Open enrollment for 2014 health benefits will take place throughout the month of October.
Following a procedure that has been successful for the past few years, enrollment will be conducted entirely online. Only required documentation — spousal/domestic partner health-care eligibility affidavits, birth certificates and marriage certificates — will be accepted in hard-copy form.
“All benefit-eligible employees must complete the online open enrollment process,” said Denise Shordt, senior benefits specialist in Human Resources and Talent Development. “Even if you don’t intend to enroll, you must waive the option.
“Our employees have become very comfortable with the process. The ease and convenience are big pluses of completing registration online. It literally takes just a few minutes and can be done anywhere with access to computers, laptops or smart devices.”
As with last year, users will go to an open enrollment link on the myUT portal located on the University’s internal website. A series of prompts will lead each employee through the process. Employees must have their user names and passwords activated before they can enter the portal.
“Some plans require updated information for spouses and older children to be submitted each year,” Shordt explained. “One of the plans has a short procedure if an employee wants to contribute to a Health Savings Account or would like to continue to receive the employer contribution to the Health Savings Account.”
Shordt said plans did not change significantly. A few of the differences from last year include:
• Dependents between the ages of 19 and 26 are no longer required to enroll in their own employer-sponsored health-care coverage. If eligible, they can enroll in UT’s health care as their primary coverage.
• Annual limits to Health Savings Accounts have been changed by the Internal Revenue Service to $3,300 for single plans and $6,550 for family plans.
Details regarding each health-care plan, as well as support information, will be available on HR’s website Tuesday, Oct. 1. An explanatory PowerPoint presentation also will be available on the open enrollment website.
Computers will be available for employee access Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Human Resources and Talent Development offices on Health Science Campus (Facilities Support Building) and the department’s new location in Academic Services Center Room 1000 on Scott Park Campus.
Employees who require personal assistance with online enrollment are advised to email benefits@utoledo.edu.
Although open enrollment ends at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, Shordt encouraged employees not to wait until the last minute.
“The process is simple and self-explanatory, but we don’t want any questions you may have to go unanswered,” Shordt said. “Our offices close at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31. If you register after that, we won’t be available to help guide you, if necessary.”
New benefits selections will be effective Jan. 1.
