Open enrollment period for health care benefits underway

Salve Regina’s open enrollment period for health care benefits – including dental, vision, AFLAC supplemental insurance, dependent day care accounts and medical flexible spending accounts – is underway.

The enrollment deadline for dependent day care and medical flexible spending accounts is May 29. The enrollment deadline for health care, dental, vision and AFLAC supplemental insurance is June 5.

Changes made during the open enrollment period will apply only to the period of July 1 through Dec. 31, 2015. In the future, open enrollment will be held in the fall for changes effective Jan. 1.

Due to the change in plan years, pre-tax deductions for health care, dental and vision for employees working more than 30 hours per week will remain unchanged for the remainder of the calendar year.

Employees can make changes to the following benefits during the open enrollment period:

Health care

Employees can change from one plan to the other, add or delete family members, join a plan they had previously waived or drop coverage. Tobacco-free discounts will still be available to employees who have a completed affidavit on file. New affidavits will be required in the fall.

There are two changes effective July 1: Certain tobacco cessation drugs will be covered at no cost to members, and the out-of-pocket maximums for the Choice and Choice Plus plans will change to $6,600 for individuals and $13,200 for families.

Dental

Employees can add or delete family members, sign up or drop coverage.

Vision

Vision Service Plan provides in-network vision benefits such as frame and contact lens allowances.

AFLAC supplemental benefits

Employees may purchase or cancel a cancer plan, critical care and recovery plan, personal accident plan, long-term care insurance and/or a hospital protection plan through payroll deduction on a pre-tax basis.

Dependent day care account

Employees may set aside up to $5,000 on a pre-tax basis to pay for eligible dependent care expenses, less any amount they have contributed between Jan. 1 and June 30. New and current participants must complete enrollment paperwork by May 29.

Flexible spending account

Effective July 1, Benefit Strategies will be the University’s new flexible spending administrator. For this “short” plan year, employees may set aside up to $2,550, less any amount they have contributed between Jan. 1 and June 30, to pay for health-related expenses not covered by their health care plan, including prescription deductibles and co-pays, eyeglasses, orthodontics and dentures. Employees may carry over $100 in unused funds at the end of each plan year.

Informational meetings and enrollment signups for AFLAC supplemental benefits, dependent day care and flexible spending accounts will be held at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 19 in the Ochre Court state dining room.

All changes require some paperwork. For more information, call Claudia Cavallaro, assistant director for human resources and benefits, at (401) 341-2332.