University of California Human Resources and Benefits

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[October 18, 2007]

Open Enrollment for UC health and welfare benefits plans runs from November 1 to November 27, but you can begin today to think about and plan actions you may want to take by visiting Open Enrollment 2008 website. Also, watch for the general Open Enrollment information booklet that you’ll soon receive in the mail at your home address.

There will be a number of significant changes and improvements in UC’s health benefits program as a result of the University’s work this year to ensure that faculty and staff continue to have access to quality health benefits at competitive prices in 2008.

At the Open Enrollment website, you’ll be able to review your current plan enrollments; read about plan benefits, services, and changes for 2008; see what the medical plan rates for 2008 will be; and use some helpful planning tools.

Please note that you will not be able to begin the Open Enrollment process and make changes on the website until 8:00 a.m. on November 1 and no later than midnight November 27 (Pacific Time).

UC Health and Welfare Benefits Plans in 2008

This is an important Open Enrollment for UC faculty and staff because the University has restructured medical plan options for 2008 to help preserve meaningful choices and quality benefits while limiting cost increases. In fact, there will be decreases in employee premiums in some medical plans, and only slight premium increases in other plans – a noteworthy accomplishment in this era of spiraling health care cost increases when many employers are cutting benefits.
For next year, UC will consolidate the HMO offerings, add a new medical plan, introduce a new wellness program, and provide enhanced, standardized behavioral health benefits for most plans.
As in the past, UC employee premiums are based on salary bands to help protect employees in the lower pay ranges and those with children from the impact of premium increases. UC remains committed to offering plan choices and high-quality health care– an important part of your total compensation.

Key Changes for 2008

A new no-cost, voluntary, wellness program – featuring a personal health assessment and gift certificate for completing the assessment – will be available to employees and their covered family members in all medical plans except Kaiser. Kaiser has its own integrated wellness program.
Standardized and improved behavioral health benefits will be provided by United Behavioral Health (UBH) and will be available for most employee medical plans.
CIGNA Choice Fund, a new medical plan that combines a health reimbursement account plus preferred provider organization plan (HRA/PPO) that corresponds to the current Definity Health plan at UCSB and UCSF, will be available at all locations.
The Definity Health, High Option (non-Medicare), PacifiCare, and Select EPO plans will be discontinued next year. Health Net and Kaiser will be UC’s systemwide HMO plans. Employees enrolled in the plans that will not be offered next year need to consider the plan options that will be available to them and take appropriate enrollment action in November.

Actions You Can Take During Open Enrollment

Change to a different medical plan
Change to a different dental plan (California residents only).
Enroll eligible family members in your health plans.
Enroll or re-enroll in the Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA) and/or Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (DepCare). Even if you are currently enrolled in these plans, you must re-enroll to participate in 2008.
Enroll in the ARAG Legal Plan, or if already enrolled, add family members.
Opt out of your medical, dental, or vision plan, or enroll in a new plan if you previously opted out.
Change participation in the Tax Savings on Insurance Premiums (TIP) program (enrollment is automatic unless you opt out).
Taking into account plan changes for 2008, if you are satisfied with your current coverage and do not need to make any changes for next year, you need not take any Open Enrollment action (except for HCRA and DepCare enrollment).

Open Enrollment actions will be effective as of January 1, 2008.

Notice to Employees in the Registered Nurse, Patient Care Technical, and UC Merced Skilled Crafts Bargaining Units

Changes in employee contribution rates for medical plan options are subject to negotiations with unions representing employees in bargaining units for which the contract is expired or for which the parties are currently engaged in negotiations.

Changes in employee contributions for 2008 announced in the Open Enrollment communications that are being issued to all participants will not become effective for employees in the Registered Nurse, Patient Care Technical, and UC Merced Skilled Crafts Units until the University and their unions’ representatives reach agreement or until otherwise implemented in accordance with the requirements of HEERA.
Due to operational requirements, the medical plan options made available on the website and in written communication to all employees during Open Enrollment will reflect the new employee contribution rate for all participants.

Employees in the Registered Nurse, Patient Care Technical, and UC Merced Skilled Crafts Units can make enrollment changes during Open Enrollment, and they will be charged the applicable employee contribution rate until the University and their unions’ representatives reach agreement or until otherwise implemented in accordance with the requirements of HEERA.