It?s now official! The spring 2006 Open Enrollment period for all Maryland state insurance benefits will begin on Wednesday, May 24 and continue until Wednesday, June 14. Please note that the benefits and rates for this OE will be effective for July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007.
OE offers all eligible faculty and staff and retirees, including eligible Direct Pay employees (contingent staff, lecturers and part-time faculty members), the opportunity to examine and evaluate their current coverage and compare with the coverage and costs for the plan year beginning July 1, 2006. Changes can be made during OE usually without any special enrollment restrictions (except for term life). 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.
At this point in time, there is no specific information available concerning rates or when our OE materials will be received from the State. Once that information is known, it will be announced as Open Enrollment Updates on Daily Digest. We do know that the State?s Long Term Care plan provider beginning in July 2006 will be Prudential instead of UnumProvident. Further details as to the transition for current participants in the LTC plan will also be publicized in future OE Updates.
In the meantime, employees and retirees should plan on attending the Benefits Festival on Thursday, May 18 from 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. 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 (and hopefully the rates) for the 2006-2007 plan year.
Once TU?s 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 and who have contract dates on or after July 1, 2006 will receive their OE materials at their home address directly from the State Department of Budget and Management but only after their June premium payment is received and processed.
Be sure to check Daily Digest for more information about Open Enrollment.
Questions should be directed to Dave Curtis, x4-6018 or {dcurtis@towson.edu}, or Gail Price, x4-6017 oe {gprice@towson.edu}.
