The 2013 Open Enrollment (OE) period for all Maryland state insurance benefits is now underway and will last until 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 spring’s OE is 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).
Making Changes
Active regular faculty and staff members and retirees who are currently enrolled in state benefits will have to use the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system to make any changes during OE. The IVR phone lines are in operation 24 hours a day/seven days a week during OE but will close at 11:59 p.m. on April 30. The IVR voice numbers are 410-669-3893 or 1-888-578-6434; individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability should use Relay or 711. In order to access IVR, you will be asked to input your Social Security number and special PIN which is the 4 digit number of the month and day of your birth (e.g. February 4 would be 0204). When calling the IVR, be patient and listen carefully and completely to all the prompts to ensure that the changes you want to make are accepted by the system. Pay particular attention if you are adding any dependents since that also requires accessing the Dependent record portion of the IVR system to assure that they are listed correctly for each plan you expect them to be enrolled in. All regular employees should first attempt to use the IVR; if they are unable to access the system, they will have to complete and hand deliver an active OE worksheet to TU Human Resources before 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 30 in order to enroll or make any changes during OE.
Direct -pay employees are not able to use the IVR and will have to complete and hand- deliver their OE worksheet, along with all other required dependent documentation, to TU Human Resources before 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 30 in order to enroll or make any changes during OE.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Although this OE is voluntary all active, regular faculty and staff employees who want to have flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for health care or dependent day care for the short plan year July 1, 2013 – December 31, 2013 must re-enroll in those plans before the OE deadline. To figure the amount to be deducted each pay period, regular faculty and staff employees should divide the total amount desired by 12 and input that number when using the IVR. Remember that for the new short plan year beginning July 1, 2013, the plan year maximum for the Healthcare FSA will be $1,250 and $2,500 for Dependent Day Care FSA.
Details for this OE period, including the new benefits booklet showing the changes to the medical and life insurance plans, along with the new premium rates, are posted on the Open Enrollment link on the state’s website, accessible at http://dbm.maryland.gov/benefits/Pages/HBHome.aspx .
T3 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, email: dcurtis@towson.edu or Gail Price, x4-6017 email: gprice@towson.edu.
