Effective January 1, 2001, Vanderbilt will be offering several new voluntary benefits, including homeowners and car insurance, and, as reported earlier in the Reporter, offering United Healthcare in place of the Health 123 and Prudential plans.
All of the new choices will be offered as after-tax payroll deductions, and must be selected during the annual Open Enrollment period, which runs Oct. 1 through 20.
Before that, the Benefit Fair and a series of open forums will be held so staff and faculty can find out more about what is offered and what best fits individual lifestyles.
Here is a summary of some of the changes for 2001:
United Healthcare
United Healthcare, an open-access health maintenance organization, will be offered for the first time. An open access HMO does not require the selection of a primary care physician, you simply make an appointment with a participating provider. United Healthcare’s web address is unitedhealthcare.com.
Health123 and Prudential
Health123 and Prudential will not be offered for 2001—Health123 because it will no longer offer a health maintenance program, and Prudential because of its prohibitive cost.
If you are a current participant in either of these plans you MUST enroll in another healthcare plan during Open Enrollment. If you fail to enroll in another plan, you will default to individual coverage with the lowest cost plan option, which is United HealthCare.
Long-Term Care Insurance
For the first time, long-term care insurance is being offered through Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Long-term care is the type of help you or your family may need when you’re no longer able to do the things you take for granted every day, such as getting out of bed, eating, or taking a shower. You may enroll yourself, or members of your family during Open Enrollment. Metropolitan Life will mail information to your home and you can also pick up information at the Benefits Fair, to be held September 26, 27, and 28.
Group Auto and Group Homeowners Insurance
Vanderbilt will also offer Group Auto and Group Homeowners Insurance through MetLife Auto & Home beginning in 2001. Information about this coverage will be sent to your home in January and you may choose to enroll at any time during the year, generally when your current coverage expires. Because you can enroll at any time beginning January 1, 2001, these products are not part of Open Enrollment.
Additional information about these new benefits can be found in several ways:
• A packet of information will be mailed to your home.
• Benefit Open Forums will be held on September 25 and 29.
• You can also speak with the companies directly at the Benefits Fair – September 26, 27, and 28.