Open Enrollment is Underway

Open Enrollment — when employees can make changes to their benefits and elect health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts — began Oct. 27 and continues until 5 p.m. Nov. 22. Changes and selections made during Open Enrollment are effective Jan. 1, 2017.

During Open Enrollment, faculty and staff members can:

• change to different medical plans;
• change to different dental plans;
• opt out of medical, dental and/or vision coverage or enroll if they previously opted out;
• enroll eligible family members;
• cancel coverage for currently enrolled family members;
• enroll or re-enroll in dependent care reimbursement account;
• enroll or re-enroll in the health care reimbursement account;
• cancel Tax Savings on Insurance Premium (TIP) participation — or re-enroll if previously opted-out;
• enroll in or cancel the Voluntary Disability Program; and
• enroll in the ARAG Legal Plan — an opportunity that is not open every year for enrollment.

There are several important changes and opportunities for 2017 employees:

• Disability insurance — employees can protect their paychecks in the event of injury, illness or pregnancy by adding UC’s Voluntary Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability or both — with no statement of health required. UC has expanded eligibility for this coverage, so this might be the best time to enroll.
• Medical plans — UC’s preferred provider organization (PPO) medical plans will have new administrators next year for behavioral health and prescription drug benefits. Kaiser Permanente and Health Net Blue & Gold have expanded networks for increased options for HMO members.
• Your medical plan costs — UC has avoided significant cost increases for faculty and staff.

Employees are encouraged to take advantage of all of the resources available — the Open Enrollment booklet sent to employees’ mailing addresses, the website, videos, the medical plan chooser and more.

To learn more about benefit choices, contact UC Merced’s Benefits office.