WKU News

Mark your calendar! Open Enrollment for 2025 benefits is October 14 – 25. 

Who Must Complete Open Enrollment

All benefits-eligible employees must complete the online enrollment process, including the following:

• New hires who recently completed enrollment for 2024 benefits
• Those who do not wish to make any changes in their elections
• Those who opt-out/waive medical coverage 

Each year, at a minimum, you must accept/decline the Top Life Wellness Pledge, attest to Tobacco Usage status, elect/decline employee contributions to health care spending accounts (HSA/FSA), and complete the Benefit Enrollment Authorization.  

If you do not complete medical elections by October 25, you will be enrolled in the PPO 1,600 with the same coverage level as your current 2024 health plan or if you are currently waiving medical coverage, you will be assigned the same waiver coverage as 2024.  Additionally, you will not be eligible for applicable wellness credits or discounted premiums and will be subject to the $50/month tobacco surcharge.

Unless you have a qualifying life event – such as marriage, divorce, birth, etc, except for employee HSA contributions and voluntary benefits, you will not have another opportunity during 2025 to make any changes to your benefits.  You may change your contributions to an HSA at any time throughout the year. If you do experience a life event, you must make your changes in the Benefits Portal within 31 days of the date of the “qualifying event”.  Note: Open Enrollment is also a good time to review and update your beneficiary designations and remove any non-eligible dependents from the benefit plans.

What is changing

• Saver 3,200 plan deductible. Due to federal regulations, the deductible associated with the HSA-eligible HDHP will increase by $100. The Saver 3,200 plan will change to the Saver 3,300 plan. 
• Health Plan Funding. Updated 2024 and 2025 projections from our actuarial consultant combined with low reserves command increased plan funding. Both university and employee contributions will increase by 22.5% over 2024. The university funding rate will increase from $814 to $995 per employee per month (PEPM). Employee contributions are reflected in the 2025 Benefits Guide. The university/employee split in plan funding remains at 83%/17%.
• New Voluntary Benefits. We are excited about adding accident, home/auto, and pet insurance to the comprehensive benefits package.
• Delta Dental Premier Plan. The annual maximum benefit will increase from $1,000 to $1,500. The employee premium will also increase slightly.

What is not changing The general structure of the Plan (benefits, coverage, and three plan options) will remain the same.

RECOMMENDATIONS To make the best choices for you and your family’s needs, we highly recommend you review the following items before making your elections:

0. 2025 Benefits Guide. A print-friendly version and e-copy of the Benefits Guide can be found on the Employee Wellness & Benefits webpage. Also attached for your convenience.
1. 2024 Employee Benefit Summary Report. Log in to the Benefits Portal and hover over ‘Benefits’ in the upper right corner, then click on ‘Employee Summary Report’.
2. Claims History. Log in to Anthem.com and hover over ‘Claims & Payments’ in top menu, then click on ‘Claims’. 

Open enrollment Information Meetings and Enrollment Assistance Details will be communicated in a separate email in the coming days.

Notice of creditable coverage Please find attached the Medicare Part D (prescription drug) creditable coverage notice. If you are Medicare Part D eligible and delay enrollment because you have coverage through your employer’s group benefits, you may be asked to prove that you had credible prescription drug coverage when you enroll later. This notice serves that purpose. This and other required employee notices can be found in the Benefits Portal under ‘Benefit Resources’.

QUESTIONS? Our vendors are happy to answer any product-specific questions. Contact information for all our benefit and retirement vendors can be found on this page. For general inquires, contact the Department of Human Resources at 270-745-5360 or benefits@wku.edu.