HR, Payroll and Benefits News

Annual Benefits Enrollment: September 30 - October 25, 2019
September 24, 2019

The Annual Benefits Enrollment (ABE) period, September 30 - October 25, 2019, is your annual opportunity 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 September and October regarding benefits changes, premiums and your enrollment opportunities. Changes made during ABE are effective January 1, 2020.

Benefit Plan Changes Effective January 1, 2020
The main benefits changes for 2020 are listed below. Visit the Annual Benefits Enrollment website for more information. These changes may impact your coverage and action may be required. It is important to understand the changes so you can make informed decisions.

Preventive Dental Insurance
Currently, preventive dental services are only offered under the State Group Health Insurance Plan with Uniform Dental. For 2020, a standalone Preventive Dental Insurance Plan through Delta Dental will be available to employees who either waive the State Group Health Insurance Plan or choose the State Group Health Insurance Opt-Out Incentive. This means all benefits eligible employees will have access to preventive dental services in 2020.

Note: The Supplemental Dental Plans will continue to be available in 2020. These plans provide coverage for major services such as crowns and implants.

Accident Insurance
In 2020, an Accident Insurance Plan will be available to eligible employees. The plan provides a cash payment directly to you in the event of an accident. Covered accidents may include injuries, emergency care, hospital care, surgery and an accidental death & dismemberment* benefit. The cash payment amount differs based on the severity of the accident. You may use the cash for anything you’d like to help provide some financial protection when the unexpected happens.

*The Accident Insurance Plan includes an accidental death & dismemberment benefit. You may enroll in both, the Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Plan and the new Accident Insurance Plan.

Vendor Change (TASC to ConnectYourCare)
The Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Dependent Day Care Account and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) will be administered by ConnectYourCare (CYC). TASC will no longer be the administrator as of December 31, 2019.

How Will the Vendor Change Affect Current Participants?
Communications to current participants started in August of 2019 to explain the transition from TASC to CYC. Additionally, the 2020 Vendor Change page is updated to keep current participants informed of communications, key dates and who to contact with questions.

Note: Employees currently enrolled in an FSA and/or HSA that want to participate in 2020 are required to re-enroll during the ABE period, September 30 - October 25, 2019.

Security Health Plan (no longer available)
Security Health Plan–Central and Security Health Plan–Valley will no longer be available effective January 1, 2020. Employees should use the Health Plan Search to find a health insurance carrier that has doctors, clinics and/or hospitals in the county you would like to seek services in.

How You Can Prepare Now for ABE:

  1. Review your current benefits and visit the ABE website for 2020 benefits changes.
  2. ALEX, the interactive benefits decision tool is available. Use ALEX to help you determine which benefits plans may best suit your needs.
  3. Attend a 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:

For questions, contact your human resources office.

Source: UW System Human Resources
Categories: Annual Benefits Enrollment (ABE)