The spring 2006 Open Enrollment period for all Maryland state insurance benefits is now underway and will continue through Wednesday, June 14.
OE offers all eligible faculty and staff, including eligible direct pay employees (contingent staff, part-time faculty and lecturers) and retirees, the opportunity to examine and evaluate their current coverage and compare with the coverage and costs for the new plan year, July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007.
Changes can be made during Open Enrollment usually without any special enrollment restrictions (except for term life and Long Term Care insurance for family members) and will be effective on July 1, 2006. This Open Enrollment 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 or an employee wants to enroll in the new Long Term Care Insurance plan (see note below).
Distribution of Materials
OE materials are currently being prepared for distribution via campus mail to all regular faculty and staff employees. Any regular employee who has not received their OE packet by Thursday, June 1 should contact either Dave Curtis or Gail Price in the OHR Benefits Unit to request one if they want to enroll or make any changes for the new plan year. All pertinent OE information including rates, details of changes, especially concerning the prescription drug plan and dependent eligibility requirements, are available on the State of Maryland Open Enrollment Information link on the OHR home page at {http://wwwnew.towson.edu/adminfinance/hr/ under News and Announcements}.
Special Note for Direct Pay Employees
If you are currently enrolled in any of the MD State benefit plans your OE packet is being mailed to you at your home address directly from the Maryland Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as long as they have received your contract renewal dates for the next fiscal year by Friday, May 26, 2006. Those who are not currently enrolled must request an OE packet from the OHR Benefits Unit; you will not automatically receive any OE materials. Direct pay employees must have an active contract as of July 1, 2006 in order to be eligible for coverage beginning July 2006. Any Direct pay employees who have not received OE materials from the State by June 5, 2006 should contact the OHR Benefits Unit to obtain an OE packet.
Long Term Care Insurance
Effective July 1, 2006, the State?s Long Term Care (LTC) insurance plan will be offered by The Prudential Life Insurance Company of America instead of Unum. Current enrollees with Unum LTC will receive a separate letter explaining their options during OE. If you choose to enroll in the new LTC plan with The Prudential, you will have to contact them directly at 1-800-732-0416 or at {http://www.prudential.com/gltc}, (group name: Maryland; password: marylandltc). To check on details of the new LTC plan simply access The Prudential Web site from the State of Maryland Open Enrollment link listed above.
Additional information will be included in future Daily Digest updates.
Questions or concerns should be directed to Dave Curtis, x4-6018 or {dcurtis@towson.edu}, or Gail Price, x4-6017 or {gprice@towson.edu}, in the TU OHR Benefits Unit.
