Take charge of health care coverage during annual benefits selection period Oct. 1-14
Open Enrollment, the annual opportunity for benefits-eligible employees to choose their benefits and elect the coverage that fits their needs for the coming year, begins at 8 a.m. Oct. 1 and ends at 5 p.m. Oct. 14. This is the only time to review insurance and spending account coverage and make choices for the upcoming calendar year.
Even if you plan to keep the same coverage in 2012, this is an active enrollment – and it’s paperless. That means employees must log on to the online benefits enrollment tool and make their elections. Those who don’t enroll will be assigned default benefits for 2012.
Health Insurance
The same health plans will stay in place for 2012: Aetna Standard, Aetna HealthFund and BlueCross Select. Deductibles, co-pays and out-of-pocket maximums will remain the same. Premiums will increase somewhat but will be salary-based again this year.
What’s new this year is that preventive care is expanding and won’t include a co-pay for most routine or wellness services. In addition, children by birth, marriage or adoption up to age 26 can now be covered by the health plan regardless of their access to other health insurance coverage.
Navitus will remain the prescription provider. Co-payments for tier three (non-preferred) drugs will increase by $5. Specialty drug 90-day prescriptions will no longer be covered, but 30-day supplies may still be obtained through the Vanderbilt Outpatient Pharmacies.
Dental Plan
BlueCross BlueShield DentalBlue PPO will replace the CIGNA PPO, resulting in lower premium costs. The CIGNA DHMO plan will remain the same, but premiums have increased.
Vision Plan
Superior Vision Services replaces VSP as the new plan provider for 2012. The plan’s rates are lower than the 2011 vision rates. Superior Vision offers a more convenient network of providers, including Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Walmart, Target and LensCrafters.
Short-term Disability
First-time enrollees in short-term disability must complete The Hartford’s “proof of insurability” process. This means that The Hartford requires applicants to respond to questions about health and existing conditions on its online enrollment site. Those employees who already have short-term disability insurance through The Hartford do not have to respond to the questions.
Educate Yourself
Attend the Employee Health Fair on Thursday, Sept. 8, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Student Life Center. Benefits staff, as well as plan representatives, will be available to answer questions. Also, mark your calendars for October’s information sessions, which will be held in Light Hall on Monday, Oct. 3, and Tuesday, Oct. 4, and at Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks on Monday, Oct. 10. The Light Hall sessions will include enrollment labs for people who don’t have computer access or need help enrolling, as well as vendor presentations.
For more information, visit the Open Enrollment website.
Contact: (615) 343-7000