Author: Jolene Truckenbrod

Long Term Care Insurance Options

New Insurance Protection for Employees, Annuitants and their Family Members is now available.  Please see the information below regarding United of Omaha Long Term Care insurance policies that were approved by the State of Wisconsin Group Insurance Board.

United of Omaha Life Insurance Company is now offering two new plans; CASH-First and Assured Solutions Gold policies to eligible State and University of Wisconsin Employees, Annuitants, and their family members. These voluntary purchase long-term care insurance policies are offered at a group-discounted premium.

Long-term care insurance is designed to help protect against the high costs of long-term care if you or a family member can no longer perform activities of daily living without the need of assistance. Medicare and most health insurance will not pay for these services. For many, long-term care insurance is an important part of planning for their long-term financial security. Please consider whether the CASH-First or Assured Solutions Gold policies are right for you and/or your parents. (Spouse, parents and in-laws are all eligible to apply, even if you don’t).

The CASH-First and Assured Solutions Gold policies offer additional built-in benefits that include:

  • CASH-First benefits can be used any way you choose – you simply receive the full monthly cash benefit you select to pay for anything at all… family travel expenses, lost income, housekeeping services or other out-of-pocket expenses – there’s no need to collect or submit bills.
  • CASH-First provides cash beginning with the first day of need – no elimination period to satisfy.
  • Waiver of Premium – No premiums are due while you are receiving CASH-First or reimbursement benefits for home health care, assisted living or nursing home care.
  • Many other additional benefits and features listed in the information packet.

HealthChoice also offers CareOptions OnLine (COOL.net) services that are currently available to those who purchase an insurance plan through HealthChoice.

The CareOptions OnLine Program can assist you or family members with issues related to wellness, illness, disability, or aging. As an additional convenience, the CareOptions OnLine service can help you and your family members create Living Wills (advance directives for health care) as well as allow you to conduct online care provider searches and medical information research seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

To receive a complete information packet regarding your long-term care insurance options and the new CareOptions OnLine resources, click here to request an information packet. You may also call HealthChoice toll-free at 1-800-833-5823 or in the Madison area at 833-5823 or email info@healthchoice.com . Direct information link; click or paste in your web browsers address line: http://www.healthchoice.com/reply1

Please e-mail benefits@uwgb.edu or call 465-2390 if you have any questions.

Dreyfus On-Site Counseling Sessions

If you haven’t had a recent review of your investment portfolio or taken full advantage of your ability to invest in a 403(b)(7) plan, you owe it to yourself to know the effect this may have on your financial security.  Dreyfus can review your existing portfolio and individual situation — including investment goals, time horizon and tolerance for risk — to help ensure that your plan assets are allocated properly to meet your retirement needs.  Learn more by attending a Dreyfus 403(b)(7) information session (this is a one-on-one meeting with a Dreyfus representative).

One on-One Portfolio Review

When:    April 19, 2010, 1pm-5pm

Where:  Manistique Room, University Union

To schedule a one-on-one portfolio review, please contact:  retirement@dreyfus.com

Please e-mail benefits@uwgb.edu or call 465-2390 if you have any questions.

TIAA-CREF On-Site Counseling Sessions

This is an opportunity for you to discuss your personal financial situation with a TIAA-CREF consultant on a confidential basis in an individual counseling session. They will be available to discuss how to help you achieve your financial goals by investing in financial solutions such as mutual funds, brokerage, life insurance and annuities.

This Individual Counseling Session will help you simplify your retirement by:

* Providing objective advice and asset allocation based on your individual needs

* Showing you how you can obtain a personalized actionable plan

* Recommending fund selections to keep you on track to and through retirement

* Reviewing your retirement income options

Dates Times Location
Mon, Mar 29, 2010 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. MAC Hall – Vista Room
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. MAC Hall – Vista Room

SIGN UP TODAY:

To discuss your plan and options for managing your retirement savings or to schedule an appointment with a TIAA-CREF Individual Consultant, please call (800)732-8353, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (ET).

Please e-mail benefits@uwgb.edu or call 465-2390 if you have any questions.

Reminder to Use Furlough Time by the End of the Fiscal Year

Please see the Furlough Information page on the Human Resources website for details.  Please refer to your e-mailed earning statement to determine your remaining FTO.  The remaining FTO hours listed on your earning statement includes the mandatory fixed furlough day on Friday, May 28, 2010.  Employees who are unable to take this mandatory furlough day will need to select an alternative date.  If your pay is reduced only as the FTO is taken, your furlough days must be taken in the 2009-10 fiscal year.  Classified staff members must use FTO for the 2009-10 fiscal year by June 19, 2010.  Unclassified staff members must use FTO for the 2009-10 fiscal year by June 30, 2010.  Generally, the maximum number of FTO hours that can be taken in one week is eight, so it will be helpful to plan ahead.  Please contact Human Resources at hr@uwgb.edu or ext. 2390 if you have questions.

LOG Announcement of New HRS Implementation

As announced in the LOG on February 10th, the UW System’s Human Resource System (HRS) project is well underway, and you will be hearing more about the new HRS in the coming months.  The current system has been in place since approximately 1975, and the system’s operational lifetime is nearing its end.  HRS is a new integrated system for all human resources, benefits and payroll operations across all University of Wisconsin campuses.  This modern system will help us standardize business practices, improve service to our employees, and ensure higher levels of data integrity in all our business practices and external reporting.  It will consolidate hundreds of redundant campus systems into a single, reliable system, and provide employees with direct access to their own payroll and benefits information.  The new system will also provide greater security for sensitive personal data such as social security numbers.  For more information regarding HRS, please see the Human Resources website.