The Fall 2013 Open Enrollment (OE) period for all Maryland state insurance benefits will take place from Tuesday, October 1 to Wednesday, October 16. It’s important to note that since the State of Maryland has converted their plan year to a calendar year basis beginning January 2014, changes and enrollments made during this OE period will be effective January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.
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 plan period January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. 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) between January 1 and December 31, 2014 must re-enroll during this upcoming OE. Remember that OE does not affect or involve either of the USM benefit plans (Unum Group Life and Long Term Disability insurance).
OE Materials
OE materials for regular faculty and staff employees who are currently enrolled in any Maryland state plans have been distributed via campus mail. Any regular employee who is currently enrolled in any Maryland state benefit plan and who has not received their OE packet by Wednesday, October 2 should contact either Dave Curtis or Gail Price in the OHR Benefits Unit to obtain one.
Direct- pay employees and retirees who are currently enrolled in any of the Maryland state plans received their OE materials via U.S. Mail directly from the Maryland State Department of Budget and Management (DBM) at their home address. Those direct- pay employees who are not currently enrolled and wish to have Maryland state coverage for the new plan year must obtain a contingent OE packet from the OHR Benefits Unit.
Details for this OE period, including premium rates and the new benefits booklet with summaries of the available medical and dental plans, are posted on the state’s website under the Open Enrollment link, accessible at http://dbm.maryland.gov/benefits/Pages/HBHome.aspx .
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, email: dcurtis@towson.edu or Gail Price, x4-6017, email: gprice@towson.edu.
