Robert Carpenter, M.D.
Open enrollment on tap; Benefits Fair set
The Vanderbilt employee benefits annual open enrollment period is Oct. 1-17.
Open enrollment packets were mailed at the end of September to home addresses of all benefits-eligible faculty and staff.
If employees are not changing enrollment elections for health, dental, accidental death and dismemberment or short-term disability insurance, they do not need to submit an enrollment form.
If employees want to change coverage choices, or if they want to set up a PSA — that is, a tax-exempt personal spending account for health care or for child/dependent care — they must complete the open enrollment form.
A current PSA won't continue in 2006 unless the employee completes an enrollment form and returns it by the deadline.
Enrollment forms must be received by the Benefits Office by 5 p.m. on Oct. 17. Changes made to enrollment elections will take effect Jan. 1.
Do not mail forms; instead, use Medical Center drop boxes located in the lobby at Medical Center North and near the skybridge entrance to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, or hand-deliver forms to HR Express, 2525 West End Ave., 2nd floor.
There are also drop boxes at Peabody Administration Building and Sarratt Student Center.
Employee-paid monthly premiums for all three health plans — BlueCross Preferred, CIGNA, BlueCross S — will increase in 2006: they'll rise $5 per month for individual coverage, $10 per month for individual plus spouse/partner or child, and $15 per month for family coverage.
There is no change in employee-paid co-insurance and deductibles for 2006, and the annual out-of-pocket maximums are unchanged.
Using your medical PSA account will be easier in 2006.
Employees who set up these accounts will be given a debit card that, when swiped by an eligible medical provider, allows a way around the usual claim-and-reimbursement process.
Employees with FRAs (Flexible Reimbursement Accounts for employees with five years seniority) will also be able to use debit cards for eligible expenses.
Representatives of the three health plans will be on hand to answer questions Oct. 4 and 6, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Courtyard Café, and Oct. 5, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the performance area at Children's Hospital.
The Benefits Fair will be held Monday, Oct. 10, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Law School, and Tuesday, Oct. 11, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Robinson Research Building Breezeway (third-floor hallway connecting RRB, Light Hall and the V.A. Medical Center).
For more information, see the Human Resources Web site or call 322-8304.