Faculty, professional and scientific staff and supervisory merit employees have an opportunity to review and change their ISU Plan benefits during the annual open change period, Nov. 1-22.
Important dates
- Nov. 1: Open change period begins at 8 a.m.; participation statements available on AccessPlus
- Nov. 11: Webcast, 10:15-11:15 a.m.
- Nov. 22: Open change period ends at 5 p.m.
- Dec. 6: Benefit confirmation statements available on AccessPlus
- Jan. 13, 2014: Final benefit statements of 2014 elections available on AccessPlus
What's new for 2014?
The PPO and HMO plans have no changes for 2014. However, there will be a small premium increase for family coverage on both plans. The PPO family coverage will increase $4 to $339 monthly; the HMO family coverage will go up $1 to $112 per month. The cost of all other coverage options remains the same for 2014.
Rates for Avesis vision coverage also are increasing slightly. The 2014 monthly costs are:
- Employee: $7.26 (an increase of $0.28)
- Employee and spouse: $13.76 (an increase of $0.53)
- Employee and child: $14.98 (an increase of $0.56)
- Employee and family: $19.28 (an increase of $0.73)
There are no plan changes or cost increases for the basic and comprehensive dental plans.
Reminders
Employees may continue to insure children up to age 26 on their medical, dental and Avesis vision plans for 2014. To qualify, children must be under age 26 on Jan. 1, 2014. 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.
If children turn 26 in 2014, coverage must end Dec. 31, 2014. 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. There may be tax implications for employees who insure students over age 26.
Nonsupervisory merit employees may review and alter their benefits through 5 p.m. Nov. 19.
How to change your benefits
ISU Plan participants may update their medical, dental, flexible spending and Avesis coverage online through AccessPlus. Some changes may require paper forms, which are available on the benefits website or from university human resources (UHR). If you are making no changes, there's no need to update your benefits; your current choices will carry over to 2014. However, the UHR staff asks that you look through your benefits statements to confirm your dependents' information.
More information
UHR is hosting an interactive webcast for ISU Plan participants on Nov. 11 from 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. To participate, log on to https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/benefits. At the login page, enter your name under the "Enter as a Guest" heading, then click "Enter Room."
