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[October 18, 2005]
November is the University's Open Enrollment month, the time of year when you can change many of your UC health and welfare benefits for the coming year.
Open Enrollment for 2006
is from 8:00 am (PT) Tuesday, November 1, 2005
through midnight (PT) Wednesday, November 30, 2005.
There continues to be good news on the healthcare front. While costs continue to rise significantly nationwide, UC has negotiated medical plan rates with smaller increases than most other employers. In addition, UC continues to allocate its limited resources primarily to employees, with special consideration for those at lower salary levels, and to children. Remember, too, that because medical plan premiums are paid on a pre-tax basis, the actual impact of any premium increase on an employee's paycheck is less than established rates.
During Open Enrollment employees can:
- Change to a different medical plan.
- Change to a different dental plan (California residents only).
- Enroll in Supplemental Disability or reduce your waiting period without a statement of health; open one-time only this year.
- Enroll or re-enroll in the Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA) if currently enrolled, you must re-enroll if you want to participate in 2006.
- Enroll or re-enroll in the Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (DepCare) if currently enrolled, you must re-enroll if you want to participate in 2006.
- Change participation in the Tax Savings on Insurance Premiums (TIP) program.
- Enroll eligible family members in your health plans.
- Opt out of your medical, dental, and/or vision plan, or enroll in a new plan if you previously opted out.
- Cancel health plan coverage for currently enrolled family members.
Retirees can:
- Change to a different medical plan.
- Change to a different dental plan (California residents only).
- Suspend your UC-sponsored medical coverage
- Cancel health plan coverage for currently enrolled family members.
If you make any changes, your new coverage will be effective January 1, 2006.
Read all the details.
NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES in UPTE, CNA, and CUE Bargaining Units
PERB has ruled that increases in employee contribution rates for medical plan options and copays for each medical service received are subject to negotiations with unions representing employees in bargaining units for which the contract is expired.
This ruling means that the increased employee contributions and copays announced in the Open Enrollment announcement that is being issued to all participants cannot become effective for employees in the CUE (Clerical), CNA (Registered Nurses), and UPTE (Research Support and Technical) units presently in negotiations.
Due to operational requirements, the Medical Plan options made available to all employees during the Open Enrollment will reflect the new employee contribution rates and increased co-pay requirements for all participants.
Employees in the CUE (Clerical), CNA (Registered Nurses), and UPTE (Research Support and Technical) units are advised that they will be reimbursed for any additional employee contribution or co-pay charged unless and until different arrangements are negotiated with their union representatives or are otherwise implemented in accordance with the requirements of HEERA.