The other is that benefits in several areas have improved this year, and costs in most cases have held steady or dropped.

Open enrollment is the period each year when employees enroll in or transfer their health and other UC-sponsored benefit plans. This year it begins Nov. 1 and ends Nov. 24.

"The plans themselves don't have too many significant changes. And those changes that have occurred have made the plans more family friendly," said Yvonne DeVaughn, the campus's benefits manager.

There will be no charge to employees for individual, two-party, or family coverage in Health Net or Kaiser North medical plans, and employee costs for FHP/Take Care and Pacific Care are less than $2 monthly for family or individual plans.

For those enrolled as a family in Health Net, that will mean a savings of nearly $20 a month.

The university has done some strong negotiating to keep prices down. In some cases, there are even reductions from last year. One important note about this years open enrollment period is that you need to act quickly.

The other is that benefits in several areas have improved this year, and costs in most cases have held steady or dropped.

Open enrollment is the period each year when employees enroll in or transfer their health and other UC-sponsored benefit plans. This year it begins Nov. 1 and ends Nov. 24.

"The plans themselves don't have too many significant changes. And those changes that have occurred have made the plans more family friendly," said Yvonne DeVaughn, the campus's benefits manager.

There will be no charge to employees for individual, two-party, or family coverage in Health Net or Kaiser North medical plans, and employee costs for FHP/Take Care and Pacific Care are less than $2 monthly for family or individual plans.

For those enrolled as a family in Health Net, that will mean a savings of nearly $20 a month.

"The university has done some strong negotiating to keep prices down. In some cases, there are even reductions from last year.

"That's a wonderful thing," said DeVaughn.

Changes this year must be made by midnight Sunday, Nov. 24. They will become effective Jan. 1. All changes must be made by using the systemwide bencom automated telephone system.

In addition, said DeVaughn, employees will need to call the plan carriers directly to obtain plan materials and directories.

The campus benefits unit will highlight open enrollment options and changes on Friday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Tan Oak Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union.

Representatives from the medical, optical, dental and legal plan carriers will be available to answer questions. Individual department benefits counselors can also answer questions, said DeVaughn.

With the shorter open enrollment period and the need to get materials directly from the carrier, employees should plan ahead "to avoid jammed phone lines in the final enrollment days," she said.

Call (800) 493-4833 for general information and to check on current coverage. To make changes, call (800) 639-3779. Calls may be made every day, around the clock, to both numbers.

One big change that will affect relatively few employees here is the elimination of the Foundation health plan. Those who have been using this plan will need to select another carrier. Those who do not will be automatically enrolled in UC Care.

Those who use the Prudential High Option choice will see substantial increases in their already significant costs. Single-party costs will rise from $273.12 a month to $390.64; family cost jumps to $902.42 a month.

"Those employees really should compare other plans, especially UC Care. It is the most similar to what they have been used to," said DeVaughn.

Among the positive changes in coverage, she said, is that Delta Dental will pay more for many services, reimbursing 75 percent of the costs for some services that it used to pay only 50 percent for.

In addition, changes in accidental death and disability coverage increases a child's maximum benefit and can now include stepchildren. Mental health care provisions have been expanded to include acute care and the vision care plan has been simplified so members no longer have to get a form in advance.

Among changes to the Legal Expense Plan is a rate increase to $9.40 for single coverage and $15.20 for family. After November 1996, the plan will not be automatically available for open enrollment.

Employees should also note that, beginning in 1997, systemwide benefits staff will begin randomly requiring documentation to verify the eligibility of family members in all UC benefit plans.

Details on all the plans and how to make changes are in an open enrollment booklet mailed to employees' homes. This includes a worksheet, a personalized statement and a personal access code used to make changes with the bencom phone system. Campus Benefits, 642-7053, has duplicate booklets.