There are important changes to benefits for 2011 that may require you to take action during the Benefit Enrollment & Change Period. Even if you are satisfied with your current benefit plans, please take time to read about changes to the benefit plans so you know how you may be impacted and if you need to take any action.
The Annual Benefit Enrollment and Change Period begins on October 4th and ends on October 29, 2010 for most plans. Watch for an email near the beginning of the enrollment and change period that includes important details about changes to your benefit plans and your enrollment and change opportunities.
The My UW System portal will also have personalized benefit enrollment and change information available in early October. Please review the UW System Benefit Enrollment and Change period website 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, and Anthem DentalBlue will no longer be available to employees not represented by a union. Action needs to be taken by these employees to apply for the new dental plan. Coverage will automatically end on December 31, 2010 for Anthem DentalBlue.
• The EPIC Dental & Excess Medical insurance plan changed its name to EPIC Benefits+ and has added an optional vision insurance benefit to their plan.
• 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.
• Premiums for State Group Health and State Group Life Insurance will be deducted one month in advance of coverage. Premiums are currently deducted two months in advance of coverage so in order to make the change to paying premiums one month in advance, there will be no health or State Group Life Insurance deduction from your November earnings. Normal premium deductions will resume on your December earnings.
• Married children under age 26 will be eligible for coverage under State Group Health Insurance.
• State Group Health has a new health plan available in several eastern Wisconsin counties- WEA Trust PPP. For more information, please see the 2011 It’s your Choice Decision Guide.
Please e-mail benefits@uwgb.edu or call 465-2390 if you have any questions.