Open Enrollment

Here is what you need to know about it:

Important Dates:

• October 29th & 30th - Benefits Fair in the KY Room in the KY Building
• October 29th - November 16th - Open Enrollment period

What you need to do during this time:

• Review your current benefit elections and decide if the options in which you are enrolled meet your needs or if you should consider making changes for the 2013 Plan Year.
• Only employees wishing to make changes to any benefits for 2013 will need to take action during open enrollment (with the exception of those who participate in the voluntary medical or dependent care flexible spending accounts).
• Employees who participate in the Voluntary Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts with Flexcorp are required to re-enroll each plan year.  If you waive the University Health Plan and receive $150/mo. in an FSA, you do NOT need to re-enroll.
• If you determine you need to make changes for 2013, complete the on-line enrollment form anytime between October 29 & November 16th.  (CLICK HERE)

What's new or changing for 2013?

• Newly enhanced employee wellness program - You can earn a $180 incentive through participation in the program starting in January.  Refer to page 4 in the 2013 Benefits Manual for more information.
• Good news! - There will be NO rate increases in 2013 for the Health, Dental, Life* and Disability* plans.  *NOTE:  Individuals moving to a new age bracket will see an increase in life and disability premiums, based on the published age-banded rate structure (refer to page 8 in the 2013 Benefits Manual).
  
• New FSA limit for 2013 plan year - Under provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), salary reduction contributions made to a health care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) will be capped at $2,500 annually effective January 1, 2013.  WKU's current FSA limit is set at $4,000 annually so please take note of this change if you maximize your contributions to a voluntary FSA annually.
  
• Benefit Enhancement! - The WKU Health Plan will include new comprehensive coverage for Women's Preventive Care covered at 100% with no copay from the member effective January 1, 2013.  Women's preventive services that will be covered without cost-sharing are:
  
  • well-women visits
  • screening for gestational diabetes
  • human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing for women 30 years and older
  • sexually-transmitted infection counseling
  • human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening and counseling
  • FDA-approved contraception methods and contraceptive methods and contraceptive counseling
  • breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling
  • domestic violence screening and counseling

Why is the annual open enrollment important?

• Unless you have a qualified life event - such as marriage, divorce, birth, change in a spouse's employment status, etc., you will not have another opportunity to make any changes to your insurance benefits until this time next year.
  • You must notify the benefits section within 31 days of any "qualifying event" to make mid-year election changes.
• Annual enrollment is also a good time to review and update your beneficiary designations and remove any non-eligible dependents from the benefits plans.