Augusta University
Eric JohnsonOpen enrollment for university employees began Monday, Nov.2 and will end today. All employees must make benefit elections/changes online during the Open Enrollment period. Some benefit elections are not automatically rolled over for 2016. Anyone who wishes to participate in a flexible spending account must elect/enroll for Plan Year 2016.
Following are university changes in benefits for Plan Year 2016:
Health Insurance
There are no plan design changes to the Comprehensive Care or BlueChoice HMO plans. The Consumer Choice HSA in-network family out-of-pocket maximum will decrease from $7,000 to $6,850. The premiums will increase slightly for all plans.
Health Savings Accounts
The annual family contribution limit will increase from $6,650 to $6,750. The Board of Regents will continue the match for Plan Year 2016 up to $375 for individual and $750 for family.
Dental Insurance
There are no plan design changes. The premiums for both the base and high Delta Dental plans will increase by 12% for Plan Year 2016. Domestic Partners will no longer be eligible for coverage.
Vision Insurance
There are no plan design changes for Plan Year 2016. Domestic Partners will no longer be eligible for coverage.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD/D)
There are no changes in plan design or premiums for Plan Year 2016. Domestic Partners will no longer be eligible for coverage due to the new same sex spouse ruling.
Child Life Insurance
There are no changes in plan design or premiums for Plan Year 2016.
Supplemental Life Insurance
There are no changes in plan design or premiums for Plan Year 2016. Elect or increase coverage by one level, not to exceed 3X annual salary to a maximum of $500,000, without evidence of insurability during open enrollment. Additional coverage requests will require evidence of insurability. Employees must await approval from Minnesota Life for coverage to become effective.
Spouse Life Insurance
There are no changes in plan design or premiums for Plan Year 2016. Domestic Partners will no longer be eligible for coverage. New enrollees will be required to complete evidence of insurability and must await approval from Minnesota Life for coverage to become effective.
Short Term Disability
There are no changes in plan design or premiums for Plan Year 2016. New enrollees will be required to complete evidence of insurability and must await approval from MetLife for coverage to become effective.
Long Term Disability
There are no plan design changes for Plan Year 2016. The premiums for LTD will increase by 15% for Plan Year 2016. New enrollees will be required to complete evidence of insurability and must await approval from MetLife for coverage to become effective.
Flexible Spending Accounts
To participate in any of the flexible spending accounts all participants MUST ENROLL for Plan Year 2016. There are no changes to the limits. The limit is $5,000 for dependent care flex and $2,550 for health care and limited purpose flex.
AFLAC
There are no changes in plan options.
Long Term Care Insurance
Continental Casualty Company (CNA), our current LTC vendor will not offer any new enrollments effective January 1, 2016. All current participants will be moved to direct billing with CNA effective January 1, 2016. These current participants will receive payment information directly from CNA.
Pet Insurance
There are no changes in plan options.
Shared Sick Leave
Effective January 1, 2016, the shared sick leave policy has been updated to allow members of the Shared Sick Leave Plan to apply for additional leave, once their annual and sick leave balances have been depleted, for a qualifying event related to an immediate family member as described in the policy. Employees may elect to enroll in shared sick leave only during open enrollment. An employee who elects to enroll will donate at least 8 hours to enroll.
Do I Have to Enroll?
Open Enrollment is the time of year where an employee may make changes to their benefits that are not allowed at any other time of the year. In addition, if you are enrolled in the flexible spending account(s), you must re-enroll each year during open enrollment for the following Plan Year. All other plans will continue for Plan Year 2016 if no change is made.
When an employee completes the online Open Enrollment process through Employee Self Service, they must print their benefit elections. This will be required should there be any discrepancies once open enrollment has closed.
How to Locate your Benefit Summary
Once open enrollment is closed you will receive a notification from Benefits & Data Management with instructions on how to login and print your 2016 Benefits Summary.
Whom Do I Contact With GRU Benefits Questions?
Georgia Regents University employees can always contact the GRU Benefits and Data Management Office or obtain benefits-related information via the GRU Benefits website or the contact information below.
E-Mail: HUMANRESOURCES_BENEFITSANDDATAMANAGEMENT@gru.edu
Phone: 706-721-3770
Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday
