OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR BENEFIT PLANS

Faculty, Administration and Staff (Eligible for Group Health)

Open enrollment for the health and dental insurance plans, Flexible Reimbursement Accounts (FRAs) and supplemental life insurance will run from November 1, 2008 to November 30, 2008 with an effective date of January 1, 2009.  In mid-October detailed information about the open enrollment process was mailed by inter-department mail to all eligible faculty, administration and staff.

Deadline:  The deadline for enrollment is November 30, 2008.  This may be your only opportunity to make changes in your participation in these plans.  Once you elect to continue, change or cancel participation in a health or dental plan you may not change your election until January 2010, unless there is a change in your status, such as marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, or you or your spouse’s change in employment.

Health and Dental Plans: If you wish to continue your present health and dental coverage, you do not need to do anything.  If you are not presently enrolled in a plan and wish to enroll, complete the enrollment form for the plan of your choice.  If you are changing between health or dental plans, complete the enrollment form for the new plan and attach a note indicating that you wish to drop your present plan.  If you are dropping a plan, notify Human Resources in writing or by e-mail.  Under state insurance law you must also complete a waiver form before you can drop your health insurance. 

New Health Plan Option:  This year we are offering a third health plan choice—the Harvard Pilgrim HMO Best Buy.  Read more about that plan at www.harvardpilgrim.org/suffolkuniversity.

Health Plan Contribution Structure:  This year there will be four coverage categories.  Go to the Group Insurance page to check the new coverage categories and your contribution amount.  You will be moved to the appropriate rate category based upon your enrollment information.

Flexible Reimbursement Accounts (FRA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA):  You must re-enroll in these accounts each year.  With an FRA, you set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified medical expenses not covered by your benefit plans or to pay for dependent/child care expenses you incur while working. 

Supplemental Life Insurance:  Faculty and administrative employees are eligible for supplemental life insurance.  If you are presently enrolled in the supplemental life insurance plan, you may increase your volume of coverage by 1 X your base annual salary provided that your coverage remains below the medical certification amount of $375,000.  If you are not presently enrolled in the plan, you may enroll now for 1 X your base annual salary.  You pay the entire cost for this plan.

Enrollment Forms:  Enrollment and waiver forms are available here.  Plan descriptions and other information is available on the Group Insurance page.  You may also enroll for the health plans on-line, go the www.harvardpilgrim.org/suffolkuniversity and click on “Enroll online.”  You will need Suffolk’s Employer ID to enroll on line.  Call Human Resources at 617-573-8415 for the number or e-mail Carol Powers at cpowers@suffolk.edu.

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Adjunct Faculty (Eligible for Group Health)

Adjunct faculty who are eligible for participation in the group health insurance will be notified of eligibility by December 1.  Open enrollment will run from December 1 to December 30 with an effective date of January 1, 2009.  To be eligible for group health an adjunct faculty member must have taught at the University for seven consecutive years as of January 2009.

Deadline for Enrollment:  The deadline for enrollment is December 30.

Enrollment Information:  Information about plan eligibility and plan rates will be mailed to the adjunct home address by December 1.  Enrollment forms and the waiver form are available here.  Plan descriptions are available on the Group Insurance page.

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Adjunct Faculty and Other Employees (Not Eligible for Group Health)

Adjunct faculty and other employees who are not eligible for the University’s group health insurance may enroll in one of the Commonwealth Choice health insurance plans available through the Massachusetts Health Connector.  If you are enrolling in this plan for the first time, you must pay Commonwealth Choice directly for your January premium.  You may pay for subsequent premiums on a pre-tax basis through payroll deduction.  For more information on this plan go to the Health Connector page.

Deadline for Enrollment:  The deadline for enrollment is partially dependent upon Health Connector guidelines.  If you pay the January premium directly to the Connector, Suffolk can accept enrollment until December 30.  The Health Connector may expect an earlier enrollment.

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