Benefits open enrollment approaching: what's changing and staying the same for 2023-24
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 13, 2023) — Gina Dugas, University of Kentucky acting vice president and chief human resources officer, sent the following message to eligible employees on Wednesday, April 12.
Dear Colleague,
Open enrollment for University of Kentucky employees is approaching, taking place April 26-May 12. This window gives you the opportunity to customize your insurance coverage for the year ahead.
Each year, we work to keep costs as low as possible while enhancing quality and providing outstanding coverage.
In the 2022-2023 fiscal year, UK invested more than $186 million in health care coverage for our employees. And this coming year, following persistent inflation and higher utilization of our plans, we will invest even more — a record of approximately $198 million in health coverage, pending Board of Trustees approval in June.
At the same time, some health insurance plans will see modest increases in premiums and modest plan adjustments due to continued rising costs and increased utilization. The board will consider these rates as part of the proposed university budget:
- The UK HMO plan will include a $5 increase per month for individuals and a $10 increase for families.
- The UK PPO plan will see its monthly rate increased by $10 for individuals and $20 for families.
- The Health Saver Plan will not include any increases in premiums.
- Likewise, monthly costs for vision and dental insurance will remain the same.
UK continues to pay the bulk of the total cost of each health plan — up to 94 percent in some cases — and our plans are highly competitive compared to benchmarks. For example, UK’s HMO individual plan is currently 63 percent less expensive than the average at similar universities.
We also continue to explore benefits that improve access to care and are in direct response to feedback we have received. This past year, we added the Hinge Health benefit, a digital exercise therapy program that supports back and joint health. The program, available at no cost to plan members, has been popular among employees since it launched with participants already reporting significant reductions in pain.
Additional details on all health benefits, rates and adjustments can be found at hr.uky.edu/benefits-open-enrollment. And, new this year, employees will be able to make benefits changes on their mobile device through the myUK app. More information will be shared over the next two weeks.
At UK, we are proud to offer outstanding benefits across health care, retirement contributions, tuition benefits and more – a testament to taking care of our people, who do so much for our campus and Commonwealth. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Gina Dugas
Acting Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.