The Spring 2013 Open Enrollment (OE) period for all Maryland state insurance benefits will take place from Tuesday, April 16 to Tuesday, April 30.
OE offers eligible faculty, staff and retirees (including eligible direct- pay employees: contingent staff, lecturers and part-time faculty) the opportunity to evaluate and compare their current benefits coverage to the coverage and costs for the new short plan year July 1, 2013 – December 31, 2013. Changes can usually be made during OE without any special enrollment restrictions.
This year’s OE will be voluntary; therefore, individuals who have no changes or corrections to their plans do not need to take any action. However, regular employees who would like to have flexible spending accounts (FSA) during the new short plan year must re-enroll during OE. Remember that OE does not affect or involve either of the USM benefit plans (Unum Group Life and Long Term Disability insurance).
Rates
The new short plan year premium rates for regular faculty and staff employees, State retirees and direct pay employees are posted on the state’s website under the Open Enrollment link, accessible at http://dbm.maryland.gov/benefits/Pages/HBHome.aspx . Medical plan rates for all plans (except for Aetna’s EPO which remains the same) will increase between 1.2 percent (for CareFirst BlueCross/BlueShield POS) to 14.6 percent (for CareFirst BlueCross/BlueShield EPO). Rates for the prescription drug plan will increase by approximately 1.1 percent and the rates for United Concordia’s DHMO plan will increase approximately 4.5 percent. While rates for United Concordia’s DPPO plan as well as term life insurance for spouses and dependent children and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage with the new carrier Minnesota Life will remain the same, rates for the new term life insurance for employees have decreased.
Benefits Festival
Faculty and staff employees and retirees should plan on attending the Benefits Festival being held from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, April 19 in the University Union Chesapeake rooms. All of the Maryland state benefits providers will be available at the festival so take advantage of this opportunity to meet with them and find out how the changes in coverage and medical plan design will affect you and/or your family in the short plan year July 1, 2013- December 31, 2013. Special flyers with more details about this exciting and important event will soon be distributed to faculty and staff employees via campus mail.
T3-Towson Tigers Today is utilized as the primary means to share additional information about
Open Enrollment so be sure to check it often for updates and reminders!
Questions should be directed to Dave Curtis, x4-6018, or Gail
Price, x4-6017.
