Non-supervisory merit employees will get a chance to review and change their benefits during the annual open change period, Oct. 1-Nov. 16.
Few changes for 2013
Save the dates
- Oct. 1: Open change period begins at 8 a.m; participation statements available on AccessPlus
- Oct. 17: Webcast, 9-10 a.m.
- Nov. 16: Open change period ends at 5 p.m.
- Nov. 30: Confirmation statements available on AccessPlus (beginning at 8 a.m.)
- Dec. 7: Final day to report errors on confirmation statements (before 5 p.m.)
- Dec. 13: Final statement of 2013 elections available on AccessPlus
The health care flexible spending account limit has been reduced from $5,000 to $2,500 per account for 2013. The change is part of the Affordable Care Act. A list of eligible claims for flexible spending accounts is available on the ASIFlex website.
Information about changes to premiums will be available Oct. 1. Employees can find out more in the open change guide, available on the ISU Benefits website, and in the participation statements, available on AccessPlus.
How to make changes to your benefits
Non-supervisory merit employees may alter their medical, flexible spending and Avesis coverage online through AccessPlus. Dental changes are limited to dropping coverage or dependents; no coverage or dependents may be added during the open change period without a qualifying event.
Enrolling in or increasing employer-sponsored life insurance will require a paper form. Employees who wish to enroll in the voluntary contribution health plans (a 20 percent contribution of health plan costs) also must complete a paper form after meeting with a benefits specialist. If you prefer to make all your changes on paper, contact human resource services at 4-4800.
Reminders
Employees may continue to insure children up to age 26 on their medical, dental and Avesis vision plans for 2013. To qualify, children must be under age 26 on Jan. 1, 2013. Children may be covered even if they are married or have a job with health care benefits. If children already have benefits, the ISU coverage would supplement their primary health plans.
The ISU Plan open change period for faculty, professional and scientific, and supervisory merit employees is Nov. 1-16. Look for more details about the ISU Plan open change period in the Oct. 25 issue of Inside Iowa State.
If children turn 26 in 2013, coverage must end Dec. 31, 2013. However, if children are unmarried and enroll as full-time students during the year, they can remain on their parents' ISU health or dental plans until they either get married or stop being full-time students. Remember, there may be tax implications for employees who insure students over age 26.
More information
HRS is hosting an interactive webcast for non-supervisory merit employees Oct. 17 from 9 to 10 a.m. To participate, log on to http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/benefits. At the login page, enter your name under the "Enter as a Guest" heading, then click "Enter Room."
