The 2007 Open Enrollment period for all Maryland state insurance benefits will begin on Monday May 1st . Please be aware that this year the State of Maryland has set different ending dates for regular and direct pay employees. Regular faculty and staff employees will have to complete their OE actions by use of the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system by Sunday, May 13th. Direct pay employees (contingent staff, lecturers and part-time faculty members) will have until Friday, May 18 to return their completed OE worksheets to Towson?s Office of Human Resources (OHR).
OE offers all eligible faculty and staff and retirees, including eligible direct pay employees, the opportunity to examine and evaluate their current coverage and compare with the coverage and costs for the plan year beginning July 1, 2007. Changes can be made during OE usually without any special enrollment restrictions. This OE is voluntary, therefore no action will be necessary if no changes or corrections are needed unless a regular employee wants to have flexible spending accounts during the new plan year. Please note that the benefits and rates for this OE will be effective for July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.
The one major change for the new plan year, besides rate increases, is that as of July 1, 2007 Catalyst Rx will be the new vendor for the Prescription Drug plan instead of Caremark. There are no changes to plan design or pharmacy access however some employees may be affected based on a new formulary. Details concerning the new Prescription Plan vendor and formulary as well as the new premium rates can be found on the State?s website accessible from the State of Maryland Benefits Information link on the OHR homepage {http://wwwnew.towson.edu/adminfinance/hr/} under News and Announcements.
Once OHR receives our supply of OE materials they will again be distributed through campus mail to all regular faculty and staff members. Direct pay employees who are currently enrolled in any of the Maryland State plans will receive their OE materials via U.S. Mail at their home address directly from the State Department of Budget and Management.
All employees and retirees should plan on attending the Benefits Festival on Wednesday, May 9, 2007 from 10:30am – 2pm in the University Union?s Chesapeake Rooms. All of the Maryland State benefits providers have confirmed their attendance at our festival, so take advantage of the opportunity to meet with them and find out about coverage for the 2007-2008 plan year. Plus, a comprehensive Wellness Fair will be part of the Festival this spring. Watch for special flyers with more details about this exciting event!
Be sure to check Daily Digest for more information about Open Enrollment.
Questions should be directed to Dave Curtis, x46018, email: {dcurtis@towson.edu} or Gail
Price, x46017 email: {gprice@towson.edu}.
