It’s now official! This year’s Open Enrollment period is scheduled for Monday, November 17 through Friday, December 5, 2003. Open Enrollment offers all eligible faculty and staff employees, including contingent staff, lecturers and part-time faculty, the opportunity to examine and evaluate their current coverage and compare those with MD state benefits for 2004. Changes and new enrollments can be made during Open Enrollment without any special restrictions (except for term life and Long Term Care insurance) and usually will be effective January 1, 2004.
The new 2004 rates for Prescription Drug benefits have also been announced. The bi-weekly deduction for regular employees will increase $1.05 per pay for individual coverage to $2.13 per pay for family. The complete 2004 rate sheets can be accessed by going to the MD Department of Budget and Management’s website at {www.dbm.maryland.gov} and clicking on the Employee Services tab.
Open Enrollment materials will be distributed through campus mail to all regular faculty and staff employees as soon as they are received from DBM, which may not be until the week of November 14. In the meantime, all employees will be able to access the new 2004 Benefits Book within the next 10-14 days on the DBM website to get a jump on a review of the coverages for 2004.
It’s important to note that although the rates have increased, there are no changes to any of the benefit plan vendors for 2004 or to the copayments for either medical or prescription coverages.
More information will be forthcoming in future Daily Digests relating to other details and reminders affecting this Open Enrollment activity.
Questions should be directed to Dave Curtis x46018 email: {dcurtis @towson.edu} or Gail Price x46017 email: {gprice@towson.edu}
