This year’s annual open enrollment for Vanderbilt’s benefits-eligible faculty and staff is Oct. 1–15. Online Open Enrollment begins at 8 a.m. Oct. 1 and ends 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 15.

For the online enrollment page link go to: http://hr.vanderbilt.edu.

Notable health plan changes are in the ‘Aetna Choice’ option with increased fund amounts and lower deductibles. Beginning Jan. 1, 2009, this option will be called ‘Aetna HealthFund’. Any Health Reimbursement Arrangement balances remaining at the end of 2008 will roll to the newly named Aetna HealthFund.

 “We changed the name to call attention to significant changes to this Aetna health plan option,” said Jane Bruce, HR director, benefits. “Not only is Vanderbilt increasing the HealthFund dollar amount, the deductible is being lowered by more than half of the 2008 amounts. And one of the positives about the HealthFund is that remaining balances rollover to the next plan year.” 

Changes to the BlueCross Advantage P option include a $5 increase to the At-Vanderbilt doctor’s office visit copay (the copay will be $20) and a deductible will be required in the At-Vanderbilt network ($100 for employee-only coverage and $200 for the other coverage tiers).

This year’s campaign “Do the math” emphasizes the considerable difference in the annual payroll deduction amount of the three health plan options and encourages faculty and staff to spend time reviewing their health care needs. View the online cost estimator at https://hr.vanderbilt.edu/secure/OE2008/2009options.htm. (Users must sign in with VUnetID and e-password to access the estimator.)

BlueCross Advantage P is the only health plan option that will see an increase in monthly premiums in 2009. The cost of vision is increasing slightly. There is no increase scheduled for the two dental insurance plans, however, there will be a change in the patient charge schedule for CIGNA Dental Care (DHMO) plan.

Another change for 2009 is the spending account administrator changing from WageWorks to PayFlex. ‘We went out to bid on the administration of the PSA and FRA benefits and have entered into a multi-year contract with PayFlex,” said Bruce.

PayFlex will administer both Personal Spending Accounts and the Flexible Reimbursement Account beginning Jan. 1, 2009. “We will provide additional details about the transition to PayFlex in the Open Enrollment materials, but faculty and staff should know that their WageWorks debit cards will no longer work after Dec. 31, 2008,” said Bruce. PayFlex will manage transferring any 2008 balances, which includes the IRS grace period on personal spending accounts. The grace period allows participants to incur PSA expenses on 2008 funds through March 15, 2009. PayFlex will also take over responsibility of the FRA effective Jan. 1, 2009, accepting claims through Feb.28 on 2008 expenses.

The rates for Accidental Death and Dismemberment – 14 cents per $10,000 for employee-only coverage and 23 cents per $10,000 for family coverage — are not changing.

Short-term Disability enrollment is handled through The Hartford’s Web-based enrollment. Vanderbilt’s HR Web site will have the link for Short-term Disability enrollment beginning at 8 a.m., October 1. Enrollment for this benefit ends at 11:59 p.m. on October 15.

Enrollment labs will be set up during Open Enrollment for those who don’t have a computer available for online enrollment. The enrollment lab schedule can be found at http://hr.vanderbilt.edu/benefits/help-labs.htm.

A computer will be available for online enrollment in HR Express, 2525 West End Avenue on the second floor, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. each weekday during Open Enrollment.

The personalized enrollment form included in Open Enrollment packets in recent years is being eliminated this year, as 92 percent of faculty and staff enrolled online last year. Blank forms are available for those wishing to use a paper form. Those forms can be printed from the HR Web site (hr.vanderbilt.edu/forms) beginning October 1 or picked up from HR Express. HR Express will be the only place on campus to drop off a paper form and paper forms are due by 5 p.m. on October 15. Paper forms should not be mailed.

Faculty and staff will need to have their VUnetID and e-password to use the Web-based enrollment. Those needing to get a VUnetID and e-password, should contact ITS or visit https://jprod.its.vanderbilt.edu/apps1/its-epassword/main.html.

For more information on Open Enrollment, visit the Benefits Web site at
http://hr.vanderbilt.edu/benefits.

Contact: openenrollment@vanderbilt.edu

All times given are Central Daylight Time.