2024 Open Enrollment is live; top 10 FAQs

Open Enrollment is your once-a-year opportunity to choose the benefits that best meet the needs of you and your family. All benefits-eligible employees must complete Open Enrollment for calendar year 2024. 

Enrollment ends at 11:59 p.m. CT Oct. 27, 2023. Elections will be effective Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2024, and cannot be changed after the enrollment period closes, unless you have a qualifying life event.  

Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions 

1. How do I enroll?
   • See the How to Enroll guide.
2. Why should I enroll?
   • All eligible employees must elect a health plan or waive coverage. If you do not complete the enrollment process, you will be defaulted to the Choice Consumer-Driven Health Plan (Choice CDHP), at your current individual or family coverage level.
   • In addition to making new elections, you can also: 
     • Attest to working spouse coverage – If you carry coverage for your spouse who has access to health insurance through another employer—including Vanderbilt University Medical Center—you’ll pay a spousal fee of $100 per month. 
     • Attest to whether you and your covered family members use tobacco – You could save $20 per month on health care premiums if you and your covered family members are committed to being tobacco-free. 
     • Confirm/add/remove listed dependents based on eligibility and confirm/update your beneficiaries. 
     • Add eligible family members as dependents in your My VU Benefits profile if you wish to enroll in the family coverage of AD&D insurance.
   • After the plan year starts on Jan.  1, 2024, you can only make coverage changes if you have a qualifying life event (as defined under federal regulations). Consider your choices carefully. 
3. I will be out of the country without internet access during Open Enrollment. How can I enroll?
   • Notify the VU Benefits Team before leaving the country to make alternate arrangements. 
4. Do the 2024 health care premium rates listed in the enrollment booklet and on the Benefits website already reflect the $20 monthly discount for being tobacco-free?
   • No. If you attest to the fact that you and your family members are tobacco-free during enrollment, your actual monthly health care premium cost will be $20 less than the rates shown in the premium rate charts.
5. What is the spousal coverage fee?
   • If you choose to cover a spouse who has access to health coverage through an outside employer—including Vanderbilt University Medical Center—you’ll pay a $100 per month spousal coverage fee. The fee will be added to your health care premium payroll deduction.
6. How can I earn Wellbeing dollars?
   • Pulse Cash can be earned by members when reaching a level/completing an action reward in Virgin Pulse. Pulse Cash rewards can be earned quarterly.
7. How do I redeem my Wellbeing dollars?
   • Pulse Cash can be redeemed in the Virgin Pulse store found on the Virgin Pulse wellness platform. Within the Virgin Pulse store, members can purchase a wide range of health and wellness products. Members can also transfer their Pulse Cash to a gift card. The gift cards are like cash and individuals can spend the dollars any way they choose. Members can also donate their Pulse Cash to a charity.
8. Which family members can I cover on the VU plans?
   • Legal spouses (same- or opposite-sex); natural, step or adopted children through age 26, and other qualified dependents, such as disabled children age 26 and older, with required documentation.
9. In which health plan can partially benefits-eligible employees enroll?
   • Partially benefits-eligible employees can enroll in the Choice CDHP (without the VU Health Savings Account seed money) health plan coverage for themselves and their children, or they can choose to waive coverage.
10. What are the default benefits for 2024?