Don’t wait to take action during Open Enrollment
If you haven’t already done so, you have until 5:00 PM on Tuesday, November 26 to make UC health and welfare benefit plan changes for 2014.
We encourage you to take any needed action soon and not wait until the last minute. Typically, the final two days of Open Enrollment are the busiest, and heavy online usage can cause delays in accessing the Open Enrollment At Your Service website: http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/oe.
If you are currently enrolled in one of the UC medical plans that is being discontinued, make sure you make a new choice soon.
Take action now –
Enroll in a different medical plan.
If you are currently enrolled in Anthem Blue Cross PLUS or PPO, Anthem Lumenos PPO with HRA, or Health Net Full Network HMO, you need to choose a new plan. To assist you in your choice, there are several sources for information:
View the Town Hall Meetings with representatives from the UC Office of the President. Sponsored by UCSC Staff Human Resources, Academic Personnel Office, and Staff Advisory Board, the town hall meetings were an opportunity to hear directly from UCOP representatives as to why changes are being made and get information about the new medical plans. The sessions were recorded and are posted on the Staff Human Resources and Staff Advisory Board websites:
http://shr.ucsc.edu/benefits/ben_news/oe_2014.html and http://sab.ucsc.edu/
Read an open letter from the University Committee on Faculty Welfare to UC faculty on UC Care that addresses some of the questions the committee has received and contains useful, well presented information:
http://senate.universityofcalifornia.edu/committees/ucfw/UCFWreUCCareNov2013.pdf
See the Open Enrollment website (http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/oe) for information and tools.
Enroll eligible family members
Enroll eligible family members or de-enroll family members who are no longer eligible in your health plans.
Enroll in the Health Flexible Spending Account
Enroll or re-enroll in the Health Flexible Spending Account (Health FSA). Even if you are currently enrolled, you must re-enroll to participate in 2014. Remember, if you choose the new Blue Shield Health Savings Plan as your medical plan, you cannot enroll in the Health FSA and you must have a zero ($0.00) balance in your current Health FSA by December 31, 2013.
Enroll in the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
Enroll or re-enroll in the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DepCare FSA). Even if you are currently enrolled in DepCare FSA, you must re-enroll to participate in 2014.
Do Nothing
If you have reviewed the plan changes and premiums for 2014, your current plan is not being discontinued, and you do not plan to enroll or re-enroll in the Health FSA or DepCare FSA, you don’t have to take any Open Enrollment action.
For more information, see the UCSC Benefits Office website at http://shr.ucsc.edu/benefits/ben_news/oe_2014.html or the Open Enrollment website at http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/oe/index.html.
For individual assistance, leave a message on the campus Benefits Office message hot line at 831-459-4996.
Remember - Open Enrollment closes on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at 5:00 PM!
