Open Enrollment

1
Open Enrollment

• When is open enrollment?
• Starts Monday, April 14th ends Friday, May 2nd
• Online via Esther http//esther.rice.edu
• Information sessions in the Kyle Morrow Room
  (Library)
• Today, April 8th from 2 - 3 pm
• Thursday, April 10th from 9 10 am
• Rice Fest is Thursday, April 17th in the RMC/Ley
  Student Center
• Talk with carriers
• Ask benefits staff questions
• Can complete online enrollment
• Free chair massage (but long lines!)
• Free cholesterol screening

2
Open Enrollment

• Who needs to enroll this year?
• As always, only employees who are making changes
  or wish to continue flexible spending accounts
• Can people enroll remotely?
• Yes! Esther is accessible from any internet
  connection, 24/7
• Changes are effective July 1st

3
Open Enrollment

• Benefits team will be available during open
  enrollment to answer questions and assist with
  actual enrollment if needed
• Employees can make appointments with HR staff.
• Drop by Allen Center Room 330
• Packets mailed the end of this week ( April
  11th) via campus mail
• Packets will include Esther ID PIN
• Please forward packets to employees who are not
  on campus as quickly as possible (or point them
  online to the benefits website)

4
2008-2009 Benefits - Medical

• Same medical plans
• HMO, Flexplan (POS), PPO Catastrophic
• All plans still administered by Aetna
• No plan design changes
• A 2.3 rate increase across all plans for
  employees and for Rice (12 month salary)
• Some sample rate increases include
• HMO, employee only 1 more per paycheck
• POS, employee children 7 more per paycheck
• PPO, employee family 19 more per paycheck

5
2008-2009 Benefits - Medical

• Why is the increase so low for next year?
• We like to think that the wellness program is
  working (but cannot prove it yet)
• We are experiencing a better-than-expected claims
  cost
• What can we do to keep this trend in place?
• Stay as healthy as we can!
• Go to the doctor when you need to go, and get all
  of your preventive screenings

6
2008-2009 Benefits - Wellness

• The healthier we stay, the lower our medical plan
  costs!
• Continuing the screenings for 2008-2009
• Coaching available to eligible employees
• Based on the results of the spring semester
  screenings
• Part-time wellness contractor on campus to help
  starting July 1

7
2008-2009 Benefits - Dental

• Same dental plans
• United Concordia Indemnity Dental Plan
• Aetna DMO
• United Concordia plan is getting higher annual
  maximums
• 1,500 per person annual maximum (versus 1,000)
• 1,500 child orthodontia maximum
• Other minor plan changes (exam frequency and
  pregnancy benefit)
• Slight rate increases (5-9)
• New 50 dental subsidy for employees earning less
  than 35,000 (as of April 1 of each year, on a
  full-time equivalent basis)
• Look for other dental wellness initiatives like
  dental vans/screenings on campus dental health
  education

8
2008-2009 Benefits - Other

• Other benefits remain the same (or better!)
• Life insurance rates decrease for 2008-2009
• Accidental Death Dismemberment (ADD)
• Short-Term Disability now with Unum
• Long-Term Disability now with Unum
• Long-Term Care
• Flexible Benefits (still with WageWorks)
• Medical Spending Account (5,000 max, per
  employee)
• Childcare Spending Account (5,000 max, per
  family)
• Other voluntary benefits through Answer Financial
• Auto, home, and even pet insurance

9
Benefits Reminders

• Update beneficiary information!!!
• Life Insurance
• ADD
• TIAA-CREF and Fidelity
• Life Insurance and ADD age limits for dependent
  children increasing to age 25 regardless of
  student status
• Please review your benefits each year our lives
  change and you should make sure your benefits
  match your current needs
• Look at the other great benefits we ALREADY HAVE
  AVAILABLE on the handout on your table (it will
  also be in your packet)