Open enrollment period for health care benefits underway

Salve Regina’s open enrollment period for health care benefits, including dental, vision, AFLAC supplemental insurance and flexible spending and health savings accounts, is underway. The deadline for enrollment and changes is Friday, Nov. 15.

Now is the time of year to enroll in coverage, change health care plans, add or delete family members, or drop coverage. For full details on the benefits open enrollment period, visit salve.edu/document/benefits-open-enrollment.

Through Salve Regina’s partnership with EdHealth, health care costs were maintained and 2020 renewal rates increased below the medical trend of 7.5 percent. Due to this cost management, there will only be small increases to employee health care contributions beginning with the first pay period in January. Contributions for dental and vision will remain unchanged.

There are several plan enhancements and highlights for 2020:

• Health care: The tobacco-free discount on employee payroll contributions will continue in 2020 for employees who re-certify they are tobacco free by returning a new tobacco-free affidavit.
• Dental: Coverage for composite (white) fillings for all teeth will be added as of Jan. 1.
• Flexible spending: Employees interested in either the medical and/or dependent accounts must re-enroll in the plan each year – elections do not roll over.
• Health savings accounts: For 2020, the University will once again contribute $500 to individual HSAs and $1,000 to individual-plus-one and family HSAs. Half the amount will be funded the third week of January and half the third week of July.

Changes may be completed at the benefits and wellness fair, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 in Ochre Court.

For more information, call Claudia Cavallaro, associate director for human resources and benefits, at (401) 341-2332.