Open Enrollment for 2018 benefits for Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) employees began Tuesday, Oct. 3, and ends at 11:59 p.m., Friday, Oct. 20. Open Enrollment is a time to make benefits choices that will best meet the needs of you and your family. Visit vumc-oe.com for updates and more information.
What’s new this year:
• Open enrollment is “passive” this year, meaning the benefits you elected in 2017 (except flexible spending accounts) will automatically roll over for 2018 unless you make changes. If you want to enroll in an FSA for 2018, you must do so during Open Enrollment by logging in to My VUMC Benefits.
• To give you more choice in dental plans, we will offer an additional PPO dental option for 2018. New for 2018 is Delta Dental, a PPO plan similar to BlueCross BlueShield DentalBlue. We will still offer the BCBS DentalBlue PPO plan as well as the Cigna DHMO plan. The Delta Dental plan offers a wider network than BlueCross BlueShield and Cigna, and Delta Dental’s overall cost to members is lower than BlueCross BlueShield.
• VUMC employees will see slight increases in premiums for Aetna Plus and Aetna HealthFund and modestly higher premiums for Aetna Select. The emergency room copay will increase from $115 to $125 for the 2018 plan year.
• While VUMC pharmacies will always offer the lowest prices, starting in 2018, you can fill prescriptions at Walgreens at lower rates than other non-Vanderbilt pharmacies.
• Superior Vision Services rates will increase slightly for all levels of coverage.
• Long-term disability rates will increase in 2018. VUMC will continue to share the cost of this income replacement benefit, and to help you manage the premium increases, we will offer an additional lower-cost option. You’ll still have the current option, which covers the amount between $24,000 and your annual base pay and includes a 10 percent monthly contribution to your retirement account if you become disabled and are a participant in the VUMC Retirement Plan. The new, lower-cost option will only cover the amount between $24,000 and your annual base pay and will not include the 10 percent monthly contribution to your retirement account.
Where to go for help:
• Research your health care plan options using the Ask Alex tool at myalex.com/vumc/2018. Answer a few questions and Alex will give you a customized recommendation.
• Visit vumc-oe.com and read the Detailed Guide to Open Enrollment for an overview of what is changing.
• Register for a webinar at vumc-oe.com — Oct. 5, 8 a.m.; Oct. 7, 11 a.m.; or Oct. 12, 1 p.m.
• Contact the Employee Service Center:
Phone: 615-343-7000 — 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Email: human.resources.-vumc@vanderbilt.edu.
In person: 2525 West End Ave., 2nd Floor, 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
