Benefits - Open Enrollment

Benefits: Open Enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions

Question Answer

What benefits have an increased contribution for 2010?

Select the appropriate link to view benefits.
     - Medical
     - Delta Dental
     - SEBF Dental
     - SEBF Vision

How much did the rates increase for 2010?
We would like to do a compare chart of 2009 vs. 2010 contributions for each of these plans:

Select the appropriate link to compare charts.
     - Medical
     - Delta Dental
     - SEBF Dental and SEBF Dental and Vision

I heard that New York State is requiring that insurance companies must offer coverage to certain dependents under the age of 29. Does SU offer this extended coverage? The New York State mandate applies to insured medical products only. It does not require employers to subsidize this coverage. The University self-insures its medical plans. Self insured plans are an alternative and often less costly financial strategy for providing medical benefits in which the employer, not an insurance company, assumes direct responsibility for funding the health care costs of its covered employees and their dependents.
As a result, the University is not required to follow this mandate. However under the SU plans, dependents that lose coverage due to their age are eligible for 36 months of coverage under COBRA.
We continue to analyze all of our benefits to determine the most effective use of University resources.

What changes will be made to the medical coverage and prescription drug plan in 2010? Currently there are no plans for significant changes to the medical plan options this year. The prescription benefit has been improved this year by the introduction of RationalMed, a program in which Medco coordinates directly with your doctor if a medication you are prescribed has potential health and safety issues based on your other prescribed medications or health conditions. There is no action for you to take to implement this service.
Medical and Prescription Drug Plan Options

What changes will be made to the Delta Dental coverage in 2010? There are no significant changes to the Delta Dental plan this year.
Delta Dental and VSP Vision Plan Options

What changes will be made to the Flexible Spending Accounts in 2010? There are no changes to the health care or dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts for this year. Remember, you must enroll annually in the Flexible Spending Accounts during Open Enrollment.
Flexible Spending Account - Dependent Care
Flexible Spending Account - Health Care

Who can I contact with specific OE questions? HR Service Center at 443-4042 or hrservic@syr.edu

What faculty are eligible for the modified benefits plan? Only AU faculty eligible per the current contract.

What are the dates for Open Enrollment? November 2 – 13, 2009

How do I enroll? Open Enrollment for benefits eligible employees will be conducted online through MySlice November 2-13, 2009. To access the site you will need to know your MySlice NetID and password. If you do not know your NetID and password or if you have forgotten your login information visit http://its.syr.edu/netid/ for step-by-step instructions to obtain it. Should you have any questions about your NetID, please call Information Technology and Services (ITS) at 443-2677 during normal business hours.
Part-time faculty eligible for the Modified Benefits Plan will have a Open Enrollment process conducted through the Syracuse University Office of Institutional Research and Assessment. Eligible part-time faculty members will receive detailed instructions e-mailed to their syr.edu e-mail account regarding this process.

In the past there has been a “makeup” period if I don’t enroll before the last day of OE. Can I enroll after 11/13? No, there is no makeup period. Enrollment must occur between November 2- 13, 2009. In the past HR has provided an informal process (formerly called a “makeup period”) after the close of Open Enrollment to allow for changes by employees that elected benefits incorrectly or neglected to enroll. This year, the makeup period has been eliminated and there will be no additional opportunity for faculty and staff to make any benefits elections or changes after November 13, 2009.

What will I receive to confirm my elections for 2010 benefits? While in the online enrollment site, benefits-eligible employees have the option to receive a Summary of Activity e-mailed to their syr.edu e-mail account immediately from the enrollment page. The e-mail will contain a statement which lists the benefit coverage selected. If any changes need to be made, employees may log on to MySlice and make their desired changes at any time until Open Enrollment closes on November 13, 2009.
The week after Open Enrollment closes, benefits-eligible employees will receive one printed Confirmation Statement in campus mail. The Confirmation Statement will contain your final benefit elections for calendar year 2010. Your elections will remain in effect for the calendar year, unless you experience a qualifying change in family status or in your employment status.
Part-time faculty eligible for the Modified Benefits Plan will receive a summary of coverage selected when they complete the online Open Enrollment process through the Syracuse University Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA). If any changes need to be made, employees may re-enter the OIRA website and make their desired changes at any time until Open Enrollment closes on November 13, 2009.

What are computer clusters for? Computer Clusters are staffed by HR representatives and are designed to help anyone that may need assistance enrolling on line. They are not individual benefit consulting sessions. If an employee has questions regarding their benefit options, they should contact HR or attend a general Roadshow prior to attending a computer cluster.

Will co-pays be automatically reimbursed from my Flexible Spending (Health) Account? Automatic reimbursement is not available for medical claims. If you would like to have automatic reimbursement for prescription drug claims, please contact EBS-RMSCO at 1-800-327-7130.

Do I need to enroll if I want the same benefits as I currently have? Your benefit elections will roll-over from year to year with the exception of the health care and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts. You must enroll annually in the Flexible Spending Accounts during Open Enrollment.
Flexible Spending Account - Dependent Care
Flexible Spending Account - Health Care

Are there any new benefit plans? No. There are no new benefit plan options for 2010.

