The 2011 Open Enrollment (OE) period for all Maryland state insurance benefits is now underway and will last until Thursday, May 26.
OE offers eligible faculty, staff and retirees (including eligible direct- pay employees, contingent staff, lecturers and part-time faculty) the opportunity to evaluate and compare their current benefits coverage to the coverage and costs for the new plan year beginning July 1, 2011. Changes can usually be made during OE without any special enrollment restrictions.
This year?s OE will be voluntary; therefore individuals who have no changes or corrections to their plans do not need to take any action. However, regular employees who would like to have flexible spending accounts (FSA) during the new plan year must re-enroll during OE. Remember that OE does not affect or involve either of the USM benefit plans (Unum Group Life and Long Term Disability insurance).
OE Materials
OE materials for regular faculty and staff employees who are currently enrolled in any Maryland state plans have now been distributed via campus mail. Any regular employee who would like an OE packet should contact either Dave Curtis or Gail Price in the OHR Benefits Unit to obtain one once the new premium rates are released.
Direct- pay employees and retirees who are currently enrolled in any of the Maryland state plans received their OE materials via U.S. Mail directly from the Maryland State Department of Budget and Management (DBM) at their home address. Those direct- pay employees who are not currently enrolled and wish to have Maryland state coverage for the new plan year must obtain a contingent OE packet from the OHR Benefits Unit.
Details for this OE period, including the new benefits booklet with summaries of the available medical and dental plans, are posted on the state?s website, accessible at {http://dbm.maryland.gov/benefits/Pages/HBHome.aspx}. Once the new premium rates are released they too will be available on the state?s website.
Daily Digest is utilized as the primary means to share additional information about OE.
Be sure to check it often for updates and reminders!
Questions should be directed to Dave Curtis, x46018, email: {dcurtis@towson.edu} or Gail
Price, x46017 email: {gprice@towson.edu}.
