2007.
During this year’s Open Enrollment period employees currently enrolled in the plan may choose one of the following options regarding their dental program participation:
- Enroll in a state-sponsored dental plan by completing an election online or by enrolling using other available options through People First.
OR
- If no action is taken during Open Enrollment, the Eagles plan will end on December 31, 2007. This will result in no dental coverage for the 2008 plan year.
This year, the State of Florida has contracted with two new dental vendors in addition to the previous options which are traditionally available under the state’s plans. Employees losing coverage are encouraged to take time during the Open Enrollment period to carefully evaluate those plans as a possible replacement for their Eagles Dental coverage.
Please contact University Benefits and Retirement at 392-2HRS or benefits@ufl.edu with questions.
State-sponsored plan changes for 2008 include vision, dental, and more
Employees should watch for a number of changes to State of Florida-sponsored plans during the 2007 Open Enrollment period. Some of the 2008 plan highlights include the following:
- The Vision Care plan will not be offered for the 2008 Plan Year. Coverage under the plan will terminate by December 31, 2007.
- Participants in the dental plans should watch for more information regarding changes involving their current dental plans. Employees losing coverage under the OHS plan (see below) who fail to take action during open enrollment may be defaulted into another dental plan. Additionally, all employees who are enrolled in any of the other dental plans and who do not take action to select the proper coverage tier/level, may also be defaulted into family coverage, which is at a higher cost.
- Several changes associated with the dental plans include:
- Two new vendors – Ameritas and United Healthcare/Dental will offer additional dental options.
- Oral Health Services (OHS) will be ending as of December 31, 2007. Current participants will need to either select another plan or cancel coverage during the Open Enrollment period.
- New coverage tiers (employee, employee + spouse, employee + child(ren), employee + spouse + children) will be introduced. During open enrollment current participants will need to select the proper coverage tiers, as premiums vary based on the coverage level selected.
- The State’s Basic and Optional Life programs, currently under Prudential, will be changing to Minnesota Life Insurance Company. The coverage should remain unchanged, and plans for those participants already enrolled will automatically be converted to the new underwriter for the plan. However, participants will be asked to complete new beneficiary designations during Open Enrollment, which will be maintained by Minnesota Life.
- Tricare Supplemental will not be offered next year. Coverage under the plan will terminate by December 31, 2007.
Look for more information in next’s month issue of the InfoGator and in the State of Florida’s open enrollment communications regarding this year’s changes.
For general questions please contact People First at 1-866-663-4735 or University Benefits and Retirement at 392-2HRS or e-mail benefits@ufl.edu.
UF-sponsored plans also available during Open Enrollment
The university offers a number of benefit plans in addition to those available though the state. Below is a brief list of university-sponsored plans you may want to consider during this year’s annual Open Enrollment period.
- UF Group Term Life insurance – Life insurance coverage for spouses and children. During Open Enrollment, new enrollees may add coverage and current participants may increase by $10,000 for employees and $5,000 for spouses and children, subject to plan limits. Coverage above the guarantee issue is available by medical application.
- Personal Accident Insurance – Various individual or family coverage levels are available for losses resulting from accidental injuries or death.
- UF Domestic Partner Plan – HMO family health coverage for same- and opposite-sex partners as well as children of the employee and partner is available.
- Long Term Disability Plan – This plan provides insurance that assists with income replacement for employees who become disabled and provides 66 2/3 of salary up to a maximum limit. The plan offers a choice of a 30- or 90-day elimination period determining when plan benefits will begin. 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.
- 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.
For additional information on UF-sponsored plans, how to enroll, and the latest information regarding this year’s Open Enrollment process, please visit the 2007 Open Enrollment web page.
Health and life insurance premiums for 2008 show no increase for full-time employees and minimal increase for part-time employees
For the 2008 plan year, health and life insurance premiums will reflect a slight increase on the employer-contribution side. This increase will not affect full-time employee rates; however, part-time employee premiums are calculated proportional to FTE, which will result in a slight increase on their employee contribution.
Increases will go into effect for January 2008 for life premiums and June 2008 for health premiums. For employees interested in the increased cost, contact University Benefits and Retirement or an HRS satellite office for more information.
Employees should also review plan brochures for other increases to various supplemental plans. Questions? Contact University Benefits and Retirement at 392-2HRS or benefits@ufl.edu.
Enhancement made to “My Self Service” in myUFL
If you haven’t had the chance lately, be sure to check out the “My Self Service” link located in the myufl portal. This section of the portal provides you with a partial summary of your benefit and retirement choices. Once you have logged into the system, navigate to: My Self Service > Benefits.
Recently, this section has been updated to include beneficiary and dependent information about your benefit and retirement plans. To find this information, navigate to the Dependent and Beneficiary Information selection under the Benefits heading.
In addition, your People First user ID (PFID) is now available when you click on the dependent and beneficiary information link. You will need this ID to enroll in or make changes to your state-sponsored benefit plans using the People First system, which is the State of Florida’s third-party administrator. With Open Enrollment approaching, don’t forget to use this link as a quick reference to obtain your PFID.
Questions? Contact University Benefits and Retirement at benefits@ufl.edu or 392-2HRS.