Where can I find the “costs” of each plan (the employee contributions)? Contribution rates are listed on each of the following Open Enrollment pages
     - Medical
     - Delta Dental
     - SEBF Dental
     - SEBF Vision

Question	Answer
What benefits have an increased contribution for 2010?	Select the appropriate link to view benefits. - Medical - Delta Dental - SEBF Dental - SEBF Vision
How much did the rates increase for 2010? We would like to do a compare chart of 2009 vs. 2010 contributions for each of these plans:	Select the appropriate link to compare charts. - Medical - Delta Dental - SEBF Dental and SEBF Dental and Vision
I heard that New York State is requiring that insurance companies must offer coverage to certain dependents under the age of 29. Does SU offer this extended coverage?	The New York State mandate applies to insured medical products only. It does not require employers to subsidize this coverage. The University self-insures its medical plans. Self insured plans are an alternative and often less costly financial strategy for providing medical benefits in which the employer, not an insurance company, assumes direct responsibility for funding the health care costs of its covered employees and their dependents. As a result, the University is not required to follow this mandate. However under the SU plans, dependents that lose coverage due to their age are eligible for 36 months of coverage under COBRA. We continue to analyze all of our benefits to determine the most effective use of University resources.
What changes will be made to the medical coverage and prescription drug plan in 2010?	Currently there are no plans for significant changes to the medical plan options this year. The prescription benefit has been improved this year by the introduction of RationalMed, a program in which Medco coordinates directly with your doctor if a medication you are prescribed has potential health and safety issues based on your other prescribed medications or health conditions. There is no action for you to take to implement this service. Medical and Prescription Drug Plan Options
What changes will be made to the Delta Dental coverage in 2010?	There are no significant changes to the Delta Dental plan this year. Delta Dental and VSP Vision Plan Options
What changes will be made to the Flexible Spending Accounts in 2010?	There are no changes to the health care or dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts for this year. Remember, you must enroll annually in the Flexible Spending Accounts during Open Enrollment. Flexible Spending Account - Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account - Health Care
Who can I contact with specific OE questions?	HR Service Center at 443-4042 or hrservic@syr.edu
What faculty are eligible for the modified benefits plan?	Only AU faculty eligible per the current contract.
What are the dates for Open Enrollment?	November 2 – 13, 2009
How do I enroll?	Open Enrollment for benefits eligible employees will be conducted online through MySlice November 2-13, 2009. To access the site you will need to know your MySlice NetID and password. If you do not know your NetID and password or if you have forgotten your login information visit http://its.syr.edu/netid/ for step-by-step instructions to obtain it. Should you have any questions about your NetID, please call Information Technology and Services (ITS) at 443-2677 during normal business hours. Part-time faculty eligible for the Modified Benefits Plan will have a Open Enrollment process conducted through the Syracuse University Office of Institutional Research and Assessment. Eligible part-time faculty members will receive detailed instructions e-mailed to their syr.edu e-mail account regarding this process.
In the past there has been a “makeup” period if I don’t enroll before the last day of OE. Can I enroll after 11/13?	No, there is no makeup period. Enrollment must occur between November 2- 13, 2009. In the past HR has provided an informal process (formerly called a “makeup period”) after the close of Open Enrollment to allow for changes by employees that elected benefits incorrectly or neglected to enroll. This year, the makeup period has been eliminated and there will be no additional opportunity for faculty and staff to make any benefits elections or changes after November 13, 2009.
What will I receive to confirm my elections for 2010 benefits?	While in the online enrollment site, benefits-eligible employees have the option to receive a Summary of Activity e-mailed to their syr.edu e-mail account immediately from the enrollment page. The e-mail will contain a statement which lists the benefit coverage selected. If any changes need to be made, employees may log on to MySlice and make their desired changes at any time until Open Enrollment closes on November 13, 2009. The week after Open Enrollment closes, benefits-eligible employees will receive one printed Confirmation Statement in campus mail. The Confirmation Statement will contain your final benefit elections for calendar year 2010. Your elections will remain in effect for the calendar year, unless you experience a qualifying change in family status or in your employment status. Part-time faculty eligible for the Modified Benefits Plan will receive a summary of coverage selected when they complete the online Open Enrollment process through the Syracuse University Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA). If any changes need to be made, employees may re-enter the OIRA website and make their desired changes at any time until Open Enrollment closes on November 13, 2009.
What are computer clusters for?	Computer Clusters are staffed by HR representatives and are designed to help anyone that may need assistance enrolling on line. They are not individual benefit consulting sessions. If an employee has questions regarding their benefit options, they should contact HR or attend a general Roadshow prior to attending a computer cluster.
Will co-pays be automatically reimbursed from my Flexible Spending (Health) Account?	Automatic reimbursement is not available for medical claims. If you would like to have automatic reimbursement for prescription drug claims, please contact EBS-RMSCO at 1-800-327-7130.
Do I need to enroll if I want the same benefits as I currently have?	Your benefit elections will roll-over from year to year with the exception of the health care and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts. You must enroll annually in the Flexible Spending Accounts during Open Enrollment. Flexible Spending Account - Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account - Health Care
Are there any new benefit plans?	No. There are no new benefit plan options for 2010.
Where can I find the “costs” of each plan (the employee contributions)?	Contribution rates are listed on each of the following Open Enrollment pages - Medical - Delta Dental - SEBF Dental - SEBF Vision