Post-Open Enrollment Update #2: Summary Statements
The OE Correction Period offers eligible faculty, staff and retirees (including eligible direct -pay employees-contingent staff, lecturers, and part-time faculty) a second 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. Most changes and corrections can be made during the OE Correction Period without any special enrollment restrictions.
Since this spring’s OE is voluntary, individuals who have no changes or corrections to their plans do not need to take any action. However, regular employees who did not act before the initial April 30 deadline and would like to have flexible spending accounts (FSA) during the new short plan year must reenroll during this OE Correction Period. Remember that OE does not affect or involve either of the USM benefit plans (Unum Group Life and Long Term Disability insurance).
Summary Statements
All regular faculty and staff employees who make changes or elections during OE will receive an officialSummary Statement of Benefit Elections for Year 13 via campus mail. Direct- pay employees (contingent staff, lecturers and part-time faculty members) and retirees who make any changes during OE will receive their summary statements at their home address directly from the State of Maryland State Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Employees and retirees who do not make any changes or elections during OE will notreceive a summary statement.
It is extremely important that you carefully review your summary statement as soon as you receive it. Regular faculty and staff members whose plan selections, coverage levels and/or the “Yes/No” indicators for dependents are not correct must call the Interactive Voice Response system (IVR) again to make the correct selections. Regular employees who cannot access the IVR and direct pay employees will have to submit a new OE worksheet, along with all other required documentation, to the Office of Human Resources Benefits Unit to make any changes to their selections, coverage levels and/or dependent enrollments by 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 15.
Corrections to addresses, spelling of names, social security numbers or dates of birth should be noted on the statement and faxed to DBM at 410-333-5191 no later than 30 days from the “Date Printed” on the bottom right portion of the summary statement. Be sure to keep a confirmation of the fax transmission for your records.
Please note that if your summary statement shows a ~ or a ^ to the left of the code number for any listed dependents, you must provide acceptable documentation to OHR’s Benefits Unit no later than 30 days from the “Date Printed” on the bottom of the statement. If your Term Life selection has an (*) next to it, Minnesota Life will be in contact with you regarding completion of a medical review form. Remember that the requested additional amount of coverage over the guaranteed issue amount will not be in effect until those materials are submitted to and approved by Minnesota Life.
Details for this OE period, including the new premium rates and the benefits booklet with summaries of the available coverage, are posted on the State’s website accessible at http://dbm.maryland.gov/benefits/Pages/HBHome.aspx .
Questions or concerns should be directed to Dave Curtis, x4-6018, or Gail Price, x4-6017, in the TU Benefits Unit.
Post-Open Enrollment Update #1: Correction Period Begins Today!
Eligible faculty, staff and retirees (including eligible direct-pay employees: contingent staff, lecturers and part-time faculty) who need to correct any mistakes made during the recent Open Enrollment (OE) period will be allowed to do so during the Correction Period from Wednesday, May 8 through Wednesday, May 15. This will also be an opportunity to make changes or enroll in coverages for those who forgot to act during OE.
Active regular faculty and staff members who received a personalized benefits summary statement in their OE packets as well as MSRA retirees who are currently enrolled in state benefits will have to use the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system to make any corrections or changes during the Correction Period. The IVR phone lines will be in operation 24 hours a day from May 8 through midnight May 15.
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 four-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 to the information on any dependents so they are listed correctly for each plan you expect them to be enrolled in. If a regular employee is not accepted by the IVR, they will have to complete and hand deliver an active health benefits enrollment form, along with all other required documentation, to TU Human Resources before 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 15.
Direct-pay employees are not able to use the IVR and will have to complete and hand deliver their direct pay benefits enrollment form, along with all other required documentation, to TU Human Resources before 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 15 in order to enroll or make changes during the Correction Period. Benefits enrollment forms for ORP retirees mailed directly to the State of Maryland Department of Budget and Management (DBM) must be postmarked by May 15 in order to be accepted for processing.
Questions or concerns should be directed to Dave Curtis, x4-6018, or Gail Price, x4-6017, in the TU Benefits Unit.
