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The LifePlans series will kick off this month with two programs, Budgeting and Saving (course number GET570) on September 13 and FRS/DROP Workshop (course number GET573) on September 21. Employees may go to the HRS web site for a complete list of LifePlans programs and to register. Don't miss Optional Retirement Program deadline Eligible employees for the Optional Retirement Program have only 90 days from their date of hire to submit necessary paperwork if they wish to select this retirement plan. Please contact University Benefits and Retirement at 392-4941 if you have questions or need assistance. Keep addresses up-to-date To ensure you receive mailings such as open enrollment materials and other important information throughout the year please ensure your address is up-to-date in the UF directory. Detailed steps are listed in the July 29 Bridges Advisory. Receive six free months at Living Well The first three Living Well members spotted by Living Well Director Cassie Howard wearing a Living Well T-Shirt at the UCF vs. Florida game on September 9 will receive six free months added to their membership. If you don't already have a T-shirt one can be purchased at Living Well for only $15. Come out, show your support, and get rewarded. Go Gators! For additional information about Living Well, call 392-9767. Gators on the Go registration is now underway! Gators on the Go is a free, web-based exercise program that allows participants to set a goal distance and to log “mileage” from different activities as they “travel” to their final destinations. The program runs from September 20 through December 6. Get more information and register online today. Gators on the Go is open to all UF faculty, staff, and students of any fitness level. The program is co-sponsored by Healthy Gators 2010, Living Well, and the College of Health and Human Performance. InsideUF is your key to campus happenings Are you up on the latest news from the UF community? Get on the inside track with Inside UF, your campus news source. Geared toward faculty, staff, and students of the University of Florida, Inside UF features news of people, places, and events. The biweekly publication, produced by the University Relations Office and published in the Independent Florida Alligator, promotes campus unity and provides a forum for campus units to share their news with the broader UF community. Be an insider. Look for the next edition of Inside UF, your campus news source, every other Tuesday in the Independent Florida Alligator. Baby Gator Yard Sale The sale will be held on Saturday, September 16, 2006. Hosted by the Parents Advisory Council of Baby Gator. All proceeds benefit Baby Gator Child Development and Research Center. Yard sale donations can be brought to Baby Gator between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, until September 15. UF’s Information Technology (IT) Security Team is proud to announce the first issue of Information Technology Security (ITS) News for faculty and staff. ITS News was created to educate employees about IT Security concerns on campus. Near the beginning of Fall, Spring, and Summer C semesters, editions will be distributed electronically to UF employees.
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Open Enrollment and Benefits Special Edition |
UF to close on Friday, October 6, 2006 for Homecoming In recognition of Homecoming, the University of Florida will be closed on Friday, October 6, 2006. No classes will be held except for those in the College of Medicine and the Levin College of Law. The decision to close during Homecoming was based upon feedback and suggestions from faculty and staff across the campus. The following clinics within the Health Science Center will remain open to serve patients: College of Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, and the College of Nursing Archer Clinic. Essential personnel who are required to work to support campus operations will be contacted directly by their supervisor.
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| Benefits Open Enrollment kicks off September 19
This year’s open enrollment period begins September 19 at 8:30 a.m. and ends October 18 at 5:30 p.m. (EST). Open enrollment is a window of time each year that provides an opportunity to make plan changes particularly to state sponsored/pre-tax benefits without requiring a qualifying event (e.g., change in marital status, birth, adoption). During open enrollment, both state- and UF-sponsored plans will be available. Be sure to make your elections early. All open enrollment transactions must be completed by the October 18 deadline. Any changes you make to your elections will be effective January 1, 2007. |
Look for Open Enrollment mailingsIn the coming days, you will receive important Open Enrollment information. Check the HRS website frequently for important dates and a list of mailings you can expect to receive. Information specifically pertaining to state-sponsored benefit options will be provided by People First, along with a benefit statement summarizing your current elections. People First is scheduled to send mailings to home addresses around September 5, 2006. |
Report all life-event changesYou are responsible for reporting any qualifying status events to University Benefits or your human resources satellite office. All qualifying status events must be reported within 31 days, including:
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.
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Enrollment process varies for state- and UF-sponsored plans Your benefits package may consist of a number of state- and/or UF-sponsored plans, depending on the selections you've already made. The People First Service Center, which is the State of Florida’s Plan Administrator, is responsible for administering only those plans designated as “state-sponsored.” You may enroll or make changes to state-sponsored benefits by doing any one of the following:
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Direct Assignment/Reimbursement dental plan with Eagles - available during open enrollmentFor employees seeking an alternative dental option to the state-sponsored dental plans, the University offers an additional plan through Eagles Benefits by Design. Similar to the state-sponsored, pre-tax dental plans (American Dental, Oral Health Services, Denticare, and Cigna), the plan offers several options for dental coverage; however, the plan is deducted on a post-tax basis. The Eagles plan also has a straightforward payment schedule, and you can visit any licensed U.S. dentist. |
Open Enrollment for UF term life insurance also held this fall Open Enrollment for UF term life insurance will also be held from September 19 to October 18, 2006, for all eligible employees with an FTE of .50 or greater. During this period, current participants may increase or decrease coverage levels, and new participants may enroll. During Open Enrollment, you may add or increase coverage by $10,000 for yourself and $5,000 for spouses and children without evidence of insurability. In no case may a spouse or child’s coverage be in excess of 50 percent of the employee’s coverage amount, and coverage for children is limited to a maximum of $25,000. Greater amounts of coverage may be added for both current and new participants, subject to medical approval by the company via a medical application. Coverage may be increased only during Open Enrollment or via medical application, but it may be decreased or cancelled at any time. Please contact University Benefits and Retirement at (352) 392-1225 (SC 622-1225) or at benefits@ufl.edu with questions.
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Signing up for a state-sponsored supplemental plan? Some of the supplemental plans offered during Open Enrollment require medical underwriting, and enrollment is subject to approval by the supplemental insurance carrier. These include plans offered through: |
Health insurance premiums for 2007 show minimum increases on employer contributionsFor the 2007 plan year, health insurance premiums will reflect a slight increase on the employer-contribution side. This increase will not affect full-time employees rates: however, part-time employee premiums are calculated proportional to FTE, which will result in a slight increase on their employee contribution. Increases will not be effective until April 2007. For employees interested in the increased cost, contact University Benefits and Retirement or a 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 (352) 392-1225 (SC 622-1225) or benefits@ufl.edu. |
Open Enrollment for Long Term Disability and 2007 plan changes Effective January 1, 2007, there will be some minor changes to the Long Term 30/90 disability coverage with The Gabor Agency Inc., underwritten by UNUM Provident. The plan will continue to offer a full 66 2/3% of salary replacement for most employees. They will also maintain the unique feature of an 11% contribution to a retirement plan in the event of a long term disability. |
Sick Leave Pool Open Enrollment opens October 1 Qualifying University of Florida employees may sign up for the Sick Leave Pool during its Open Enrollment period from October 1 to 31 or during the 30 calendar days following the first year of employment. During the Sick Leave Pool Open Enrollment, all applications must be received by the Sick Leave Pool administrator by 5 p.m. on October 31. Open Enrollment for Sick Leave Pool is a separate process from Benefits’ Open Enrollment and has its own deadlines. |
Retirement Special Pay Plan coming soon – educational sessions being heldThe University of Florida will be implementing a Retirement Special Pay Plan administered by BENCOR on November 29, 2006. Educational Sessions
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