HR, Payroll and Benefits News

Annual Benefits Enrollment: October 1 - 26, 2018
September 25, 2018

The Annual Benefits Enrollment (ABE) period, October 1-26, is the annual opportunity you have to make changes to most of your benefits unless you have an eligible life event (family status or employment change) during the year. Watch for emails in October regarding benefits changes and your enrollment opportunities. Changes made during ABE are effective January 1, 2019.

The main changes for 2019 are listed below. Visit the Annual Benefits Enrollment website for a full list of changes. These changes may impact your coverage and action may be required. It is important to understand the changes so you can make informed decisions.

State Group Health Insurance

New Health Plan Carrier
Robin with HealthPartners will be a new health plan carrier in 2019 for Northeastern Wisconsin

State Maintenance Plan (SMP) Changes

• SMP will be newly available in Forest Country
• SMP is no longer available in Florence County

Health Plan Carrier Name Changes
The following plans will have name changes:

• WEA Trust – Northwest Chippewa Valley is now WEA Trust West – Chippewa Valley
• WEA Trust – Northwest Mayo Clinic Health System is now WEA Trust West – Mayo Clinic Health System

Supplemental Dental Plans
EPIC Benefits+ and Dental Wisconsin (offered through EPIC Specialty Benefits) will no longer be available effective January 1, 2019. Two new dental plans will be offered through Delta Dental. Employees may select one of these supplemental dental plans. Employees who are currently enrolled in EPIC Benefits+ and/or Dental Wisconsin will not be automatically enrolled in the new supplemental dental plans. If you want coverage, you must actively enroll in one of the plans during ABE.

• Delta Dental PPO – Select
• Delta Dental PPO Plus Premier – Select Plus.

IMPORTANT: The supplemental dental plans do not cover preventive, diagnostic and basic care (other than anesthesia). Employees who are enrolled in a State Group Health Insurance plan, may elect preventive dental care through the uniform dental plan associated with participation in State Group Health Insurance.

For more information, read Supplemental Dental Plan Changes for 2019 and/or visit the Annual Benefits Enrollment website.

Pharmacy Changes
Effective January 1, 2019, employees will pay an additional cost for level 3 “dispense-as-written” (brand name) drugs if there is a generic alternative available. If an employee is unable to take a generic alternative medication for medical reasons, the employee’s doctor may submit a Food & Drug Administration MedWatch form detailing why.

Without the submission of the MedWatch form, employees will pay the 40% coinsurance plus the cost of the difference between the brand name drug and its generic equivalent.

Navitus will be sending letters to employees who are affected by the “dispense as written” pharmacy changes for 2019.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
There will be an opportunity to enroll/make changes to AD&D insurance through Self Service for coverage effective January 1, 2019. The AD&D insurance, effective January 1, 2019 will include identity theft protection, a critical burn benefit and rehabilitation benefit. Rates will be increasing slightly with the addition of the identify theft benefit. For enrollment/changes effective prior to January 1, please submit a paper application.

There are several things you can do now to prepare to make your benefit elections:

1. Review your current benefits and visit the ABE website for 2019 benefits changes.
2. ALEX, a currently available interactive benefits decision tool, will be available in late September reflecting 2019 benefits plans. Links to ALEX will be included in the ABE enrollment information you receive and on the ABE website.
3. Plan to attend your campus benefits fair to meet with health plan representatives and other benefits vendors. For a list of fairs throughout the UW System: UW System Benefits Fair.
4. Plan ahead if you currently participate in a plan that requires re-enrollment each year to continue participation. Plans include:
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) including Health Care FSA, Limited Purpose FSA, Dependent Day Care FSA
• Health Savings Account (HSA) requires that you enroll every year you are enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)
• State Group Health Insurance Opt-Out Incentive

For questions please contact your human resources office.

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