University Open Enrollment underway: What you need to know

Open Enrollment for university employees begins Monday, October 31 and ends Friday, November 11 at midnight.

All employees must make benefit elections/changes online during the Open Enrollment period. Some benefit elections are not automatically rolled over for 2017. Anyone who wishes to participate in a flexible spending account must elect/enroll for Plan Year 2017.

Employee Benefit Fairs will be held:

November 1 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the J. Harold Harrison Education Commons Building (Health Sciences Campus)

November 2 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the JSAC Ballroom (Summerville Campus)

Please note that Employee Health will be giving flu shots from 8:30-11 each day.

Benefit Information sessions will be held:

October 31 – 9 a.m. in UH 224 (Summerville Campus)

October 31 – 2 p.m. in EC 1210 (Health Sciences Campus)

November 9 – 9 a.m. in BC 1040 (Health Sciences Campus)

November 9 – 2 p.m. in UH 327 (Summerville Campus)

University changes in benefits for Plan Year 2017

There are some things you will need to know before you make your decisions such as; what has changed for the upcoming year?  Your benefits are part of your total compensation package at Augusta University!

Health Insurance

There are no plan design changes to the Comprehensive Care plan. There will be an increase to the in-network deductible from $1,500 to $2,000 for single coverage and $3,000 to $4,000 for family coverage and an increase to the out-of-network deductible from $3,000 to $4,000 for single coverage and $6,000 to $8,000 for family coverage under the Consumer Choice HSA healthcare plan.  Also, for the Consumer Choice HSA there will be an increase to the in-network out-of-pocket maximum from $6,850 to $7,000.  For the BlueChoice HMO healthcare plan, there will be an increase in Specialist and Urgent Care co-payments from $50 to $60 and an increase in Emergency Room co-payment from $250 to $300.

Health Savings Accounts

The annual individual contribution limit will increase from $3,350 to $3,400.  The Board of Regents will continue the match for Plan Year 2017 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 1.7% for Plan Year 2017.

Vision Insurance

There are no plan design or premiums changes for Plan Year 2017.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD/D)

There are no changes in plan design or premiums for Plan Year 2017.

Child Life Insurance

There are no changes in plan design or premiums for Plan Year 2017.

Supplemental Life Insurance

There are no changes in plan design or premiums for Plan Year 2017.  You may elect or increase coverage by one level, not to exceed 3X annual salary up 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 2017.  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 2017. 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.  The premiums will increase by 3% for Plan Year 2017. 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 2017.  There are no changes to the contribution limit of $5,000 for dependent care flex.   The healthcare and limited purpose flexible spending account limit will increase to $2,600.

AFLAC (Individual Policies)

AFLAC is our current vendor for the individually owned cancer, hospitalization and accident policies. These individual policies will not be offered through Augusta University or payroll deducted effective January 1, 2017.  All current participants may retain their individually owned policy and will be given the option to move to direct billing with AFLAC, effective January 1, 2017.

Pet Insurance

Veterinarian Pet Insurance (VPI), will no longer be offered or payroll deducted, effective January 1, 2017.  All current participants will be moved to direct billing with VPI effective January 1, 2017.

NEW – USG AFLAC Critical Illness

Effective January 1, 2017, the University System (USG) will offer a group Critical Illness policy through AFLAC.  This coverage assists our employees with meeting financial obligations such as, medical bills and deductibles, as well as indirect costs (mortgage payments and other ongoing living expenses), when experiencing a critical illness covered under the plan.

NEW – USG Voya Accident Policy

Effective January 1, 2017, USG will offer an Accident policy through Voya.  This policy will offer our employees hospital, physician, accidental death and catastrophic accident benefits in the event of a covered accident.

NEW – USG Voya Hospital Indemnity Policy

Effective January 1, 2017, USG will offer a Hospital Indemnity policy through Voya.  This policy will offset out-of-pocket medical costs such as, high deductibles and coinsurance, as well as everyday living expenses during a covered hospital stay.

NEW – USG Legal Plan

Effective January 1, 2017, USG will offer a Legal Plan through LegalEASE.   Enrollment in this plan will help pay attorney fees for services such as wills, home sale/purchase, adoptions, divorce, consumer protection, tax audit, etc.

LifeStyle Benefits

The USG has removed the Legal Care option from all of the offered options.  Tax Line Help has been added in Option A for Plan Year 2017.

Shared Sick Leave

Employees may elect to enroll in the Shared Sick Leave program during open enrollment.  An employee who elects to enroll must donate at least 8 hours to enroll.

Do I Have to Enroll?

Open Enrollment is the time of year where employees 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 2017 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 November 11, 2016.

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 2017 Benefits Summary.

Whom Do I Contact With AU Benefits Questions?

Augusta University employees may contact the AU Benefits and Data Management Office or obtain benefits-related information via the AU Benefits website or the contact information below.

E-Mail: HUMANRESOURCES_BENEFITSANDDATAMANAGEMENT@AUGUSTA.edu

Phone: 706-721-3770

Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday