Benefits Open Enrollment runs October 1 – October 26

Kyle J. Cavanaugh, Senior Vice President for Administration

This year’s benefits Open Enrollment period for UF employees will kick off October 1 and end October 26. Open Enrollment is the only period during which changes to pre-tax employee benefits can be made unless you have a qualifying event (e.g., change in marital status, birth, adoption). Any changes made to elections during Open Enrollment will be effective January 1, 2008.

A Benefits Fair will be held on October 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and October 2, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the J. Wayne Reitz Union’s Grand Ballroom. Representatives from insurance and retirement vendors will be available to answer questions about a variety of benefits, and attendees may register for a chance to win prizes.

IMPORTANT CHANGES

This year, supplemental packets containing plan brochures, which have been typically mailed to campus addresses in the past, will now be available online through the People First web site at https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com. The UF Benefits and Retirement office also will have a limited number of brochures available for those experiencing difficulty in accessing information online.

Employees should watch for a number of changes to both state of Florida-sponsored plans and UF-sponsored plans during the 2007 Open Enrollment period. Some highlights include the following:

-The Vision Care plan will not be offered for the 2008 plan year. Coverage under the plan will terminate December 31, 2007.
-Dental plan participants should watch for information regarding changes involving their current dental plans.
-The state’s Basic and Optional Life programs, currently under Prudential, will be changing to the Minnesota Life Insurance Company.
-Tricare Supplemental will not be offered next year. Coverage under the plan will terminate December 31, 2007.
-Eagles dental (a UF-sponsored plan) will not be offered for 2008. Participants may choose to have no coverage or enroll in a state-sponsored dental plan during Open Enrollment.

In addition to the Benefits Fair, employees may visit HRS’s web site and read the InfoGator for more information. HRS also will be distributing posters throughout key areas of campus and making employees aware of Open Enrollment changes through special information sessions, the myUFL portal, InsideUF, the HR Forum, an e-mail to all employees, as well as other media.

For additional information, visit http://www.hr.ufl.edu/benefits/openenrollment.htm to learn how you can access, enroll, or make changes to your benefits; review 2008 plan highlights; find available Open Enrollment information sessions; and make note of any important mailings or dates. If you have any questions, please stop by University Benefits and Retirement at the HRS Building, 903 West University Avenue; visit your nearest HRS satellite office; call us at 392-2HRS (SC 622-2477); or e-mail benefits@ufl.edu.