The 2009 Open Enrollment (OE) period for all Maryland state insurance benefits will begin Monday, April 20 and end Monday, May 18. It will not end Friday, May 1 as previously announced.
OE offers eligible faculty, staff and retirees (including eligible direct pay employees) the opportunity to evaluate and compare their current benefits coverage to the coverage and costs for the new plan year beginning July 1, 2009. Changes can be made during OE, usually without any special enrollment restrictions. Here are some basic points of interest for this year?s OE:
This year?s OE will be voluntary; therefore employees do not need to take any action unless they have changes or corrections to make, or would like to have flexible spending accounts during the new plan year. Current members of Kaiser HMO and Dental Benefit Provider plans, however, should note the change section below for important information affecting them.
Major Changes for the New Plan Year
Kaiser Permanente HMO medical plan and the Dental Benefit Providers dental plan will no longer be available as of July 1, 2009. Current members of those plans will have to enroll in a new plan in order to have medical or dental coverage during the new plan year.
Employees will be allowed to enroll same sex domestic partners as dependents on their Maryland State medical, dental and prescription coverages.
– Benefits and rates for this OE will be effective July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.
– Regular employees will receive their OE materials via campus mail from Towson?s Office of Human Resources. The Maryland State Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will send OE materials via U.S. Mail to the home addresses of direct pay employees and retirees currently enrolled in Maryland State benefits.
– Details for this Open Enrollment period, including rates and the new benefits booklet, are now posted on the State?s website accessible from the State of Maryland Health Benefits link on the OHR homepage at {http://wwwnew.towson.edu/adminfinance/hr/} under announcements.
Outreach Sessions
All faculty and staff employees as well as retirees will again be able to get assistance with their OE decisions at an OHR 2009 OE Outreach session. Feel free to stop in with your questions or concerns about OE at any of the following locations during the listed times:
Tuesday, April 21, 3-6 p.m. General Services Building Main Conference Room
Wednesday, April 22, 2-4 p.m. Enrollment Services Room 306
Thursday, April 23, 10 a.m. – noon Towson Center Kinesiology Room 200
Friday, April 24, 7:30-10:30 a.m. General Services Bldg. Main Conference Room
Monday, April 27, 10 a.m. – noon Stephens Hall Room 216
Monday, April 27, 1 – 3 p.m. Linthicum 014- Geography Conference Room
Tuesday, April 28, 10 a.m. – noon Cook Library CK 411
Thursday, April 30, 1 – 5 p.m. Administration Building Room 120
Friday, May 1, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Administration Building Room 120
Monday, May 4, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. University Union Potomac Lounge
Thursday, May 7, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Cook Library CK 411
Tuesday, May 12, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. University Union Loch Raven Room
Monday, May 18, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Administration Building Room 120
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 at x4-6018 and {dcurtis@towson.edu} or Gail Price at x4-6017 {gprice@towson.edu}.
