The 2003 Open Enrollment period for all Maryland state insurance benefits now underway will continue until Fri., Dec. 5. All faculty and staff, including eligible Direct Pay employees (contingent staff, lecturers, and part-time faculty members) as well as eligible retirees, who want to enroll for the first time or to make changes to their current MD state coverage for 2004 must act before the deadline. As a reminder, regular faculty and staff members who had MD state benefit deductions from their Nov.19 paycheck or received a pre-printed OE Benefits Statement listing their current benefits, must use the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system to complete their OE actions. All other faculty and staff members will have to hand deliver their completed OE worksheets to the TU OHR by the Dec. 5 deadline to make their changes- do not send them through campus mail!
All OE transactions become effective January 1, 2004. And, as in years past, OE does not affect or involve either of the USM benefit plans- UNUM Group Universal Life and Long Term Disability insurance.
Although this OE is voluntary (those faculty and staff members and retirees currently enrolled in coverage need not reenroll to continue with insurance), all regular employees who want to have the Flexible Spending Accounts in 2004 must make that election during OE in order to have Flexible Spending Accounts in 2004!
To assist with last minute questions, the TU OHR will be available at the following locations on campus during the last week of OE:
* Tues., Dec. 2, 10 a.m. ? 12 noon, Hawkins Hall, Room 301C
* Wed., Dec.3, 7:30 a.m.- 10:30 a.m., General Services Bldg., Main Conf. Rm.
* Thurs., Dec. 4, 1 p.m. ? 5 p.m., Admin. Bldg., Rm. 120 (OHR Training Room)
* Fr., Dec.5, 1:30 p.m. ? 5 p.m., Admin. Bldg., Rm. 120 (OHR Training Room)
Remember that the IVR system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through Dec. 5. Regular employees who must use the IVR should plan on making their calls early. The IVR numbers are 410-669-3893 or 1-888-578-6434. A benefits confirmation statement will be returned via campus mail to those making IVR calls generally within 5-7 days of the call. Those confirmation notices should be reviewed carefully to be sure all the information is correct.
Contact Dave Curtis, x46018 email: {dcurtis@towson.edu} or Gail Price, x46017 email: {gprice@towson.edu} in the TU Benefits Unit with any OE questions or concerns.
