UW employee benefits enrollment starts Oct. 6

The Annual Benefits Enrollment period for University of Wisconsin–Madison employees, when an employee may enroll or make changes to existing benefit plans, is Oct. 6-31. Any changes become effective Jan 1, 2015.

All eligible employees will receive an email at the start of the Annual Benefits Enrollment period detailing plan changes and enrollment options. Employees can also learn about benefit changes at the Employee Benefits and Resource Fair, which will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, at Union South. For more information on the Employee Benefits and Resource Fair, visit the Office of Human Resources Development website.

Some important changes coming to employee benefits include the following:

• Introduction of High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA), which will be offered with coverage effective Jan. 1. An eligible employee who selects this option will a have a lower monthly premium, but will need to satisfy an annual deductible of $1,500 for single coverage or $3,000 for family coverage.
• VSP – Vision Service Plan will offer an open enrollment.
• Epic Benefits+ will offer a special enrollment with some restrictions. Effective Jan. 1, 2015, Epic Benefits + will increase the accidental death and dismemberment benefit by 50 percent. There will be an increase of the in-hospital indemnity benefit from $100 to $200 per day.
• Dental WI will offer a special enrollment with some restrictions and waiting periods.
• Individual & Family Group Term Life Insurance will have an option for currently insured employees to increase coverage amounts.

Employees should visit the Annual Benefits Enrollment website for detailed information, brochures and applications. For specific information about health insurance, review “It’s Your Choice: Decision and Reference Guides.”