1. Open Enrollment When is open enrollment? When is open enrollment? –Starts Monday, April 14 th & ends Friday, May 2 nd Online via Esther – http://esther.rice.edu Online via Esther – http://esther.rice.eduhttp://esther.rice.edu Information sessions in the Kyle Morrow Room (Library): Information sessions in the Kyle Morrow Room (Library): –Today, April 8 th from 2 - 3 pm –Thursday, April 10 th from 9 – 10 am Rice Fest is Thursday, April 17 th in the RMC/Ley Student Center Rice Fest is Thursday, April 17 th in the RMC/Ley Student Center –Talk with carriers –Ask benefits staff questions –Can complete online enrollment –Free chair massage (but long lines!) –Free cholesterol screening

2. Open Enrollment Who needs to enroll this year? Who needs to enroll this year? –As always, only employees who are making changes or wish to continue flexible spending accounts Can people enroll remotely? Can people enroll remotely? –Yes! Esther is accessible from any internet connection, 24/7 Changes are effective July 1 st Changes are effective July 1 st

3. Open Enrollment Benefits team will be available during open enrollment to answer questions and assist with actual enrollment if needed: Benefits team will be available during open enrollment to answer questions and assist with actual enrollment if needed: –Employees can make appointments with HR staff. –Drop by Allen Center Room 330 Packets mailed the end of this week (~ April 11 th ) via campus mail Packets mailed the end of this week (~ April 11 th ) via campus mail –Packets will include Esther ID & PIN Please forward packets to employees who are not on campus as quickly as possible (or point them online to the benefits website) Please forward packets to employees who are not on campus as quickly as possible (or point them online to the benefits website)

4. 2008-2009 Benefits - Medical Same medical plans: Same medical plans: –HMO, Flexplan (POS), PPO & Catastrophic All plans still administered by Aetna All plans still administered by Aetna No plan design changes No plan design changes A 2.3% rate increase across all plans for employees and for Rice (12 month salary): A 2.3% rate increase across all plans for employees and for Rice (12 month salary): –Some sample rate increases include: HMO, employee only = $1 more per paycheck HMO, employee only = $1 more per paycheck POS, employee + children = $7 more per paycheck POS, employee + children = $7 more per paycheck PPO, employee + family = $19 more per paycheck PPO, employee + family = $19 more per paycheck

5. 2008-2009 Benefits - Medical Why is the increase so low for next year? Why is the increase so low for next year? –We like to think that the wellness program is working (but cannot prove it yet) –We are experiencing a better-than-expected claims cost What can we do to keep this trend in place? What can we do to keep this trend in place? –Stay as healthy as we can! –Go to the doctor when you need to go, and get all of your preventive screenings

6. 2008-2009 Benefits - Wellness The healthier we stay, the lower our medical plan costs! The healthier we stay, the lower our medical plan costs! Continuing the screenings for 2008-2009 Continuing the screenings for 2008-2009 Coaching available to eligible employees Coaching available to eligible employees –Based on the results of the spring semester screenings Part-time wellness contractor on campus to help starting July 1 Part-time wellness contractor on campus to help starting July 1

7. 2008-2009 Benefits - Dental Same dental plans: Same dental plans: –United Concordia Indemnity Dental Plan –Aetna DMO United Concordia plan is getting higher annual maximums: United Concordia plan is getting higher annual maximums: –$1,500 per person annual maximum (versus $1,000) –$1,500 child orthodontia maximum –Other minor plan changes (exam frequency and pregnancy benefit) Slight rate increases (5%-9%) Slight rate increases (5%-9%) New 50% dental subsidy for employees earning less than $35,000 (as of April 1 of each year, on a full-time equivalent basis) New 50% dental subsidy for employees earning less than $35,000 (as of April 1 of each year, on a full-time equivalent basis) Look for other dental wellness initiatives like dental vans/screenings on campus & dental health education Look for other dental wellness initiatives like dental vans/screenings on campus & dental health education

8. 2008-2009 Benefits - Other Other benefits remain the same (or better!): Other benefits remain the same (or better!): –Life insurance – rates decrease for 2008-2009 –Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) –Short-Term Disability – now with Unum –Long-Term Disability – now with Unum –Long-Term Care –Flexible Benefits (still with WageWorks) Medical Spending Account ($5,000 max, per employee) Medical Spending Account ($5,000 max, per employee) Childcare Spending Account ($5,000 max, per family) Childcare Spending Account ($5,000 max, per family) –Other voluntary benefits through Answer Financial Auto, home, and even pet insurance Auto, home, and even pet insurance

9. Benefits Reminders Update beneficiary information!!! Update beneficiary information!!! –Life Insurance –AD&D –TIAA-CREF and Fidelity Life Insurance and AD&D age limits for dependent children increasing to age 25 regardless of student status Life Insurance and AD&D age limits for dependent children increasing to age 25 regardless of student status Please review your benefits each year – our lives change and you should make sure your benefits match your current needs Please review your benefits each year – our lives change and you should make sure your benefits match your current needs Look at the other great benefits we ALREADY HAVE AVAILABLE on the handout on your table (it will also be in your packet) Look at the other great benefits we ALREADY HAVE AVAILABLE on the handout on your table (it will also be in your packet)