The 2004 Open Enrollment period for all Maryland state insurance benefits is now underway and will continue through Wednesday, Dec. 22nd. Remember that this fall?s OE will only cover a six-month period from January 1, 2005 through June 30, 2005. There will be another OE in spring 2005 for coverages from July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006.
Due to changes in the Federal tax law effective January 1, 2005 new eligibility requirements will have to be satisfied in order to cover dependents under the Maryland state program. Details of these new requirements are included in the summary materials being distributed via campus mail during the week of December 6 to all regular faculty and staff employees and available to direct pay employees (contingent staff, part-time faculty and lecturers) upon request. They are also available on the Maryland Department of Budget and Management?s (DBM) Web site: {http://www.dbm.maryland.gov}. Click on Employee Services then Health Benefits and Open Enrollment then January-June 2005 Benefits Summary.
Basically, any unmarried dependent child can continue coverage under their parent?s benefits only through the end of the calendar year in which they turn 18. Thereafter, the otherwise dependent child must be a full time student in order to be eligible for coverage through either the end of the calendar year they turn 23 or when they cease being a full-time student, whichever occurs first.
During this Open Enrollment, any employee who currently has a dependent on their coverage who will be ineligible in 2005 must take the necessary actions to delete the ineligible dependent from their coverages and adjust (if necessary) the level of coverage to avoid being charged a higher premium in 2005. According to DBM, there will be no refunds of excess premiums if the employee fails to make the necessary changes before December 22, 2004.
Additional information will be included in future Daily Digest updates.
Please 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.
