UK Commits $5.7 Million to Employee Health Plan
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 26, 2010) – University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr. announced today the kickoff of Employee Benefits Open Enrollment for the upcoming 2010-11 plan year.
Open Enrollment, which takes place from April 26 through May 14, provides a time to review UK benefit offerings for employees, their dependents and/or beneficiaries. Generally, re-enrollment is not required unless a member needs to add, drop or change coverage (or start/continue participation in flexible spending accounts).
For complete details on this year’s Open Enrollment, visit http://www.uky.edu/HR/OE now. The site features updates on benefit rates for the new plan year starting July 1. The site also features a schedule of upcoming open house events. These events give employees an opportunity to discuss Open Enrollment choices with employee benefits specialists, as well as representatives from various providers.
Benefit Plan Highlights
Despite continued economic challenges, the university is committing an additional $5.7 million to employee health plan funding. With this funding, the university will cover health plan premium cost increases for the vast majority of health plan members. As a result, monthly rates for most UK health plan members will stay the same: UK-HMO, UK-PPO and UK-RHP (formerly UK-HMO RSA) out-of-pocket premiums remain unchanged for regular full-time employees. Only UK-EPO premiums will increase slightly.
The UK-HMO Regional Service Area (RSA) health plan will change its name to the UK Regional Health Plan on July 1, 2010. This change is in name only: The benefits and network will not change.
Mental health benefits have increased on all plans to conform with the Mental Health Parity Act of 2008. Visit limits have been removed and services are now offered with a copayment or coinsurance level similar to other medical benefits.
Rates for UK Dental, vision and life insurance remain unchanged. Delta Dental rates will increase by 4 percent.
Changes Related to Recent Health Care Reform Legislation
University benefit plans will see the following changes in 2010-11 related to the recent passage of health reform legislation in Washington:
-- Employees may now keep adult children on their health, dental and vision plans up to age 26. Because university plans already allowed adult children to remain on benefit plans to age 25, this simply increases the eligibility age by one year.
-- Another change affects health care flexible spending accounts. The Health Care Flexible Spending accounts will no longer include over-the-counter medications as eligible expenses beginning Jan. 1, 2011. Estimate the open enrollment (plan year July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011) health care contributions accordingly.
Two Open Enrollment Options: Enroll Online or Submit Paper Forms
1) Beginning April 26, employees may enroll online through myUK Employee Self-Service (ESS) online at http://myuk.uky.edu. See the Open Enrollment packet mailed to employees' home (or the Open Enrollment Web site) for the online enrollment “quick start” guide.
OR
2) Submit paper enrollment forms. Though not automatically included with packets mailed to employees’ homes, print forms are available online at http://www.uky.edu/HR/OE or at 112 Scovell Hall or 375 Peterson Service Building.
This year’s Open Enrollment highlights our commitment to offering an attractive benefits package for UK employees. For more information about UK benefits, contact the Employee Benefits Office at (859) 257-9519, option 3 or e-mail benefits@email.uky.edu.