Berkeleyan

November is Open Enrollment month at Berkeley

03 November 2005

UC Berkeley employees interested in adding or changing benefits coverage can do so during the monthlong Open Enrollment 2006, which began Nov. 1 and runs through midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 30. For those who make changes during the period, new coverage will be effective Jan. 1, 2006.

Human Resources will host four presentations on Open Enrollment options for current faculty and staff. Presentations are scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 10, at 1 p.m.; and at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14, Monday, Nov. 21, and Tuesday, Nov. 22. All are 90 minutes and all are in 150 University Hall.

Among the Open Enrollment highlights for this year are these:

. A one-time opportunity this year to enroll in Supplemental Disability or reduce your waiting period without completing a statement of health.

. Some increases in monthly medical-plan premiums next year for some employees, depending on plan, salary level, and level of family coverage. A $5 increase in office visit co-payments will reduce overall rate increases for UC's HMOs, and premiums for the Blue Cross PPO plan will be reduced next year.

. Changes to allow employees to apply unused 2005 Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA) and Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (DepCare) balances to eligible expenses incurred through March 15, 2006.

A six-page Open Enrollment brochure was sent to each UC employee's home address in late October, providing a summary of Open Enrollment information and 2006 monthly employee costs for medical plans. For the same information, plus details and links to making benefits changes online, visit hrweb.berkeley.edu/benefits/oe2006.htm or click on Open Enrollment at atyourservice.ucop.edu.