Princeton Weekly Bulletin October 10, 2005, Vol. 95, No. 5 prev next
Page One
• Rice affirms vision for peaceful, democratic future for Middle East
• Study of women faculty cites successes, areas to improve
Inside
• Pioneering meteorologist Smagorinsky dies
• Eight new faculty members approved
• Changes announced in registrar’s office
• Roof use prohibited
Benefits
• Open enrollment gives employees opportunity to evaluate coverage
• Benefits Fairs set for Oct. 19-20
• Comparison of benefits available through health care plans -- 2006
• Need more information? Check out these sources
People
• People, spotlight
Almanac
• Nassau Notes
• Calendar of events
• By the numbers
Open enrollment gives employees opportunity to evaluate coverage
The annual benefits open enrollment period for the University’s health and welfare plans will run from Monday, Oct. 10, through Friday, Oct 28. Open enrollment offers faculty and staff an opportunity to review their current benefits and consider changes to their coverage that will become effective Jan. 1, 2006.
Open enrollment also is the time when employees can enroll or re-enroll in the expense account plans (Health Benefit Expense Account and/or Dependent Care Expense Account) for 2006. Elections in the expense account plans do not carry forward from the previous year. Faculty and staff must re-enroll if they want to participate in these plans in 2006.
Open enrollment packets, including a personalized benefits enrollment form, were mailed to benefits eligible faculty and staff at their homes during the week of Oct. 3. Employees should carefully review their current coverage and the open enrollment packet for detailed information.
The deadline for returning the form to the Office of Human Resources is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28. Those who do not make any changes to their current medical/dental coverage will continue with the coverage they have in 2005 unless they are currently covered under the Horizon HMO Blue medical plan or the Horizon Dental Option Plan. Those enrolled in the Horizon HMO Blue medical option who do not enroll in another medical plan for 2006 will be defaulted into the High Deductible Plan administered by UnitedHealthcare with single, employee-only coverage and a $5,000 deductible. Those enrolled in the Horizon Dental Option Plan who do not make another election for dental will have no dental coverage for 2006.
Health plans cover breast reconstruction
The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 requires all group health plans that provide medical and surgical benefits with respect to mastectomy to provide coverage:
• for reconstruction of the breast on which the mastectomy was performed;
• reconstructive surgery of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance; and
• prostheses and treatment of physical complications of all stages of mastectomy, including lymphedema (swelling associated with removal of the lymph nodes).
These services must be provided in a manner determined in consultation with the attending physician and the patient. This coverage may be subject to annual deductibles and co-insurance provisions applicable to other such medical and surgical benefits provided under the plan.
Faculty and staff members should refer to their summary plan description for deductibles and co-insurance information applicable to the plan in which they choose to enroll.
New parking and transit program
New Parking Reimbursement Account and Transit Reimbursement Account plans allow faculty and staff members to be reimbursed for their commutation costs on a pre-tax basis. Refer to the “Your Benefits for 2006” brochure for details.
Those with questions regarding these plans can call the Human Resources Solution Center at 258-3300.