Memo from Beth Behner on open enrollment

March 14, 2011

University Relations

Open Enrollment will be coming up soon:  April 15 through May 16.  As previously announced, there are large changes to the deductibles and out of pocket amounts for FY12.  Additional medical services will be covered as "preventive" beginning in July 2011, which is favorable to employees, and there are going to be a few changes to the pharmacy plan.  Next year's employee rates, which are the biweekly deductions from paychecks, have just been set.  The Joint Health Care Committee made the recommendation to keep FY12 employee rates at the same levels as this year.  The UA administration understands that this is important issue to all employees and agreed with the committee's recommendation.

On another topic, the UA administration agreed with the recommendation of the Joint Health Care Committee to encourage employees who use tobacco to participate in tobacco cessation programs over the course of the next year, before a differential charge begins in FY13.   Tobacco cessation programs will be identified for employees' participation, and there will be no cost to employees for these programs.

The university plans to begin communications for open enrollment earlier than usual this year, so that employees have enough information and time to make important plan election decisions.  Human Resources will be scheduling meetings at all MAUs, and we will also communicate extensively through emails, website information and mail sent to employees' homes. A new set of Frequently Asked Questions (pdf) has been posted on the Benefits website to answer a number of questions we have received.