HR, Payroll and Benefits News

Benefit Enrollment and Change Period Begins October 4
September 14, 2010

There are important changes to your benefits for 2011 that may require you to take action during the Benefit Enrollment & Change Period that begins on October 4, 2010 and ends on October 29, 2010 for most plans. This is the only time during the year when you are eligible to make benefit plan changes unless you have a life event (marriage, birth, divorce...) that allows you to add or change benefits. All benefit enrollments and changes made during this period will be effective January 1, 2011.

Detailed benefit information will be available in late September both online at www.uwservice.wisc.edu/2011 and in My UW System. Information for UW-Madison employees will be available on the Work Record tab in My UW. Please also watch your email for details.

You may take the following actions during the benefit enrollment and change period:

• Change health insurance plans
• Change from single to family health insurance or add additional eligible family members to family health insurance (including married children under age 26 and unmarried children under age 27)
• Enroll in plans that have an open enrollment (vision, dental, EPIC Benefits+)
• Enroll in Employee Reimbursement Account (medical expense and dependent care)
• Cancel vision or dental coverage for the 2011 plan year (must submit application by December 1)
• Remove eligible dependent children ages 19-27 or a domestic partner from benefit plans

Watch for benefit plan changes for 2011:

• Stand-alone dental insurance - there will be a new dental plan, Dental Wisconsin, offered
• EPIC Dental & Excess Medical changed its name to EPIC Benefits+ and has added an optional vision insurance benefit to its plan
• Married children under age 26 will be eligible for coverage under State Group Health Insurance
• Many over-the-counter drugs will no longer be a reimbursable medical expense under the Employee Reimbursement Account (ERA) program.
• Coverage and benefit levels under the Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance plan will be expanded.

Prior to the Benefit Enrollment & Change Period, you should review the benefit plans in which you are currently enrolled by looking at the benefit deductions on your earnings statements and at your most recent UW System University Staff Benefits Statement. Most employees can access their earnings and benefits statements in My UW System. UW-Madison employees can access their earnings statements in My UW, under the Work Record tab.

Source: UW System Administration
Categories: Annual Benefits Enrollment (ABE)